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.

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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.

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“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).

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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

Throughout our engagements, many people wanted to know more about the experiences of people who have lived in supportive housing. We have collected some stories from a group of people living in four different supportive housing developments. Names have been changed to protect people’s privacy, but no other details have been changed.

Harris

Harris grew up in New Brunswick, but moved to Alberta to work in a machine shop around 30 years ago. In 2001, he lost his job, and with few connections and resources, he found himself homeless shortly thereafter. He spent almost 7 years living in encampments in the river valley and struggling with addiction.

In 2014, Homeward Trust’s Pathways to Housing program staff met Harris and helped him access a place in supportive housing. He has experienced significant health challenges in recent years and has lost much of his mobility, but the supports and access to medical care available in supportive housing keep him comfortable. 

It took awhile for Harris to adjust to living in housing. After so many years sleeping outside and being constantly on alert, he struggled to feel secure in his apartment, and for the first year he always kept his things in a backpack by the door, afraid he’d be forced to leave. But in the five years he’s lived in supportive housing, he’s become adjusted, and likes the security of knowing he’ll have a safe place to sleep at night. 

Harris describes himself as a private person, but he enjoys the camaraderie of supportive housing, and having a place where he can put his things and enjoy some privacy. Because of his disability, he doesn’t go out much, but he likes to drink coffee from his favourite mug and watch black and white movies with other residents during the day, particularly Westerns. He’s also developed an interest in gardening and is looking after many plants in his apartment.

In terms of services, Harris gets help with accessing disability-friendly transportation when he needs to travel, grocery shopping, managing his AISH cheques, and taking his medication. He is still in recovery from drug use, but he is able to access weekly group therapy sessions to talk about addictions and recovery, and he makes use of the treatment programs that are available through the housing and medical staff.

When asked what he wishes people outside of supportive housing knew about this type of facility, Harris said he would want people to understand that residents are just trying to get help, and that the dignity and safety they get from being housed is really important. For the future, he plans to continue living in supportive housing and getting treatment for his health issues and addiction. 

Darren

Darren is 24 years old. He lives with Fetal-Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), but he didn’t get an FASD diagnosis until he was an adult. In the past, he had a hard time maintaining independent housing or living with family. He became connected with supportive housing through his social worker. While he has never been homeless, his worker felt he would benefit from the structure, support and community of supportive housing. His rent in supportive housing is paid through his AISH payments. 

Darren has been living in supportive housing for three years. For most of that time, he’s lived with his roommate Eric, who has become a good friend, and together they have a cat. On a regular day, Darren likes to visit the gym and the nearby library, and volunteers with a local community youth organization, where he is working with the staff to develop an anti-bullying program. He has previously worked part-time in retail positions when seasonal work was available; now he is working on building his resume with the help of the supportive housing staff. 

Darren said that moving into supportive housing has been “liberating” for him. He has people to help him manage his emotions and day to day tasks when he needs support. He has found a small community of people who understand his experience with FASD. Darren said that in his life, he’s found that “there are times in life when yourself isn’t enough, and sometimes it’s as simple as having someone there to help.” That help has allowed him to maintain housing and develop independence.

For the future, Darren is hoping to get his anti-bullying program off the ground. He would like to enroll in school to finish his GED through Norquest and eventually hopes to become a social worker so he can give back the support he has received. While he doesn’t see himself moving out of supportive housing soon, he is hopeful that eventually he will feel secure and prepared enough to manage living on his own when he is ready. 

Leslie

Leslie left home in northern Saskatchewan when he was 13 years old — more than 50 years ago now. He had 50 cents in his pocket when he left, but he also took with him a knowledge of Cree and a strong respect for Indigenous ceremony. He struggled with addiction over the next several decades, travelling across Canada and falling in and out of sobriety.

Around four years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer and received treatment in Red Deer. He lost the ability to walk, and was not expected to live, but he worked every day to walk again and reconnect with Indigenous ceremony. In the midst of his cancer recovery, he was invited by an Indigenous elder to come live in a supportive housing facility in Edmonton that is centred around Indigenous culture and traditions. 

For Leslie, the biggest impact of supportive housing has been that it has given him hope. He told us that “a little bit of hope can break a cycle”, and that the feeling of safety and stability he’s found in housing has been critical to his health recovery. The staff and residents participate in the ceremony together, and that process has helped Leslie to gain a stronger sense of hope and self-worth, to ground himself in the community, and to take on a leadership role within the housing facility. Today, he has regained his mobility and is cancer-free. 

