A 47% surge in the number of unhoused and underhoused people between January and July suggests Edmonton may not be ready to shelter those who would otherwise sleep rough in freezing winter temperatures, the co-hosts of Episode 278 of Speaking Municipally said.
Edmonton's shelter squeeze worsening?
"Very soon, we will be in that danger zone where people sleeping outside get frostbite and get amputations, and in the worst case, die," co-host Troy Pavlek said. "It's looking like we're not any more prepped to handle this than we were last year."
Homeward Trust's By Name List report, which sources data from more than 65 social agencies, revealed that the number of people who are unhoused or in unstable housing has jumped from just more than 2,700 in January to more than 4,000 in July. About 2,200 people are "provisionally accommodated," meaning they are in transitional or temporary housing, leaving approximately 1,800 in need of shelter. Edmonton has 1,801 shelter spaces. The Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness said the number of people who are unhoused or in unstable housing might be greater, however, due to people who have been evicted from encampments potentially not being counted.
Co-host Mack Male noted that Homeward Trust is conducting its Point in Time count and survey this month to ensure the count is as accurate as possible. "They're recruiting volunteers for that now," Male said. "If you want to get out and help, you can do that, and that activity does give us more detailed information about the number of folks who are unhoused."
Signs of vibrancy?
At the top of the show, Male and Pavlek contemplated the cost-benefit ratio of Edmonton's new eponymous sign at Churchill Square. Created by Indigenous artists Michelle Sound and Crystal Lee Clark alongside design agency Vignettes Showcase, Pavlek reported that it cost $270,304.70. That's roughly $255,000 from the Downtown Vibrancy Fund and $15,000 from Prairies Economic Development Canada. "(The) jury's out on if this is (good) bang for your buck," he said.
But Male challenged Pavlek's assertion that the money could be better spent if it were given to businesses. Male said he saw people engage with the new sign and the nearby Canadian Finals Rodeo sign on Rice Howard Way. "These kinds of things serve a purpose, right?" Male said. "In terms of art and public art, which we talk about on this podcast more than you might think, it gets people talking, and that's a good thing, right? It gets people engaged in the downtown."
Male saw the sign in person. Pavlek saw Sound's Instagram post of it. Pavlek praised the sign's visual appeal but opined that the City of Edmonton's press release image to announce it was less than exciting. "The press release is the most unflattering, least pleasing image it was possible to take of this," he said.
One out of four ain't bad?
Though city council was mostly away from meetings in the week leading up to the episode, the co-hosts still had business to discuss. One item was a City News poll that suggests low support among Edmonton voters for incumbent candidates as the 2025 election approaches. Though it shows only one in four Edmontonians want to reelect their councillor and the mayor, Pavlek said he would be "giddy" reading these numbers if he was in office. Tune in for his explanation.
There's much more in the Sept. 27 episode of Speaking Municipally, including peanut-sized penalties for 2021 mayoral candidates who overspent on their campaigns, a report from Sen. Paula Simons on challenges and opportunities for municipalities, drivers and a cyclist crashing into Valley Line trains, an op-ed on planning, and a newsroom update from Taproot managing editor Tim Querengesser. Speaking Municipally comes out on Fridays. Listening and subscription options are all right here.
Photo: Speaking Municipally co-host Troy Pavlek said this City of Edmonton photo of its new artwork does not do the work justice. (Supplied)