StephanieSwensrude

Mayor Sohi reflects on the past year in his interview with Stephanie Swensrude of TapRoot Edmonton.

Have you ever thought you were pretty well informed about something and then after reading something you realized there was a lot more to consider than previously thought? That's what happened to me when I read Stephanie Swensrude's article about housing in Edmonton in TAPROOT EDMONTON. Housing is a complex issue and Swensrude's article is a good introduction to what will likely be a "hot button" issue in next year's election.

Edmonton's homelessness problems have been well documented and according to Homeward Trust there were about 4,700 homeless people living in Edmonton in September, an increase of nearly 2,000 from the same time last year. Even though hundred$ of million$ have been spent to deal with homelessness the numbers have continued to rise. Homelessness is a problem in cities everywhere and something that considers homelessness is called Housing First and has gained popularity over the past decade. Although Housing First may not be familiar with business management guru Peter Drucker's saying "if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it" Housing First provides information that helps cities compare their efforts with others.

Stephanie Swensrude's TapRoot Edmonton article (below) considers the comparisons. It also prompts one to ask if Edmonton's investment should have resulted in a decrease, not an increase in the level of homelessness?

• The Community and Public Services Committee will meet today at 9:30 am. The agenda includes updates to the City Policy on Immigration and Settlement. On Tuesday, at 8:30 am, the Agenda Review Committee will meet, followed by a meeting of the Urban Planning Committee at 9:30 am. At the latter meeting, the agenda includes a report on Neighbourhood Renewal Funding and a review of 102 Avenue. More information is available online.
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, the Executive Committee will meet. Several public reports are on the agenda, including one on the Indigenous Housing Grant Program, and another on the Cost Benefit Analysis and Cost Drivers on Comparative Capital Projects. There will be a City Council Non-Regular Meeting on Thursday at 9:00 am to discuss Candidate Interviews and Appointments to the Edmonton Police Commission. Finally, on Friday, the Audit Committee will meet at 9:30 am. Several reports are on the agenda, including a Fraud Risk Management Audit and a Facility Maintenance Services Audit.
• PACE and TAPYeg, two municipal political parties, are merging ahead of the 2025 election, aiming to unite for a stronger chance at success. The merger brings together two parties focused on fiscal responsibility, safety, and accountability, with a commitment to keeping taxes low and prioritizing the city's core services. PACE, which will now include members from both groups, intends to focus on practical, community-oriented solutions. There are two upcoming public meetings to provide more information - one on Wednesday, November 27th at 7:30 pm, at the South East Edmonton Seniors Association (9350 82 St. NW) and another on Wednesday, December 4th at 7:30 pm at the Westend Seniors Activity Centre (9629 176 St. NW).