October 10 is World Homeless Day – a day to draw attention to the needs of people experiencing homelessness.  

First established in 2021, September 30th marks Canada's third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.

September 30, 2022, will be the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

Below are a few ways you can observe this important day of public commemoration, as well as ways to learn, to listen, and deepen your understanding of the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada and what meaningful truth and reconciliation should look like.

Reposted from the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association. Original post June 21, 2021 Each year on June 21st, Indigenous peoples across Canada come together to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD) – June 21st was chosen as the date in 1996 as it falls on the Summer Solstice. This is a day to recognize the unique […]

February is Black History Month — a time to learn about, honour and celebrate the legacy of Black Canadians. The theme for Black History Month 2022 is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day. Check below for a list of scheduled events happening this month. Please note that these events will continue […]

The rapidly changing COVID-19 pandemic forced many organizations nation-wide to develop innovative digital solutions to continue their service delivery. 

“Not having an address or cellphone was a barrier for me. It was hard coordinating with everybody, especially for interviews and meetings.”

Looking for a last-minute gift?

This holiday season, consider thrifting your gifts. Buying second-hand is a sustainable and budget-conscious option that provides unique, one-of-a-kind gifts for those on your list.

with four medicines—tobacco, cedar, sage and sweetgrass—and a description of each of their uses. The idea behind the display was to hang them in high transited areas to bring awareness of the medicines and intended to teach both staff and clients. 

There are a total of 44 display boxes—11 sets—for all of EJHS’ agency programs. We connected with Alejandro Montano, Manager of The Loft at Edmonton John Howard Society (EJHS) to learn more about the boxes. 

Edmonton Housing Month is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of the need for and importance of safe, quality, affordable housing in the Capital Region.

Throughout the month of November the Housing Month working group will be hosting another virtual campaign focused on a series of webinars, using a plain-language Lunch and Learn approach. Topics will cover the range of the housing spectrum, focus on timely issues, and also provide information on various elements such as Housing First, Supportive and Affordable Housing, Mental Health, Indigenous and Lived Experience Perspectives, and much more.

Vote Housing is a national, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy campaign intended to engage Canadians to pledge to vote housing in the upcoming federal election, and ensure all political parties support making bold investments in affordable housing and ending homelessness.

This campaign is led by the Canadian Lived Experience Leadership Network (CLELN), the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the Canadian Housing & Renewal Association, and the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada ...

In Edmonton, 25% of people currently experiencing homelessness are youth under the age of 24 (Edmonton’s By Name List, July 12, 2021). This includes youth who are unsheltered, provisionally accommodated or staying at an emergency shelter. 

Edmonton’s Community Strategy to End Youth Homelessness identifies Intervention and Prevention as one of three core strategies to eliminate or reduce the risks of youth becoming homeless.

The following is an account of Debra’s experience of homelessness and her journey of getting housed. The story was written by Debra but has been edited for clarity.

Debra is a current participant of the Indigenous Housing First Program at Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA). The Indigenous Housing First program at NCSA embraces the principle of Housing First and provides housing and follow-up support to Indigenous people experiencing homelessness.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, we’ve put together a gift guide featuring some local businesses that give back to the community. These companies donate some or all of the sales towards helping our vulnerable neighbours.

This National Volunteer Week, we thank our dedicated and compassionate volunteers for their time, experience, and skills to help our community members at risk of or experiencing homelessness. We thank you today, and everyday, for the contributions you have made towards our collective goal in ending homelessness.

Supporting our community is important to us. With Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 9) a few weeks away, we’ve put together a gift guide featuring BIPOC female-owned businesses in Edmonton and Calgary. Whether you’re shopping for mom, a mom-to-be, aunt, grandmother or any other special figure in your life, show your support for BIPOC businesses by shopping these great gifts.

An extreme cold snap, with temperatures dropping to the -30s, is just another reason for people to stay indoors.

Add windchill and the outdoors become even more treacherous for Edmontonians experiencing homelessness. These winter conditions can be life-threatening and require a highly coordinated and responsive plan to ensure everyone has a safe and warm place to go.

Ben did what lots of young people do with their hard-earned money: spend it.

He liked hanging out with his friends and going out on the weekends. He had a steady job, working at a moving company, and he had his own apartment.

Unfortunately, some bad decision-making and reckless spending habits led him into a path of homelessness.

Not one program or program type can reduce homelessness in the community—it is the relationship between interventions that ultimately drive community goals of ending homelessness. Short-term housing solutions provide a temporary solution to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing by providing individuals with wrap-around support and services to help stabilize their lives.

Gifts that give back to the community

This holiday season as you shop for your loved ones, consider purchasing locally and/or supporting companies that give back to the community. All the items listed in this holiday gift guide support Canadian companies that give back to the community.

Part Three: Move-In Day

At this point in the journey out of homelessness a considerable amount of progress has already been made; however, being housed in the Housing First program isn’t just about securing documentation, income, and an apartment. This process is also about setting participants up with the necessities involved in making that space a HOME.