As he ages and after experiencing significant health challenges, one of the things that Leslie thinks about in his supportive housing is death with dignity. In supportive housing, he’s seen other residents pass away from old age or from illness, but they’ve been surrounded by staff and friends who help them pass comfortably and with dignity and, in some cases, have helped them reconnect with family before passing. Leslie said that this kind of dignity and respect isn’t available for people who pass away while living on the streets. 

Today, Leslie is an active part of his community. He goes to garage sales and community events and sells his paintings, rattles and drums at craft sales in the area. He wants to continue staying in supportive housing and building the connections he has made with staff, other residents, and with his family. 

Steven

Years ago, Steven was working in Halifax for the federal government. He had a family and a job, but he was also living with undiagnosed and untreated schizophrenia and depression. When he started to struggle, he lost his job, and things progressively fell apart. For years afterwards, Steven was homeless and worked as a general labourer on construction sites across Canada, including in Edmonton.

Steven said it was particularly difficult to be homeless in Edmonton. He got into trouble with police for loitering in transit shelters to stay warm, and once got gangrene from untreated frostbite. Throughout all of this, Steven’s schizophrenia went undiagnosed, making it difficult for him to access the services he would need to get on his feet.

Eventually, the police who picked Steven up for loitering asked for a psychiatric evaluation, at which point he received a diagnosis and was placed in a medical facility, where he received treatment for a year and a half.

Steven was then referred to a supportive housing facility focused on individuals living with schizophrenia. Steven described supportive housing as “a stable, predictable environment,” which has been important for his mental wellbeing over the past four years. The community provides him with a good balance between socialization and privacy — he can go to his apartment when he feels overwhelmed or spend time with other residents in the common areas when he wants the company.

Steven likes the concerts and events that the staff sometimes host in the building for residents and the surrounding community, but other than that he doesn’t like to go out very much. He told us he doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. Sometimes he likes to go for walks or even occasionally make interesting purchases at Value Village.

For the future, Steven is hoping to stay in supportive housing. The help he receives in supportive housing, like medication management, assistance in managing his finances, and social support is important to him, and to maintaining a good quality of life.

When asked what he would like people outside of supportive housing to know about his experience, Steven said that while he knows his life story and day-to-day life might not be the same as a typical person’s, he feels safe and comfortable after many years of struggle and is happy where he is.

Learn more here: Iris Court

Community members living with a severe mental illness like schizophrenia are at a higher risk of experiencing homelessness. Some behaviours and symptoms can threaten a person’s ability to live independently or maintain housing if they are not able to access support to manage them. For these individuals, supportive housing provides what they need to have a safe and supported place to call home.

“You don’t do well if you don’t have your basic needs met—period. It starts with having a home and a roof over your head,” explains Rubyann Rice, Provincial Executive Director at Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. “With schizophrenia, having a safe and secure place is absolutely critical.”

The Schizophrenia Society of Alberta (SSA), in partnership with Homeward Trust, operates Iris Court, a supportive housing facility in southeast Edmonton. Iris Court provides services within a congregate housing environment for people living with schizophrenia and other severe mental illness with a history or risk of housing instability.

Recovery is at the core of supportive housing. On-site service offerings contribute to an individual’s overall health and well-being, with support staff available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other services offered on-site include three meals a day and snacks, fully furnished rooms, laundry facilities, medication monitoring and assistance with daily living, and opportunities to participate in a variety of support services, recreational activities, and community service referrals. 

Residents rely on the housing and supports provided by the SSA, but getting involved in and being a part of the broader community is vital for recovery from severe mental illness. In fact, neighbourhood integration is a key contributor to the success of any supportive housing program. Homeward Trust, through its funding and oversight role for supportive housing in Edmonton, requires operators to meet “good neighbour” expectations, which are set out in the development stage and include processes to engage the community to collectively address concerns. 

Iris Court prides itself on the positive interactions it has had with its neighbours, thanks to transparency and deliberate community consultations. 

When Bonnie Doon was selected as the location for the supportive housing project, Rice had numerous conversations with residents, as well as a three-hour community meeting, which was open to the public, to answer any questions or concerns. 

“We informed them of our intentions, and we were completely transparent with them—transparency is huge,” she says. “We had a psychiatrist and a person living with the illness at the meeting to answer any questions. By the end of the meeting, the mood changed. We turned a corner.” 

