Edmonton mayor seeks homeless crisis emergency declaration: ‘System is at a breaking point’

Edmonton’s mayor says the city’s homeless situation has reached a breaking point, so he is seeking to declare an emergency and hold a meeting with other levels of government.

Getting those other players to the table could prove challenging, however.

Amarjeet Sohi said in a news release Thursday he will call a special meeting of city council on Monday, Jan. 15 where he will motion to declare a housing and homelessness emergency in the city of Edmonton.

“Edmonton, we are at a breaking point,’ the mayor said in a blog post that accompanied the news release.

“I hear your calls to change how we are handling encampments, caring for our unhoused neighbours and improving the safety of communities impacted by encampments.”

Sohi said he’s heard the recent actions at encampment clearances may not be in line with the city’s commitments to upholding reconciliation, and its obligation of care in communities across the city.

“While members of the social sector, EPS and city administration suggested important changes to the high risk encampment response in their December meeting, it is clear more changes are needed,” the news release said.

Over the past two weeks, Edmonton police and city crews have worked to dismantle eight homeless camps deemed to be high risk, either because of gang activity, drug use, fire risk, how long the camp has existed or other factors.

Hundreds of needles and propane tanks have been recovered and thousands of kilograms of garbage hauled away. Several dozen people were displaced, according to numbers from City of Edmonton news releases issued after the closures.

Residents of the encampments and advocates have said they don’t have anywhere else to go because they don’t feel safe in overnight emergency shelters.

Mark