Edmonton mayor calls for provincial support after annual homelessness count

Edmonton counted over 3,000 unhoused people during Homeward Trust's annual Point-in-Time survey on October 24, conducted across 24 hours using street counts and data from shelters, hospitals, and other spaces where people without fixed addresses stay.

Mayor Andrew Knack called on the Alberta government to prioritize housing and social resources, pointing to a troubling statistic from the previous year: a record number of amputations occurred on Edmonton's streets. "Some people have been homeless for literally decades," Knack said. "When I think about what I want the provincial government to focus on, what is within their jurisdiction— it is that."

The survey involved around 200 volunteers. Susan McGee, CEO of Homeward Trust, said the process was "physically and emotionally challenging" for participants. "They will come upon individual stories that are very heartbreaking, and sometimes very surprising," she said. Official count compilation will take at least a couple of weeks.

McGee emphasized the humanity beneath the numbers: "People are not numbers."

The Alberta Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction said it is committed to supporting those experiencing homelessness and connecting them to services. The province has allocated $227 million to organizations, including about 2,000 additional shelter spaces and a Navigation and Support Centre in Edmonton. A further 400 new beds are planned for the Edmonton area, including expanded addiction treatment capacity, navigation support, medical shelter, and supportive housing. The province's stated goal is to provide pathways to treatment and recovery, help more people access care, and relieve pressure on emergency services.

Mayor Knack said he plans to meet with Premier Danielle Smith to address these issues. "Safety is foundational to how a city functions, to how the people feel in their community," he said.