TELUS Program Supports Homeless During COVID-19
TELUS program reduces communication and technology barriers for people experiencing homelessness amid COVID-19
“Not having an address or cellphone was a barrier for me. It was hard coordinating with everybody, especially for interviews and meetings.”
The rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic forced many organizations nation-wide to develop innovative digital solutions to continue their service delivery.
As information around the infectious disease continued to evolve, organizations had to pivot as quickly—and safely—as possible to ensure minimal service disruption. This resulted in a shift from in-person services to telecommunications in effort to maintain operations amid government physical distancing requirements.
People with direct access to technology and Internet could stay connected. However, virtual services exacerbated pre-existing disparities in digital access for those without it, further compounding communication barriers for populations including people experiencing homelessness.
Brent is among those who lacked the technology necessary to access these services remotely as he had been experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The 50-year-old explains he lost his home just before the pandemic hit due to his landlord increasing the monthly rent, and he ended up getting evicted. He didn’t have a cellphone at that time, and admits that maintaining communications without one was challenging and was worsened by the pandemic.
“Not having an address or cellphone was a barrier for me,” he says. “It was hard coordinating with everybody, especially for interviews and meetings.”
Brent needed to sustain communications—specifically with his doctor as he had a medical condition. This prompted a temporary solution prior to the pandemic: Brent was permitted to direct phone calls to the office of a local not-for-profit where it was arranged that they could take his messages. Eventually, the agency had temporarily shut down its in-person operations and reduced their hours due to COVID-19, so Brent was unable to retrieve those voicemails as frequently.
“Half of the messages that were left for me were three or four days old,” recalls Brent.
Some of those voicemails were from his doctor, prospective landlords, housing workers and other social supports. Some of these messages were essential in getting him permanently housed.
Brent explains his health was deteriorating and his medical condition made him a high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. His doctors were advising to not sleep outside anymore.
“The doctors and specialists decided that they didn’t want me outside, because I was having medical issues,” says Brent. “I couldn’t live like that anymore.”
A solution was needed—and fast.
The Solution
At this time, TELUS was being approached by their clients for assistance in navigating the communication challenges brought forward by the pandemic. It had been identified that there was an alarming number of people without access to a phone, Internet or other means of technology resulting in an urgent need to bridge those digital divides to ensure Canadians could maintain those vital connections.
“We were being approached by organizations from across the country with concerns on how they would be able to stay in touch with their patients and/or the marginalized individuals they support,” explains Nimtaz Kanji, Director of Community Investments and Social Purpose Programs at TELUS. “Their offices were being shut down and they couldn’t meet face-to-face with their clients. It was a common trend among a lot of the inquiries we were getting at that time, so we started the COVID-19 Emergency Response program.”
The temporary COVID-19 Emergency Response program was formed to support community members, such as isolated seniors and people experiencing homelessness, with a necessary lifeline to continue communications with health and social support services during the pandemic. The program provided recipients with cellphone devices and free plans with unlimited talk and text, and 3GB of data.
The program was an extension of an existing TELUS initiative called the Mobility for Good® program, explains Kanji, which equips youth aging out of foster care with a free mobile phone and plan for two years to help them gain their independence and stay connected.
Kanji reveals that 325 organizations across the country were supported through the COVID-19 Emergency Response program. A total of 14,000 cellphones, tablets and plans valued at $16 million dollars were donated, she says.
“The pandemic really emphasized the role that communications and technology has on our day-to-day lives—whether it was kids who had to start learning from home or marginalized individuals or those experiencing homelessness who all of a sudden could no longer access face-to-face services and supports,” she says. “In all of these cases—including for those who are working from home—technology plays an essential role in all of our lives.”
In Edmonton, the donated cellphones and plans were provided to Housing Support teams to give to people experiencing homelessness who were working towards securing housing.
“Housing—having a roof on my head—gives me peace of mind. I don’t have to think about where I’m going to sleep or what I’m going to do.”
A place to call home
It had been identified that Brent had lost contact for a prolonged period during the pandemic. He was no longer checking in with the aforementioned local non-profit for messages and outreach workers were not able to locate him in the community. Brent’s file had revealed he had not been in contact for over 90 days.
For unsheltered people experiencing homelessness, this is not uncommon. People sleeping outside are frequently on the move. Additional reasons that a person may lose contact could be due to transportation issues, safety, temporarily staying with a friend or family member, or resolved their housing situation on their own.
