Multisector approach to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness

The City of Camrose and the Camrose Police Service recognize that people experiencing homelessness is a growing issue across North America, and that members of our community are affected as well. While the scale in Camrose is smaller than in many cities, it still affects vulnerable individuals and raises understandable concerns for residents.

Homelessness, mental health challenges, addictions, and poverty are complex issues that need to be addressed through the coordinated efforts of several agencies/organizations.

The people impacted by these challenges need support that the criminal justice system is not designed to provide. This means that bylaws or enforcement can only offer temporary solutions and do not address the root causes.

Recently, there have been safety concerns at a small number of encampments, including a fire and the discovery of weapons, making it harder for emergency services to respond quickly, especially when camps are in remote areas.

To address these concerns with both compassion and safety in mind, the City created a coordinated group of City agencies, bringing together Public Works, Parks, Fire Services, Family Community Support Services FCSS, Bylaw, and Camrose Police Service Police Crisis Team (PACT). This collaborative group ensures that encampments are dismantled safely while individuals are offered meaningful support and connections to services, not just enforcement.

Each week, the group meets to check whether any new information or concerns have come in, including occasional drone footage used to identify camps in harder-to-reach areas. If a site is identified, the team attends together so cleanup, safety checks, and outreach can happen at the same time. While individuals cannot be forced to accept help, the group is encouraged to see that some people are beginning to engage with available supports.

Since the inception of the group five encampments have been safely dismantled and since early November there have been no new complaints about encampments.

This work is aligned with the broader efforts of the Camrose and District Housing and Homelessness Task Force, a regional partnership dedicated to reducing housing insecurity through advocacy, programming, funding and development. Guided by evidence-based research and Housing First principles, the Task Force brings together the City of Camrose, Camrose County, FCSS, first responders, housing providers, health services, education partners and others who support residents facing housing insecurity.

Together, these agencies and organizations are working toward a future where residents have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. This past summer, Camrose City Council approved 18-month seed funding for a Housing and Community Support Navigator position to begin Coordinated Access work, connecting individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness with the services they need. This crisis response supplements the work of the PACT team, whose pilot project has focused on select individuals and coordinated support, reducing calls for service to the Camrose Police Service by approximately 88%.

The City of Camrose and the Camrose Police Service remain committed to approaching this issue with compassion, safety, and teamwork and will continue to keep the community informed as this work progresses. We thank residents for their understanding and support as we work toward meaningful and sustainable change.