NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE The number of homeless people in our community is increasing and this is just the "tip of the iceberg." Jaime Rogers, manager of homelessness and housing development Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, talks about the number of people using the overnight shelter and those who may be couching surfing trying to avoid that option.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Medicine Hat Community Housing Society says the number of people experiencing homelessness is significantly higher this month compared to last December, and the trend is expected to continue.
“As things are shifting in our economy and our landscape I think we are seeing just the tip of the iceberg,” said Jaime Rogers, manager of homelessness and housing development. “We are anticipating that we are going to have an inflow of people that are experiencing homelessness for the first time in our community … It’s a little different to what Medicine Hat has historically experienced.”
There has been significant job loss in the region and it usually takes a year or two for it to trickle down to this level, said Rogers. Unemployment benefits run out, people use up their credit options or there is foreclosure on their property. When no alternative employment is found, or the new job does not come close to covering the bills, people find themselves in extreme circumstances.
Related:Off the streets but struggling to avoid a return
She says this demographic typically does not go to the emergency overnight shelter and will initially couch surf with friends or family, but that is a precarious position to be in.
Murray Kumm, who runs the Hope Street Mission on Sunday afternoons for The Mustard Seed, says there were 147 people for the meal last weekend.
“That’s more than we’ve ever had before, by 20 people,” said Kumm.
He says anyone who is couching surfing, is not paying rent, or does not have a mortgage or own a home is in the precarious position.
People having breakfast at the Champion’s Centre on N. Railway Street, also operated by The Mustard Seed, agree there are double the number of people on the street compared to last year at this time, based on their observations.
Rogers says the upward trend has been noticeable for a few months. It is typically people who are new to the community or those who are finding themselves homeless for the first time.
The number of people spending the night at the emergency shelter this month has been between 13 and up to 24 each night.
In December 2018 the lowest number at the shelter was five and the highest 17. The shelter can accommodate up to 30 people and those beds are funded by the provincial government, said Rogers.
MHCHS has about 27 cases on what it calls its “diversion” program, working actively to assist them in finding housing, said Rogers. Of that number there are 19 who have not shown up for appointments and there may be a variety of reasons for that. The remaining eight are actively engaged.
Rogers is quick to point out that not everyone who is homeless is using drugs or dealing with addiction. Many are just experiencing difficult circumstances.
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Les Landry
4 years ago
And with a 24% decrease in funding over three years this only going to get worse.
“Rental Assistance program
The budget projects savings of $44 million through a 24 per cent reduction over three years to its Rental Assistance program, beginning in 2020–2021. The province says it will honour existing rental assistance agreements.
For Ayanna Innis, the executive director of the Northern Alberta Housing Co-operative Association, the cuts are disappointing but unsurprising.
“We’re actively looking for longer-term solutions for our residents and it’s a little bit disappointing because we’d like to see the provincial government be a partner in that,” Innis said. “We all know that we’re going to have to find additional ways to support our residents because it’s not going to come from the province.”
The budget indicates the province may look to the private sector to lessen the burden for low-income renters.
“The (Seniors and Housing) department will rigorously pursue partnerships with the (Housing Management Bodies) and private sector to reduce the public costs of affordable housing while effectively serving people in need,” reads the budget.”
And with a 24% decrease in funding over three years this only going to get worse.
“Rental Assistance program
The budget projects savings of $44 million through a 24 per cent reduction over three years to its Rental Assistance program, beginning in 2020–2021. The province says it will honour existing rental assistance agreements.
For Ayanna Innis, the executive director of the Northern Alberta Housing Co-operative Association, the cuts are disappointing but unsurprising.
“We’re actively looking for longer-term solutions for our residents and it’s a little bit disappointing because we’d like to see the provincial government be a partner in that,” Innis said. “We all know that we’re going to have to find additional ways to support our residents because it’s not going to come from the province.”
The budget indicates the province may look to the private sector to lessen the burden for low-income renters.
“The (Seniors and Housing) department will rigorously pursue partnerships with the (Housing Management Bodies) and private sector to reduce the public costs of affordable housing while effectively serving people in need,” reads the budget.”
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/fees-and-families-how-budget-will-affect-household-bottom-lines