Alberta Allocates $3 Million for Navigation Centres in Edmonton and Calgary

The Alberta government announced a significant investment of $3 million this year to establish navigation centres in Edmonton and Calgary. This initiative aims to connect vulnerable populations with essential resources, reflecting the government’s commitment to addressing homelessness in the province.

The new navigation centre in Edmonton officially opened on March 26, 2024, following an initial investment of $350,000 for its setup and operation. According to Amber Edgerton, press secretary for the Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services, this effort is part of a broader strategy, with the province allocating $220 million this year to combat homelessness. “In Edmonton, Alberta’s government supports more than 2,000 shelter spaces, including 150 Indigenous-led spaces and over 250 women-only spaces,” Edgerton stated in an email to Postmedia.

The navigation centre serves as a comprehensive resource hub for Edmonton’s estimated 4,000 homeless individuals. Located at the Bissell Centre West, the centre offers a variety of services, including transportation, financial benefits, and same-day Alberta identification. Additionally, Indigenous clients can access cultural supports, while all visitors can find food, showers, clothing, and storage facilities for their belongings.

Tim Pasma, senior director of programs at Hope Mission, emphasized the centre’s role in enhancing the quality of care provided. “It’s not just about bringing in more people to the centre. It’s also about enhancing the quality of care that we can provide,” he explained. The larger, more accessible location allows for private conversations essential for personal matters, such as counselling or replacing lost identification.

This initiative follows the successful pilot of a previous navigation centre, which faced criticism when winter encampments were dismantled, leaving many vulnerable individuals without shelter. The new centre aims to address such gaps more effectively.

Data indicates that the Edmonton Navigation and Support Centre has already assisted over 7,780 unique individuals and facilitated more than 33,700 connections to critical services as of mid-August. In Calgary, similar figures have emerged, with 6,900 connections made for income support and over 8,500 clients receiving same-day identification.

Success stories are emerging from the navigation centre’s operations. One individual, who arrived with a leg infection, received timely medical assistance through the Radius Health team, while another client was reunited with family after being presumed missing for over a decade. These narratives illustrate the centre’s potential to create meaningful change in the lives of those it serves.

The Bissell Centre, a longstanding organization in Edmonton, now partners with the navigation centre, which aligns closely with its mission to alleviate poverty. As co-CEO Johanna Knettig noted, the navigation centre provides a perfect fit for their ongoing efforts to assist vulnerable populations.

Police in Edmonton view the navigation centre as a valuable resource for their interactions with vulnerable individuals. Acting Inspector Mike Kemble remarked on the importance of having a central location where people can access various services, enhancing the support network for those in need.

With the centre now fully operational, plans for additional resources, including shelter facilities, are underway. This initiative marks a significant step toward more comprehensive support for Edmonton’s homeless population, demonstrating a proactive approach to tackling homelessness in the province.