Brent made contact again after visiting Tipinawâw—a temporary overnight shelter space that had been activated by sector partners to support people experiencing homelessness during the winter months— and it was discovered that he was still experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
To minimize the risk of losing contact with Brent again, he was given a cellphone to help him reconnect and maintain those necessary conversations to get permanently housed.
Denise Walton, Housing Outreach Worker at Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society who had been working with Brent to secure housing, confirms that the cellphone enabled Brent to maintain regular contact, and in turn helped him keep track of and attend the necessary appointments/meetings to get him housed.
“It was so easy to connect with him once he got a cellphone,” says Walton. “Having a reliable form of communication made contact easy with Brent.”
That regular communication resulted in Brent securing a home in just six days.
“I was surprised at how fast it happened. I wasn’t expecting it,” reflects Brent. “Everything was boom, boom, boom.”
Brent has been housed since February 2021. He lives in a one-bedroom apartment in a quiet neighbourhood.
Securing a home has been a relief, says Brent, who has been able to focus on his health.
“Housing—having a roof on my head—gives me peace of mind. I don’t have to think about where I’m going to sleep or what I’m going to do,” says Brent.
Brent is a current participant in the Nikihk Housing Support program at Bent Arrow Traditional Housing Society, one of 37 agencies funded by Homeward Trust that provide housing support programs in Edmonton. The program embraces the principle of Housing Support —Housing Support involves moving people who experience homelessness into independent and permanent housing as quickly as possible, with no preconditions, and then providing them with additional supports and services to maintain that housing—and is designed to provide supports and services that fosters stability and enables participants to maintain their home.
Brent is one of 13,782 Edmontonians who have been housed through Housing Support and related programs since 2009 (as of Jan. 4, 2022).
“I’m thankful for the people who helped me get to where I am today.”
About TELUS Connecting for Good
TELUS is leveraging world-leading technology to create meaningful change, bridge digital divides and ensure equal access to technology for Canadians in need through their Connecting For Good programs. The COVID-19 Emergency Response program is an extension of the TELUS Mobility for Good program, which is available to 20,000 youth aging out of foster care, enabling them to gain their independence and stay connected with a free mobile phone and data plan for two years. The program empowers vulnerable youth with a vital lifeline to the people, information, and opportunities that matter most. The program also supports low-income seniors with getting connected, providing them with access to a discounted smartphone and low-cost plan.
In addition to Mobility for Good, other programs include:
- Internet for Good, offering high speed broadband internet to qualified low-income families, youth leaving foster care, and in-need people with disabilities, starting at $9.95 per month.
- Health for Good, providing access to primary and mental health care via TELUS mobile health clinics, directly to people in need living on the streets in urban centres across Canada.
- Tech for Good, empowering differently abled Canadians facing challenges using smartphones and tablets with customized training and support to help them live more independently
The Edmonton John Howard Society is raising awareness of Indigenous Culture by displaying medicine boxes filled with four medicines—tobacco, cedar, sage and sweetgrass—and a description of each of their uses. The idea behind the display was to hang them in high transited areas to bring awareness of the medicines and intended to teach both staff and clients.
There are 44 display boxes—11 sets—for all of EJHS’ agency programs. We connected with Alejandro Montano, Manager of The Loft at Edmonton John Howard Society (EJHS), to learn more about the boxes.
What inspired the creation of these displays?
EJHS’ internal Truth & Reconciliation Committee is always coming up with ways to highlight, raise awareness of, and honour Indigenous Culture throughout our different programs. Having said that, the four Medicines in Indigenous Culture are very important that the committee thought would be appropriate to bring attention to from staff and residents.
What is the Truth and Reconciliation Committee? When was it formed, and why?
EJHS’ internal Truth and Reconciliation Committee was formed in 2019, for the purpose of bringing awareness to Indigenous matters that relate to our agency’s clients and staff. The committee is formed by staff members that work in different EJHS programs. The committee is constantly brainstorming ways in which our agency can be more inclusive and adaptive to the many challenges that Indigenous populations face on a daily basis. Additionally, another purpose of the committee is to evaluate how we can bring change throughout EJHS’ programs, to not only create a positive impact with our clients and staff, but also throughout the rest of the community as a whole. The TRC guides the committee Calls to Action, working to ensure EJHS’s mission, values, and 50-year Business Plan align with the Calls to Action.
What is the significance of this display?
The Four Sacred Medicines (Sage, Tobacco, Sweetgrass, Cedar) are displayed in each individual box, matching the corresponding colours of the Medicine Wheel. The inside of the box has a description that highlights the intention/use of each particular medicine according to Indigenous wisdom. EJHS thought it was important to highlight these as they are a big part of Indigenous Culture so that those of us of non-Indigenous heritage can learn and support clients and co-workers better.