At that meeting, Iris Court collaborated with community residents to develop a Good Neighbour Agreement, which Iris Court adheres to today. 

“It’s still live—it can be adapted anytime based on issues that come up in the community,” she says. 

As part of that agreement, Iris Court offers an open-door policy for any concerns or complaints. 

Iris Court residents are active participants in their community and often engage in local community events, utilize services and businesses in the area, and help their neighbours. The community also actively engages with the residents and invites them to be a part of important community decisions. Recently, representatives from Iris Court were invited to participate in a consultation for a renewable energy project, adds Trueman Macdonald, Director of Housing at Schizophrenia Society of Alberta. 

“[Our residents] want to be a part of the community,” he reflects. “They are protective of their home, their community.”

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By: Jasmine Salazar

The COVID-19 pandemic presents a host of significant health, social, and economic challenges. Factors such as high rates of chronic health conditions, congregate sheltering and housing instability increases the risk of infection among people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, which are further compounded by the disruption of services due to a changing social and health service landscape. 

To ensure our community members experiencing homelessness had access to critical services and supports during the pandemic, Edmonton’s homeless-serving sector organized a response plan that coordinated community, health system and government efforts. Priority concerns were access to healthcare, safe spaces and continued supports, especially with many organizations forced to shut down their brick-and-mortar sites. The result was opening the Edmonton EXPO Centre as a centralized hub for critical services and supports via a daytime drop-in program as well as a 24/7 isolation shelter for those showing COVID-like symptoms. 

Part of the response involved mobilizing a medical station at the EXPO Centre—an effort that involved several health organizations, including HomeCare, Indigenous Wellness Clinic, Streetworks, Mint Health + Drugs, Primary Care Network and Mobile Integrated Healthcare Paramedics providing a range of health services under one roof. Services available included: wound care, foot care, STI testing, pregnancy testing, case management, medication inquiries and support, connecting to community health resources and other general health concerns

For our community members, this centralization of services meant that their immediate needs could be met more efficiently in a barrier-free environment. Since opening on April 28, 2020, the medical station has helped more than 1400 people. 

What are the benefits of working alongside each other this way, and how is this different than business as usual?

Stephen, Alberta Health Services Homecare: Normally our programs work separately in the community—our teams usually work in their own silos. By being together under one roof we have been able to streamline processes and support each other in areas where we may not be as strong. Being together in one station has shown that our programs are much more complimentary to each other. 

Andrew, Mint Health + Drugs: Ability to think creatively to collaborate between different healthcare providers. It has been a unique situation to allow us to work together in a more holistic approach than usual.

Kelsey, Indigenous Wellness Clinic: We all have a different skillset that allows us to help the population to the fullest potential. We can collaborate effectively and work as a team to ensure the client receives the best care possible. 

Elaine, Community Paramedic: The inter-professional collaboration has been valuable since each practitioner brings a specialty to assist patients. Our multi-faceted team has been able to deliver quality patient-centred care during these times when accessing and navigating primary healthcare is extra difficult. We have learned a lot from each other, and how best our resources can be used in the future to collaborate.

Denise, Streetworks: We all have different scopes of practice so between all of us we can fill in any gaps in service that would exist if we were working here solo. 

Lanie, Primary Care Network: We can utilize each others’ resources to come up with a concise plan of care that will be the most effective in providing care to the patients. 

How has this collaboration helped maintain access to health care for community members experiencing homelessness in the context of pandemic?

Stephen: The pandemic has displaced many community members from where they normally access supports. Additionally, many of these sites had shut down or reduced hours. Coming together in the way we have has allowed us to provide short-term relief and support to help manage people’s medical concerns while they are away from their normal supports. We have been able to help a large volume of people maintain a positive health status in the community during the pandemic.

Andrew: The EXPO allows people to access all resources (social and medical) and allows for a patient-centered approach with services. Working together under one roof has been extremely positive and demonstrated what an interdisciplinary practice in the inner city could look like.

Denise: Through the partnerships formed here, continuity of care has increased because we can easily collaborate on care plans and performing front line medical care for people experiencing homelessness and facing multiple barriers to accessing health care. 

Elaine: Our specialties cater to most of our patients needs. We have been able to support patients with barriers to healthcare, especially during these times of pandemic.

