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Lacombe FCSS Rural Homelessness Estimation Project

Sep 14, 2018 | 7:56 AM

LACOMBE- The “Lacombe and District FCSS Homelessness Estimation Count” is part of the Alberta Homeless Estimation Project, which is coordinated by the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta (FCSSAA).

The goal of the project is to accurately estimate the number of homelessness or those at risk of becoming homeless in rural Alberta. 

The information collected will help determine community needs and plan future strategies. 

The count is one of the largest coordinated rural homelessness data collection projects ever completed anywhere in the world.

The data highlights the number of people who use the services within a particular pre-defined time frame, giving an estimate of the number of individuals who are homeless within each service area.  

To date, 12 community agencies have confirmed they will participate in the project and assist with the collection of the data. 

The geographical service area of the project will include the City of Lacombe, the Village of Clive and the rural areas around these municipal units.

To assist with the project, the City of Lacombe will provide an additional $1000, as the City’s Affordable Housing Strategy Steering Committee is supportive of the project.  

For the purposes of the survey, participating individuals may include those who are:

Unsheltered: ( absolutely homeless; living on the street or in places not intended for human habitation)
Emergency Sheltered: (people staying in overnight shelters due to homelessness or family violence)
Provisionally Accommodated: (people with accommodation that is temporary or lacks security for the future, i.e. couch-surfing)
At Risk of Homelessness: (People who are not yet homeless but their current economic situation is precarious)

Participating partner community agencies include: 

Bethany Group/Lacombe Foundation
Central Alberta Refugee Effort
Central Alberta Youth Unlimited
Clive/Tees Neighborhood Place and FCSS
Lacombe Community Food Bank
Lacombe Employment Center
Lacombe FCSS
Lacombe Mental Health Services
Lacombe Outreach School
Lacombe Victim Services
Mary C. Moore Public Library
Wolf Creek Primary Care Network

Rural Homelessness Estimation Count Surveys will be available at each of the above sites from October 15 to November 14.  

Anyone wishing to participate in the survey is welcome. 

All participant information is confidential and non-identifying. 

Results are intended to determine community needs and plan future strategies to address the issue of homelessness in the community.

(Gary McKinnon)