What has the reaction been so far with both clients and staff?
Both clients and staff throughout the agency’s many programs seem to have received the displays well. It seems that both staff and clients alike are learning more about Indigenous Culture.
Any success stories to share?
Our contracted Indigenous Mentor, who came on with EJHS after these Medicine Boxes went up, has stated she is thrilled to have these visible to all clients and staff.
Several clients who identify as Indigenous have mentioned that it is great to see the programs highlighting the Medicines as they play an integral role in their culture.
Community partners that visit EJHS programs, such as Alberta Health Services, have stated that the Medicine Boxes are a great idea and that other agencies throughout the city should be creating similar things for their programs.
#YegHousingMonth
Edmonton Housing Month is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of the need for and importance of safe, quality, affordable housing in the Capital Region.
Why does Housing Month 2021 matter?
Affordable housing is the foundation for stable, healthy communities. Affordable housing supports people, improves our neighbourhoods and strengthens our economy. Safe, secure, affordable homes give individuals and families the opportunity to build a better life. This is why affordable housing is a top priority for so many organizations throughout the Edmonton region.
Register for a Lunch & Learn today!
Throughout November, the Housing Month working group will be hosting another virtual campaign focused on a series of webinars using a plain-language Lunch and Learn approach. Topics will cover the range of the housing spectrum, focus on timely issues, and provide information on various elements such as Housing Support, Supportive and Affordable Housing, Mental Health, Indigenous and Lived Experience Perspectives, and much more.
#WeCanEndHomelessness Together
Housing helps end homelessness. We can do this together.
What can you do?
Reach out to elected officials. From every level of government, let them know that housing and ending homelessness are very important issues to you, and that you are paying attention to the actions they are taking to address them.
Donate. Help local organizations that are working on the frontlines to end homelessness and provide safe. affordable housing. Organizations like Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, Bissell Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association, GEF Seniors Housing, Youth Empowerment & Support Services (YESS) could all use your financial support.
Volunteer. Although COVID-19 has had a significant impact on opportunities to volunteer, there are still safe ways to help a number of organizations through Volunteer Alberta. Or reach out directly to Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, Bissell Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association, GEF Seniors Housing, Youth Empowerment & Support Services (YESS) and see how you can help.
Join the conversation. The need for housing and action on ending homelessness doesn’t end when housing month is over. Raise your voice, share your opinions and help keep the conversation going on social media. Remember to use #YegHousingMonth and #WeCanEndHomelessness when posting to social media.
Vote Housing is a national, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy campaign intended to engage Canadians to pledge to vote for housing in the upcoming federal election and ensure all political parties support making bold investments in affordable housing and ending homelessness.
Read their action plan here: Action Plan For Parliament – Vote Housing.
This campaign is led by the Canadian Lived Experience Leadership Network (CLELN), the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association, and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada. These partner organizations represent the three leading national housing and homelessness sector organizations. CLELN is Canada’s leading national network for people who have or are experiencing homelessness.
Here are a few ways to support this campaign:
Endorse
An endorsement of this campaign will help ensure that all political parties and other Canadians see the breadth of voices calling for change on housing issues.
Donate
Financial contributions will go towards organizing efforts in communities across the nation. This ensures that all political parties prioritize housing issues for all communities.
Volunteer
Voting Housing’s volunteer team will be engaging and encouraging Canadians to pledge to Vote Housing. Activities will be organized locally (door knocking, phone calling, events, etc.) as well as virtually to speak up about the importance of ending homelessness and housing need.
This past year and a half has been full of very complex challenges. In conjunction with a once-in-a-century public health crisis, many communities also witnessed an increase in the number of individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness. However, this has also been a great example of our sector coming together and finding viable solutions in a very difficult situation. Working in partnership we are better able to support individuals as they begin to take steps towards breaking the cycle of poverty, and it also creates more capacity for us to provide something most of us have been able to rely on in this crisis – a stable home where we can be healthy, safe and secure.
We are very confident that we can end homelessness in Canada. We have ended homelessness for thousands of people in our own local community, many with complex needs. This work is part of a much bigger effort; no one agency, community, or government can solve this issue alone. This will require a coordinated effort from community partners across the country, and bold investments in affordable housing and ending homelessness from every level of government.
Pledge to #VoteHousing today!
With Father’s Day just around the corner, we’ve put together a gift guide featuring some local businesses that give back to the community. These companies donate some or all of their sales towards helping our vulnerable neighbours.
