- The province has announced a $21.5 million funding package to support emergency homeless shelters, isolation facilities, and emergency women's shelters this winter. About $7.2 million will be allocated to shelters in Edmonton. Jason Luan, minister of community and social services, said the money will increase shelter capacity in Edmonton to 1,280 beds.
- An additional $1.5 million has been committed to operate Commonwealth Stadium as an emergency shelter this winter. It will have around 200 beds once operational next month. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said the funding will help this winter, but long-term solutions are needed. "Shelters do play a role in tackling homelessness, but long-term solutions are in supportive housing, wraparound services for mental health and addictions recovery as well as supervised consumption sites that allow people to get appropriate services," he said.
- Edmonton police chief Dale McFee will co-chair a new provincial task force that will develop an action plan on homelessness for the province. Last month, McFee told reporters that solutions and interventions beyond housing were needed. "It's not about just giving people a house, although we know that is an important step," he said. More than 12,000 people have been housed in Edmonton using the housing-first model.
- Explore Edmonton estimates the World Cup qualifying games brought $30-40 million in economic benefits to the region with 30% of attendees from outside the city, Global News reports. The success of the games has raised hopes for Edmonton's 2026 World Cup bid. FIFA has spoken positively about the city's chances but indicated the artificial turf at Commonwealth Stadium would have to go.
