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‘7 Cities’ meet in Red Deer to share innovative ideas for ending homelessness
The ‘7 Cities on Housing and Homelessness’ are meeting in Red Deer this week to share how each is addressing the needs of their vulnerable populations.
The ‘7 Cities’ began working together in 2001 and started to implement Housing First plans in 2008, making Alberta the first province to initiate a plan to end homelessness.
Since then, homeless populations and shelter use have gone down drastically in the communities of Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Wood Buffalo, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Calgary and Edmonton. In addition, Housing First clients have spent 85 per cent fewer days in jail, 64 per cent fewer days in hospital, and had 57 per cent fewer interactions with police.
Red Deer Mayor Tara Veer says this conference marks the beginning of a new ten-year commitment between the ‘7 Cities’ to continue looking at the evolving diverse and complex needs of the socially vulnerable.