Please note: This list is not at all exhaustive and we apologize if we have missed one of your favourites. If you know of a local business like this that gives back to the community and isn’t listed here, send us an email with your suggestion, and we’ll be sure to include it. Email your suggestions to media@homewardtrust.ca
If you missed them, check out our other gift guides – Mother’s Day Gift Guide and Holiday Gift Guide. Any day is a good day to show Mom, Dad or that special someone just how much you appreciate them, especially if you are also supporting the local community.
Find Edmonton
findedmonton.com #YEG-based
The start-up cost for anyone moving into their first home can be expensive, especially for someone moving out of homelessness. Find provides free essential furnishings to individuals and families who are moving out of homelessness. In addition to supporting Housing Support program participants, Find sells gently used furniture and housewares at a low-cost to the public via its brick-and-mortar shop and online. Every purchase from Find goes back to supporting individuals and families moving out of homelessness.
Bissell Thrift Shop
bissellthriftshop.com #YEG-based
The Bissell Thrift Shop is a social enterprise of Bissell Centre, a non-profit organization grounded in eliminating poverty. Sales from the shop go directly back into Bissell Centre programs and services to support community members. From the revenue earned at the Thrift Shop, 89¢ of every dollar goes back to supporting the community through Bissell Centre’s life-changing services and programs including meals, outreach, housing, mental health, employment, financial empowerment and more. Shop online or instore for a unique and one-of-a-kind gift for dad.
All prices are quoted in Canadian dollars. All prices quoted were checked shortly before publication, but prices change often and might not match what is found online. Readers should make sure to check in-stock and delivery status this year.
National Volunteer Week 2021, April 18 to 24, 2021
This National Volunteer Week, we thank our dedicated and compassionate volunteers for their time, experience, and skills to help our community members at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We thank you today, and everyday, for the contributions you have made towards our collective goal in ending homelessness.
While many volunteer opportunities have been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, there are several other ways to help out via virtual and micro-volunteering means. For more information about volunteering during the pandemic, visit: https://volunteeralberta.ab.ca/programs_services_resources/people/volunteer-opportunities/
Additionally, there is still a need for healthy volunteers to help those in need. The Alberta Cares Connector is a one-stop-shop for people looking for ways to help. Volunteers can browse opportunities and filter by location, schedule, activity or cause.
If you want to show your support, consider donating. These organizations are accepting in-kind and monetary donations:
- Africa Centre
- Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society
- Boyle Street Community Services
- Bissell Centre
- C.H.E.W.
- E4C
- Campus Food Bank
- Edmonton Food Bank
- Find Edmonton (needs loveseats/light couches, apartment-sized dining sets and dressers)
- iHuman
- Leftovers Edmonton
- No Woman Without
This list is not complete. If there’s an Edmonton-based organization you would like to support, please contact them or let us know, and we can add them to our list.
Supporting our community is important to us. With Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 9) a few weeks away, we’ve put together a gift guide featuring local, BIPOC female-owned businesses in Edmonton and Calgary. Whether you’re shopping for a mom, a mom-to-be, an aunt, a grandmother or any other special figure in your life, show your support for BIPOC businesses by shopping for these great gifts.
Please note: This list is not at all exhaustive and we apologize for missing one of your favourites. If you know of a local BIPOC-owned brand that isn’t listed here, send us an email with your suggestion and we’ll include it here. Email us your suggestions at media@homewardtrust.ca
Keep an eye out for our Father’s Day gift guide next month.
Edmonton-based
buno-design.com/ #YEG-based
Rooted in sustainability, Buno creates jewelry by repurposing old, vintage and salvaged materials to reduce fashion wastage and its environmental impact. Each piece of jewelry in Buno’s collection is handcrafted in St. Albert, AB.
We recommend: Coral Collection Necklace, $80
Perfect for spring and summer, these necklaces are inspired by the beauty of coral reefs.
Each necklace, available in six different colour combinations, features handpainted wood beads in various sizes, ceramic beads and a Maasai bead embellishment on a nylon cord.
shopgikan.com/ #YEG-based
Gikan creates high-quality products through timeless pieces inspired by the creator’s Filipino heritage and strive to preserve their Filipino culture and cultivate a better future for generations to come. As part of that, Gikan donates a portion of their funds from purchase to a “Create with a Purpose” jar that is used to give back to the community whenever needed. Through contributions, Gikan has given back to Black Lives Matter, Black Visions Collective and the Lebanese Red Cross.
