Edmonton Charity Proposes Supportive Housing to Combat Homelessness

The **Jasper Place Wellness Centre** (JPWC) is seeking to acquire three parcels of land in the **Highlands** and **Calder** areas of Edmonton to develop supportive transitional housing. The initiative aims to address the urgent need for affordable housing as winter approaches, with co-founder **Taylor Soroka** emphasizing the life-threatening risks faced by homeless individuals during the colder months.

In a presentation to the **Edmonton City Council’s** executive committee, Soroka stated, “As winter’s coming, people are losing limbs and dying. The faster we can stop that from happening — and we know how, we have a proven model how to do that. The sooner we do it, the less people will die.” The council’s administration has recommended approving the sale of the sites at below-market value to facilitate the project.

Approval for the land sale is also crucial for JPWC to access funding from the **Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation**, which has pledged **$10 million** to expand the **Bridge Healing** services across Edmonton. This funding would support both capital costs and ongoing operational expenses for the proposed center.

JPWC’s plan includes building three Healing House buildings, with a total of **36 units** designed to accommodate **72 individuals**. Each unit will feature essential amenities like a bathroom, kitchenette, and shared living spaces. The organization’s Bridge Healing program collaborates with emergency room physicians to assist individuals experiencing homelessness, particularly those being discharged from hospitals.

A one-year evaluation of the Bridge Healing program revealed a **76 percent decrease** in emergency department visits among clients who had a housing plan upon discharge. This successful model, initially launched at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, has since expanded to include referrals from all emergency departments in Edmonton.

Dr. **Louis Francescutti**, an emergency room physician and public health professor at the **University of Alberta**, advocates for a comprehensive approach to address homelessness. He stated, “Folks that are experiencing homelessness are at great risk of dying, and we have to approach this very differently, and we have to give them a higher priority.” Francescutti explained that the funding requested by JPWC could potentially lead to the establishment of at least eight additional healing homes, significantly impacting the local homeless population.

Despite the potential benefits, some residents in the Highlands area expressed concerns about the community engagement process. Brent Baim, a local resident, noted, “We were sort of caught off guard when we saw the rezoning sign… it appeared to a lot of us that the outcome was already predetermined before we even went into that public hearing on the rezoning.”

During the executive committee meeting, **Coun. Tim Cartmell**, who is also running for mayor, proposed a motion to delay approval of the land sale in order to engage more thoroughly with concerned residents. He emphasized the importance of community awareness regarding such developments. “We’re doing things to neighbourhoods… and people don’t know what’s going on and they don’t feel heard,” Cartmell said.

The motion was ultimately defeated by a vote of **three to two**. Cartmell’s motion received support from **Coun. Karen Principe**, while Mayor **Amarjeet Sohi**, **Coun. Keren Tang**, and **Coun. Aaron Paquette** voted against it. The executive committee also voted in favor of the administration’s recommendation to proceed with the land sale and access the **$10 million** in funding.

**Coun. Erin Rutherford**, representing Ward Anirniq, highlighted the pressing issues of homelessness and safety in Edmonton, stating, “A human right is not up for debate.” The decision now awaits further discussion at the city council level, with a date yet to be determined.

The **Jasper Place Wellness Centre’s** initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for supportive housing solutions in addressing homelessness, particularly as winter poses heightened risks for vulnerable populations.