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By rdnewsNOW staff

provincial federal agreement

Red Deer to receive government funding to address unsheltered homelessness

Mar 12, 2025 | 9:29 AM

The provincial and federal governments signed an agreement on Tuesday to support those living in encampments, and Red Deer will receive a share of the funding.

The agreement comes as part of the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI) and the funds will support the Community Encampment Response Plans (CERP), which will immediately provide additional support to people living without homes.

Through the agreement, approximately $35 million will be made available through federal funding in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, and Red Deer over two years.

Specific projects will be announced once grant agreements are in place, so the province was unable to give an exact dollar amount but Red Deer will receive approximately $3.4 million.

This is in addition to the province’s $430 million in funding for homelessness initiatives over that same time period.

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The federal funding provided for this agreement is part of a $250 million commitment, outlined in last year’s budget, to address the urgent issue of encampments and unsheltered homelessness across Canada.

“Encampments are not a safe place for vulnerable people to live, and we will not abandon our fellow Albertans to freeze in tents where they are being victimized and losing their lives,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, in a media release. “Homelessness is a shared responsibility between all levels of government and this agreement with the federal government is a significant step in helping to get Alberta’s most vulnerable off the streets and into more stable situations where they can focus on building their futures.”

This is in addition to what the federal government has invested into Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy. They’ve put in a total of $597.2 million from 2019-20 through 2027-28 in Alberta.

As explained in the release, this funding will support investments in shelter safety, accessibility and capacity, as well as transitional housing and supports for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness.

The government could not provide details on the projects that have been selected in Red Deer but explained the allocation to each community is reflective of population and community needs.

In a statement from the Homeless Foundation for Red Deer Region, interim CEO, Darcy Mykytyshyn, said it’s encouraging to see both the provincial and federal governments collaborating to support Red Deer’s most vulnerable populations.

“Homelessness is a multifaceted issue that demands a collaborative, community-driven response. By stepping forward to support a broad array of services, this initiative will have a lasting impact and provide a strong foundation for future efforts,” he said.

“Red Deer urgently needs increased housing inventory across the spectrum, particularly permanent supportive and transitional housing. Today’s announcement is clearly a step in the right direction. We applaud these efforts to build the infrastructure and supports that create safe spaces for those who are unhoused.”