We recommend: Lupa Earrings, $15
“Lupa” in Taglog means ground/soil, which is a perfect name for these earrings that feature a brown/white marble with terracotta frame.
ilovethemoon.bigcartel.com/ #YEG-based
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, consider opting for a custom-made product. Mabel Garcia, the illustrator behind I Love the Moon, creates custom watercolour portraits stylized based on a photo you provide and other details and offer portraits for individuals, couples, weddings, families and pets. Prices vary depending on the type of portrait made.
We recommend: Family Portrait, $230
Forget going to Sears for a family portrait, get one illustrated. Plus, this beautiful piece can be hung in the family room for all to see.
jshinedesigns.ca/ #YEG-based
Jessica Sanderson-Barry, the creator and owner of JShineDesigns, produces beautiful handmade beaded jewelry that incorporates elements from the land such as tanned-hide (elk, moose and deer hide), porcupine quills, bone, etc. Designs sell out fast, so make sure to save the date for the next drop, which is April 28, 2021.
We recommend: Any of the items that are releasing on April 28
kanatanhealthsolutions.ca/ #YEG-based
Kanatan Health Solutions is an Indigenous family-owned business that produces high-quality culturally appropriate hand sanitization products and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Their products, such as the hand sanitizers, include ingredients from traditional medicinal plants like cedar, sweetgrass, sage and sweet tobacco, while providing a safe alternative to the strong alcohol-based varieties currently sold in the market.
We recommend: Sacred 4 Bundle Hand Sanitizer Sprays, $40.00
This four-pack bundle includes essential oils from the Four Sacred Smudges and honours the traditions of their ancestors. The sanitizers are Health Canada approved and contain 75% medical-grade isopropyl alcohol.
kynapparel.ca/ #YEG-based
KYN Apparel produces unique and bold fashion pieces, clothing and accessories, that blend vibrant African prints with common fabrics such as lace, tulle, denim, tweed and more. The result is a unique garment that is bold and colourful that will make any outfit pop.
We recommend: Foldover Clutch, $35
This clutch, which comes in two different sizes, features a colorful African wax print and multi-functions as a bag for small electronics or cables.
motherearthessentials.ca #YEG-based
Mother Earth Essentials is an Indigenous-owned company that creates luxurious bath and beauty products from natural ingredients and traditional recipes used in Indigenous culture.
We recommend: Mother Earth: Plants for Health & Beauty, $24.95
The founder, Carrie Armstrong, created a book with recipes and traditions for anyone who wants to improve their life with ethically-crafted health and beauty products that can be made at home. The recipes and traditions found in this book reflect the culture and the knowledge of the Medicine Wheel, featuring 26 edible and medicinal plants that can be gathered in nature as Carrie and her grandmother did.
newclassics.ca/ #YEG-based
New Classics is a sustainable e-retailer that merges social responsibility and environmental awareness through its curated edit of slow fashion brands. The Edmonton-based company sells everything from clothing to shoes to housewares.
We recommend: Soap Dream Collection, $34.95
These artisanal soap bars are handcrafted in small batches here in Edmonton. The soaps are made from a luxurious blend of olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil (sustainably grown and ethically sourced) and castor oil that is infused with moisturizing sodium lactate and kaolin clay to polish and refine the skin surface.
onenesholistics.ca/ #YEG-based
OneNes Holistics produces skincare made from high-quality raw ingredients from the earth, just as earth intended. Their products are 100% natural and do not contain any bad stuff like chemicals, fragrances, alcohol or preservatives.
We recommend: Skin Detox Coffee Body Scrub, $22.22
Get rid of dry skin with this coffee scrub that is described as a “deeply penetrating detox exfoliation in a jar.” Made out of raw and natural ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil and coffee, this scrub will help moisturize and nourish the skin and can help improve blood circulation with regular use.
tikkhu.com/ #YEG-based
Tikkhu is a contemporary jewelry line inspired by earth’s natural elements and textiles designed to elevate one’s everyday style. Curated and handcrafted in Edmonton, Tikkhu offers a range of minimalistic jewelry including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings that offers connectedness with its wearers and allows them to experience their own meanings within them that bring the pieces to life.
We recommend: LOVE YOUR MAMA Necklace, $38
This MAMA nameplate is the perfect gift for a mom or mom-to-be. Made out of gold-plated brass, this necklace is simple but packs a statement.
zenliondesign.ca/ #YEG-based
Edmonton’s Zen Lion Design offers super comfy, customized apparel, including crewnecks, hoodies, and t-shirts, which are hand pressed with custom designs. Some items are completely customizable that allows you to choose the type of garment, colour and text.
