City of Red Deer
Number of homeless in Red Deer more than double from last PiT count
Point in Time (PiT) homeless count numbers released
Results from Red Deer’s Point in Time (PIT) Count show the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the city has increased to 334 in 2022 from 144 in 2018.
Of the 334 individuals,
- 29 per cent slept outside, which is an increase from 2018 at 13 per cent of the 144.
- Nearly 200 people were enumerated in local emergency shelters or transitional facilities in 2022, up from 86 in 2018.
Of the 334 people counted during the 2022 PiT Count, 156 individuals participated in the voluntary survey portion of the count. The count and survey provide valuable information that helps The City and partnering organizations better understand factors contributing to homelessness and how to best target local supports.
“The survey showed us that lack of income was the most reported reason for housing loss, and the top barrier to finding new housing,” said Ryan Veldkamp, Social Wellness & Integration Supports Supervisor. “This further helps us understand how crucial housing affordability is to tackling the issue of homelessness in Red Deer.”
The 2022 PIT count was conducted in shelters, on the streets, in the hospital and correctional facilities, and in transitional housing. Enumerators conducted the count in coordination with Alberta’s 7 Cities on Housing and Homelessness and with the federal government guidelines.
“Typically, the PiT Count is completed every other year; however, we had to delay the counts due to the pandemic,” said Veldkamp. “Over the past four years, outreach staff reported a rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness and the count and survey data confirmed their expectations.”
This was the fifth time the Point in Time Count has been conducted in Red Deer. The count is coordinated with communities across Canada and is funded by the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. The data collected is used to build an understanding of how the population changes over time and what their needs are so housing programs and support services can be improved.
For more information on the Point in Time Count, visit www.reddeer.ca/PITcount. To read the community housing and homelessness integrated plan or for more information visit www.reddeer.ca/homelessness.
City of Red Deer
City of Red Deer puts out call to private owners interested in selling or leasing property for integrated homeless shelter
Call for privately owned properties for consideration during shelter site selection process
Administration will assess the privately-owned properties submitted, sites that are currently on the market, and municipally or provincially owned properties using Council’s criteria:
- Ability to acquire site: Acquiring the optimum site can be done in a timely manner. Acquisition options and costs are important considerations.
- Adequate size: The size of the site considers the potential need to adjust service delivery at any given time. It will accommodate proposed integrated amenities and services. It considers the land size needed to accommodate outdoor gathering spaces and activities. The site already has a building or can accommodate a building that meets the Province’s minimum requirement of 10,000 square feet.
- Broad community impact: The site aligns with The City’s vision for the community. Community impact includes considerations such as, impacts on economic and business development, and municipal operations. It includes potential reputational impacts and financial impacts (both capital and operating). It also includes impacts to those accessing shelter services in our community. The site considers impacts to our community as a whole, including health, and safety for all in our valued places and spaces that are enjoyed by our citizens.
- Impacts to surrounding area: Impacts to businesses, residences, parks, trails, and schools are a priority consideration in selecting site. The city’s reputation is considered. A preferred site can accommodate and foster development of a safe, secure shelter.
- Access to services & supports: Safety and basic needs for all is a priority. Regularly utilized services and supports that would not be co-located are taken into consideration. Sites where co-located services can operationalize are preferred.
Once the technical assessments are complete, administration will present options to Council for consideration to recommend to the province.
If you are a property owner and would like to submit a site for consideration, please fill out and submit the online form here.
For information on the future shelter site selection process, please visit www.reddeer.ca/shelter.
Background
Back on February 3, City Council provided a “community update” on the status of 2 properties which were thoroughly vetted but failed in the end to get the go ahead. Here is video from that announcement and the following q and a with media.
City to host Kinex Arena farewell event
The Kinex Arena was originally built in 1967 and has provided over 5 decades of fun, sport and recreation. As a farewell, The City is hosting a free public drop-in event.
Free Kinex Arena Farwell Event
Saturday, April 1
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
4725 A – 43 Street
Behind the Servus Arena (map)
Join us for our free skating times with themed music:
- 10 – 11 a.m. – preschool/family skate with preschool songs
- 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – 60’s & 70’s public skate
- 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – 80’s & 90’s public skate
- 1:45 – 2:45 p.m. – 00’s & 10’s public skate
Pre-registration is not required, drop-in when your schedule allows!
Skate with us through the ages as we host themed drop-in skating times with refreshments in the upper mezzanine. The refreshments are free and so are the memories! Walk back in time while reminiscing with historic pictures of the Kinex Arena over the last 55+ years.
Kinex Farewell Event FAQs
Kinex Arena Decommission FAQs
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