Lanie: The collaboration has ensured that patients do not fall through the cracks or get forgotten about. But most importantly, it lets the community members know that through thick and thin they are not forgotten about and that their needs will be met during a pandemic. We are here to support them. 

Can you share a story of someone who was helped by receiving services from the medical station? 

Andrew: A patient came in with a lower limb infection with multiple skin lesions, redness, and swelling. The community paramedics conducted a culture swab and collaborated with an on-call MD. The RN and LPNs handled the wound care by cleansing the affected area then applying a dressing. Lastly, the pharmacy staff was able to assess the appropriateness of the prescription and initiate medication therapy. All of this occurred within a timely manner, without the need for the patient to travel to different health care settings and potentially delaying treatment. This perfectly depicts the benefits of inter-professional collaboration and most importantly, sets the gold standard for patient-centred care.

Kelsey: I saw a patient two months ago who was experiencing withdrawal from fentanyl use. I had helped him get an appointment to start OAT. I recently saw him again and he informed me that hadn’t used fentanyl for two months. 

What do you hope emerges from this collaboration?

Stephen: I hope this will facilitate an openness to future projects and collaborations with our community partners. This experience has shown its effectiveness. I hope we can carry that over to our community roles when we are no longer all under one roof.

Denise: We have built interprofessional relationships that allow us to collaborate across sectors more easily in the future after Expo. Ultimately better continuity of care will hopefully be possible within Edmonton’s inner city.

Andrew: We are grateful to have been part of such a unique and collaborative program, which demonstrated the synergy of interdisciplinary teamwork. I hope this partnership will serve as a catalyst for continued collaboration, and transitions into a site where participants are able to continue accessing housing, social and medical services.

Kelsey: I hope the partnerships will evolve, and that continuous communication and collaboration can continue. Now that we all know how we can integrate care for our clients, we can move forward to ensure that the inner city population has better access to care, is connected to the appropriate resources, and that overall we can prevent people from falling through the cracks. 

Lanie: I hope that more information on how to help and support those who suffer with mental health and drug addictions will be more readily available. With community members, first impressions are lasting impressions and it’s important to make that good first impression so they can continue to feel safe and comfortable to seek help when needed.

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Westwood Manor is a space to find healing, hope and community.

Located north of downtown Edmonton, Westwood Manor is a 20-unit Supportive Housing program operated by The Mustard Seed. Many residents have experienced chronic homelessness with barriers that continue to jeopardize their physical and mental health and their ability to retain market housing. 

Supportive Housing, by definition, provides stable housing paired with wraparound support and care for people with multiple complex needs, including mental health, addictions, trauma and disabilities or physical ailments. At Westwood Manor, residents have access to 24/7 on-site staff and clinical supports to help them on their journey.

But it’s not just on-site supports that are key to the success of the program and its participants. Staff at Westwood Manor have made it a priority for residents to have a positive relationship with each other and their neighbours. Building community has proven to be vital component of recovery and key to the success of any Supportive Housing program.

Katie Bosse, Westwood Manor’s Housing and Property Manager, recalls a resident who was in and out of homelessness for a long period of time. She had young children that could not live with her due to the precarious housing situation, which also prevented her from seeing them. Moving into Westwood Manor provided her with a stable home to reconnect with her children. During her 18 months at Westwood Manor, she was provided with the support to address her addictions and mental health and improve her overall well-being, which enabled her to graduate from the housing support program and move into market housing on her own.

“We really try to purposefully and intentionally create opportunities for the community to form between our residents, our staff and the neighbourhood,” says Landon Hildebrand, Director of Housing and Clinical Operations at the Mustard Seed. “We see community as a cure de facto when it comes to working through addictions for the whole spectrum, and as a way to dissociate from previous social lifestyles and connections to addiction.” 

Residents participate in several activities together that establish positive relationships, including Sunday brunch, gardening, volunteering, and attending community league events. 

The residents and staff at Westwood Manor are committed to demonstrating to their neighbours that they are a positive presence. This has been achieved through transparency and ongoing conversations with neighbours to build rapport. 

“We’re known in the community as a building that helps. We’ve had community members come knock on our door when they needed help because they know we are a safe space and a helping place,” says Katie.

For instance, one resident shovels his neighbour’s driveways in winter. He’s been doing it since 2016, and the response has been very positive.

“He’s got some regulars,” Katie adds. “As soon as the snow falls, they call him up. Our neighbours are appreciative for his help.”