We recommend: Custom Kids Name Shirt, Hoodie or Crewneck, $44-$60
Forget wearing your heart on your sleeve, wear your kids names on your shirt! This customizable top features your kids names in the colour of your choice.
workhallstudio.com/ #YEG-based
Workhall is founded with the mission of artistry over commercialism and designs clothing using plant-based or plant-blended fabrics. They offer life-long alterations and tailoring to reduce garment waste.
We recommend: Jema, $98
This is one of their top-selling dresses, which is made of a lustrous and soft cupro knit fabric (a recycled fabric generated from discarded cotton plant waste. This dress is also anti-wrinkle and antibacterial making it the ideal garment for travel and long-term wear.
Calgary-based
alora.ca/ #YYC-based
Alora sells handmade jewelry for people to feel unique, empowered and beautiful and inspire women to reach higher, dream bigger and be confident. What’s more, they donate 5% of their profits to help women in their community.
We recommend: Mother and Child Pendant, $48
This handmade recycled brass necklace represents the unbreakable bond that exists between a mother and child. It’s a perfect gift to the moms in your life: new or expectant, wife, sister, or grandma.
landofdaughters.com/ #YYC-based
You can never have too many candles, or that’s what we like to think, anyway. Land of Daughters is a Metis and female led company that specializes in handcrafted candles, aroma room sprays, solid perfumes and wax melts available in a variety of scents. Not sure what scent is for you or that special someone? Land of Daughters offers sampler scents available to help you choose your perfect scent.
We recommend: LET’S STAY HOME Candle, $30
“Let’s Stay Home” is an effortless blend of woody sandalwood and soft lavender that is one of the company’s bestsellers. Plus, it’s a gentle reminder to stay at home during these turbulent times.
vuoyen.com/ #YYC-based
Vuoyen offers unique yet functional products made for everyday use. Products range from tote bags to 3D masks to scrunchies, which are all handmade and carefully curated in Calgary.
We recommend: The Utility Tote, $45
The Utility Tote is a versatile product that can be used for school, work, groceries, the gym—the possibilities are endless. This particular style features multiple pockets that are convenient for small items like hand sanitizer, masks, or keys.
All prices are quoted in Canadian dollars. All prices quoted were checked shortly before publication, but prices change often and might not match what is found online. Readers should make sure to check in-stock and delivery status this year.
An extreme cold snap, with temperatures dropping to the -30s, is just another reason for people to stay indoors.
Add windchill, and the outdoors becomes even more treacherous for Edmontonians experiencing homelessness. These winter conditions can be life-threatening and require a highly coordinated and responsive plan to ensure everyone has a safe and warm place to go.
With many indoor public spaces closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, people experiencing homelessness don’t have access to sites that would typically provide respite from the cold. And with fewer people out and about due to COVID, there is a risk of someone needing assistance not being spotted.
The city’s homeless-serving sector—comprised of the City of Edmonton and more than 25 system and agency partners—already coordinates the Sector Emergency Response, an emergency response plan that operates when weather conditions worsen and increase the risk of exposure for people experiencing homelessness by expanding supports to keep them safe from the elements.
However, the latest drop in temperatures intensified the need for additional support and triggered the activation of the city’s Extreme Weather Protocol, a set of actions that complement the existing Sector Emergency Response.
Additional measures in the protocol included removing transportation barriers to ensure people were getting to the shelters safely, as well as increasing shelter capacity through additional beds and supporting supplementary temporary accommodation locations.
This year’s Extreme Weather Protocol included activating two dedicated Edmonton Transit Service buses running overnight bus routes—a north loop and a south loop—between emergency shelters, transit centres, and several other key locations in the city to ensure safe transportation to shelters.
Staffed with outreach workers from various local agencies, who were on board all night supporting riders, the buses ran overnight, transporting people to one of the city’s shelters. Aside from regularly scheduled stops, buses also stopped if they saw someone out in the cold, inviting them on and providing assistance.
On the first night of the activation, approximately 60 people used the overnight bus to get to shelters, with that number more than doubling to nearly 141 a night as the extreme cold persisted and more people learned about the service. An additional two buses were added (one on each loop) to increase frequency and respond to higher than expected demand.
While there continues to be capacity at shelters, extra beds were also added as a contingency to ensure beds are always available, including:
- Tipinawâw (located at the Edmonton Convention Centre), operated by multiple agencies, where 50 spaces have been added for a total of 350 beds
- Trinity Lutheran Church, operated by the Mustard Seed, has opened up 40 spaces
- Al Rashid Mosque, operated by volunteers of the Canadian Islamic Center, has opened 72 spaces
These spaces are in addition to the existing temporary shelters in operation included Tipinawâw (as mentioned), CESSCO (Mustard Seed) and Moravian Church.
