Premier Danielle Smith has unveiled the Alberta Budget 2023, which includes funding for programs to support vulnerable Albertans, February 28, 2023. (Photo: Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Province to invest in mental health, addictions, social housing

Feb 28, 2023 | 3:16 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The Government of Alberta is set to continue to invest in supports for vulnerable populations.

Budget 2023, released on February 28, 2023, includes funding for mental health and addictions, housing, and other social assistance.

The provincial budget has operating expenses of $496 million in 2023-26 for the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. Additional funding to Alberta Health Services will aim to reduce wait times for mental health and addiction services.

Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Nicholas Milliken says $155 million will be invested into recovery communities over the next three years, offering long-term residential addiction treatment.

“Alberta has emerged as a national leader in building out recovery-oriented systems of care for addiction and mental health. The historic investments included in Budget 2023 will help us further expand treatment and recovery services, enabling us to support more Albertans in their pursuit of recovery,” says Milliken.

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The Red Deer Recovery Community is set to open in March 2023 while the Lethbridge Recovery Community is expected to open in spring 2023. More recovery communities are planned on the Blood Tribe First Nation, Grande Prairie, Central Alberta, Northern Alberta, Calgary, and Edmonton.

A total of $497 million will be allocated over three years to housing and social services. The provincial budget document says this includes initiatives in Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, High Level, Manning, DeBolt, and Fort Chipewyan.

The Affordable Housing Partnership Program will receive $202 million in funding in 2023-26 while the government plans to spend $68 million on its Affordable Housing Strategy.

A total of $9 million will be utilized for Lethbridge Supportive Housing for the Chronically Homeless in 2023-26.

The government will also allocate $7 million to the Red Deer Emergency Shelter in 2023-25.

Other initiatives include:

• Grow the capacity of 211 helpline for people who need to access critical addiction and mental health support services – $4.9 million in 2023-24.
• Expand the Virtual Opioid Dependence Program – $11.2 million in 2023-24.
• Expand access to mental health supports in schools – $14 million annually.
• Support the province-wide rollout of HealthIM, a digital tool for police who are responding to mental health emergencies – $1.6 million in 2022-24.