Edmontonians have also stepped up to support their vulnerable neighbours through the cold snap. Bissell Centre and partner agencies put out an urgent call asking for winter clothing for guests of Tipinawâw. Donations poured in from across the city providing essential items. The response from concerned citizens wanting to help was so great that the closet filled up, and the call out changed to focus on the most critical items – men’s winter clothing and gloves. Donations are still being accepted Monday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm. (Visit Bissell Centre for more details.)
The City, Homeward Trust, and community partners work together to determine when it’s appropriate to activate the City’s Extreme Weather Response. They consider Environment Canada weather warnings, Edmonton’s existing emergency shelter system capacity, and emerging concerns expressed by front-line staff who regularly interact with people experiencing homelessness.
“I didn’t have any friends that were in a position to help me and give me shelter, and neither were my parents, so I went to the streets,”
Ben did what lots of young people do with their hard-earned money: spend it.
He liked hanging out with his friends and going out on the weekends. He had a steady job, working at a moving company, and he had his own apartment.
Unfortunately, some bad decision-making and reckless spending habits led him into a path of homelessness.
“It was a series of making poor choices for a long period of time. I was bad at money management,” said Ben. “It took me a long time to get out of that.”
As a result of those choices, Ben experienced homelessness off and on over the course of three years, sleeping in temporary overnight shelters between Edmonton and Calgary.
Ben’s struggle with money management and budgeting is not unheard of, especially among young people. Most people have experienced a time in their life where they have spent their money on a new car or clothes instead of saving it. According to a 2019 survey from Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, 51 per cent of Canadians reported that they do not have a budget. The same study reported that 1 in 6 Canadians say their monthly spending exceeds their income.
What’s more, not everyone has access to financial advice or education that could help them better manage their day-to-day finances and bill payments. This can result in tragic consequences if not properly managed, as in the case with Ben.
Some people may be fortunate to go to parents or friends for help should things get bad financially. But this is not always possible especially if the parents or friends are not financially stable themselves. 53 per cent of Canadians are living paycheque to paycheque (BDO Canada Affordability Index 2019) and are unable to save for unexpected emergencies, let alone lend it out to others.
“I didn’t have any friends that were in a position to help me and give me shelter, and neither were my parents, so I went to the streets,” said Ben.
Ben left Edmonton for a bit to try out Calgary where he managed to land a seasonal job.
He was living with an ex-girlfriend at her parent’s home and the income from his seasonal job went to paying their rent, bills and groceries.
“Now, I’m broke. We break up, and I’m back at square one,” revealed Ben.
Ben returned to Edmonton. He managed to find some work but admitted that it was difficult to maintain it.
“There are a lot of x-factors that cause road bumps for you that people don’t typically consider like taking a shower, having a new set of clothes to wear or reliable transportation,” he said.
Without access to these things, maintaining a job, let alone finding a job, is just another added obstacle to the existing challenges of living on the streets.
“When you’re on the streets, your time is spent on trying to survive,” he said. “Most of my days were spent lining up for food or shelter.”
The difference: The path out of homelessness
The onset of COVID-19 resulted in a centralization of essential services for people experiencing homelessness at Tipinawâw, a 24/7 accommodation space in the Edmonton Convention Centre (ECC) that opened in late October 2020.
While at Tipinawâw, Ben decided to check out the on-site housing services. Community members are fully supported on their path toward stable housing through the assistance of the city’s Housing Support partners. Staff collect personal information, current living situation, how long they’ve been without a stable home, their short-term and long-term needs and other relevant details. This information is entered into a By Name List, which is a list of people connected to Coordinated Access and assessed as experiencing homelessness requiring referral to sector programs and resources.
The premise of Housing Support is simple: it provides immediate access to housing with no preconditions and then connects people with the support they need to stabilize and retain their housing.
Prior to that, Ben hadn’t considered connecting with housing services because he didn’t think he would be eligible.
“I never even thought to reach out. I thought you needed to meet a certain amount of criteria to even qualify for it and I didn’t think I could qualify for housing assistance,” he revealed. “[ I considered myself] low-priority because I’m young and can still work. My own morals caused me to not reach out for housing help for a long time.”
Even after that initial connection, Ben didn’t think much would come out of it.
“I didn’t put a lot of eggs in the housing basket. I figured it would be two years until I got housed,” said Ben.
Then, in early December 2020, Ben caught COVID and was sent to a hotel where he could safely isolate. In addition to the temporary overnight shelter space, Edmonton’s homeless-serving sector has been operating isolation spaces for people experiencing homelessness with COVID-like symptoms. When he was in isolation, the head nurse connected him to Jake, one of Homeward Trust’s Housing Outreach Workers (HOW), to continue the process he began with housing services at Tipinawâw.
“I really appreciate[d] what Jake did and Homeward Trust.”
“Jake frequently checked in with Ben and provided him with updates on the housing search”, describes Ben. Then one day, Jake informed Ben of a vacancy for a one-bedroom apartment in market housing.
“I looked at the pictures and told him that I wanted it,” said Ben.
Just before getting released from isolation, Ben learned that he had been approved for the apartment and on Dec. 21, 2020, he moved in.
“Everything that I have been trying to do has become 80% easier because I have my own place,” he said. “I thought this was going to be me in three years from now.”
“I really appreciate[d] what Jake did and Homeward Trust.”
Housing Support operates as a client-centered, individualized program to focus on what success looks like for each person, because needs differ. Housing Support providers work with individuals to determine what they want, what is holding them back from housing and what they need to be successful.
Once housed, participants like Ben are assigned a Follow-up Support Worker (FSW) who helps them maintain their housing. Ben receives weekly home visits and monthly rental assistance until he can increase his income. Ben confessed that he felt scared about getting a home, because he feared that he would lose it again without securing a job first. The difference this time is that he’s supported through Housing Support.
“They don’t just give you an apartment and then say ‘see ya!,’” he said. “There’s so much extra beyond just housing. They’re very involved.
“Homeward Trust has alleviated [my worry] and has set me up for a long time where if I can’t succeed with what Homeward Trust has given me then the problem lies with me.”
Now that Ben is housed, he has big ambitions. He hopes to start his own moving company and plans to enroll in some business classes to make that dream a reality. He’s also been actively pursuing his hobbies—making music and drawing—which he said he wasn’t able to do when he was experiencing homelessness.
Ben added that none of this could have happened if he hadn’t been housed.
“Housing takes care of everything—mentally and physically. If you don’t have a safe place to call home, then how can you improve? [Housing] needs to be the first thing,” he said. “It’s way too hard to do anything else if you don’t have a home.”
Ben is one of 13,197 people who have been housed through Edmonton’s Housing Support program since 2009 (Edmonton BNL, October 2021).
Not one program or program type can reduce homelessness in the community—it is the relationship between interventions that ultimately drives community goals of ending homelessness. Short-term housing solutions temporarily bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing by providing individuals with wrap-around support and services to help stabilize their lives.
The Salvation Army’s Edmonton Centre of Hope (ECOH) offers an intermediate step between emergency shelter and permanent supportive housing.
“It’s meant to be short-term,” says Vanessa Sim, Assistant Executive Director at ECOH.
The Salvation Army, Canada’s largest non-governmental provider of social services, operates an increasing number of short-term housing facilities across Canada that offer people at risk of or experiencing homelessness a safe, supportive and semi-independent environment where they can rebuild their lives and make the transition from homelessness to stable housing.
ECOH oversees the operations of these housing programs, which include three facilities for men and women that can be rented for up to two years depending on the program. Residents can stay in dorm rooms or a private room. Residents are provided a supportive living environment that meets their basic needs while equipping them with the supports that enhances stability and prepares them for independent living.
“Our goal is to have them transition as safely and quickly as possible to permanent housing solutions, so they don’t land with us too long,” says Sim. “We have a team that works hard with our community members to aid in their transitions as safely as possible.”
Sim adds that the average length of stay for a person is typically around 118 days. Some residents just need some light support and can find permanent housing on their own, while others might need a bit more support. Those who require extra help are referred to other housing supports, including Housing Support teams, to assist them with securing permanent housing.
“Sometimes budgeting can be a factor, addiction can be a factor, mental health can be a factor—our residents come with many barriers. We’re trying to help reduce those barriers to transition into permanent housing,” says Sim.
Addressing those barriers at the outset allows individuals to access permanent housing easily in the future. For example, Salvation Army has an ID program onsite that enables them to assist individuals who may not have ID. They also will work with Alberta Supports to assist individuals who may require financial assistance.
“It’s an honour to be a part of this chapter in their lives as they move towards permanent housing solutions,” she says. “The sooner we can get people out of short-term housing and bridge them into permanent housing, the better. We all have a collective goal that ultimately ensures Edmontonians experiencing homelessness find stable and safe housing.”
For more information on the Salvation Army’s transitional housing, visit Housing and Shelters – The Salvation Army in Canada
