Comparative Analysis of Homeless Strategies in BC and AB

Introduction

The strategies for addressing homelessness in British Columbia (BC) and Alberta show significant divergence in funding allocation, demographic profiles, and strategic initiatives. Recent budget disbursements show the Canadian government investing $2.2 billion over a decade nationwide, while Alberta distributes approximately $244 million annually, specifically for homelessness and outreach support within the same period. In contrast, BC has committed a notably higher amount of $4.9 billion over a decade, focusing on initiatives like complex care housing and immediate shelter solutions. Despite similarities in demographics, with both provinces experiencing overrepresentation of Indigenous individuals among the homeless, they diverge in strategic focus. Alberta emphasizes social service and mental health support, while BC centers its efforts on inclusion, prevention, and community integration. These differences and similarities permeate through funding, demographics, and strategic initiatives, affecting how each province tackles homelessness.

Funding:

The Canadian Government has committed to investing $2.2 billion over the course of ten years to amplify funding for homeless initiatives, which amounts to an annual allocation of $220 million. This investment pales in comparison to the annual cost to society is over $7 billion (Blair, N., 2023). This figure closely aligns with Alberta's budget allocation of $244 million specifically earmarked for outreach and support for the homeless in the fiscal year 2023-2024 (Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, 2023). In contrast, British Columbia's commitment stands notably higher, with an investment of $4.9 billion spread over the same ten-year period, averaging $490 million annually for homeless-related initiatives.

How this breaks down according to 2021 population census:

§  $98/per capita - British Columbia

§  $57/per capita – Alberta

§  $6.5/per capita – Canada

Table 1: Allocation of the resources distributed by each province.

Alberta allocation of resources:	British Columbia allocation of resources:
·      Edmonton and Calgary received $124 million to enhance access to addiction and mental health services	·      The Ministry of Housing distributed $7.5 million to support BC Rent Bank program, aiding eighteen rent banks across the province in helping low-income individuals to access and sustain rental housing, thereby preventing homelessness and evictions
·      This fiscal year, $9 millionwas distributed to increase winter shelter spaces	·      The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions distributed $520 millionfor complex care housing across twelve locations, offering support to individuals facing multiple challenges such as mental health issues, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, trauma, and acquired brain injuries
·      Edmonton will receive $5 million to create an extra 450 spaces, bringing the available shelter spaces in the city up to about 1,050.	·      The Homelessness Plan received $1.7 billion to enhance health supports, expand housing access, promote social inclusion, and develop the Integrated Support Framework progressively
·      This fiscal year, the Alberta government distributed $9 million to increase winter shelter spaces	·      The Ministry of Housing, BC Housing 2023, distributes $218 million in funding through the Homeless Encampment Action Response for Temporary Housing (HEARTH) to offer emergency housing, shelter options, and immediate coordinated supports to aid individuals in encampments or sheltering in public spaces
·      Over two years, $124 million—$54 million is earmarked for operations and $70 million for capital spending—to bolster recovery communities, hybrid health and police hubs, therapeutic living units in provincial correctional facilities, medical detox, harm reduction, and recovery outreach teams (Frew, N., 2022)

 Demographics:

We find the demographic landscape of homelessness between British Columbia and Alberta to be notably similar. In BC, the homeless population shows disproportionate representation in various demographic facets. Indigenous individuals make up 39% of the homeless count, significantly surpassing their percentage in BC's overall population, which stands at 6%. Additionally, BC's homeless demographics also reveal an overrepresentation of Black, South Asian, and Latin American individuals. Among the homeless surveyed, 68% were male, 30% female and Indigenous individuals were notably overrepresented. Conversely, in Alberta, Indigenous representation in the homeless count is higher than the provincial Indigenous population percentage (42% compared to 6.8%). Of those surveyed in Alberta, 61% identified as male. The demographics suggest a distinctive disparity in the composition of homelessness demographics in the two provinces, highlighting unique challenges and patterns within each region's homeless population.

Table 2: Homelessness Statistics for Canadians

	Canada	British Columbia	Alberta (Canadian Observatory on Homelessness, 2021)
Number Individuals experiencing Homeless on any given night	25,000-35,000 (0.06%-0.09%)	~8665 – of 25 communities counted (0.17%)	~6649 – of 7 communities counted (0.16%)
Individuals identifying as male	62%	68%	61%
Individuals identifying as Indigenous	30%	39%	42%
Indigenous as total of population	5%	6%	6.8%
Percentage of youth experiencing homelessness (13-24)	20%	11 %	8.5%

Initiatives:

Alberta and British Columbia have distinct approaches to homelessness. Alberta's Housing First strategy emphasizes reinforcing social services and mental health support systems, particularly in addressing underlying issues contributing to homelessness (Government of Alberta, 2023-a). It includes the Stronger Foundations strategy, a 10-year plan aiming to improve housing accessibility for 25,000 more households. In contrast, BC's Homes for People plan focuses on faster housing construction, reduced development costs, and increased affordability for renting or buying homes (Stronger BC, 2023).

BC's Belonging in BC outlines a primary aim of preventing and reducing homelessness, focusing on three strategic avenues: prevention, immediate response, and stability and community integration measures (GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA | BELONGING IN BC 1 Belonging in BC: A Collaborative Plan to Prevent and Reduce Homelessness, n.d.). It proactively prevents homelessness by addressing immediate housing needs and social and cultural aspects contributing to homelessness. While both provinces aim to tackle homelessness, Alberta's strategy emphasizes reinforcing support systems, especially in mental health. BC's Belonging in BC initiative focuses on prevention, rapid response, and inclusion and reconciliation.

Alberta’s Stronger Foundations strategy emphasizes five key themes for the next decade, including supporting vulnerable populations and enhancing planning and governance. In contrast, British Columbia’s Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan aims to reduce homelessness by transforming systems, building partnerships, and incorporating evidence into policy decisions.

In their first stages, Alberta has updated regulations, supplied funding commitments, and launched the Find Housing online tool, housing 1,900 Albertans in the Housing First program in 2017-18. Meanwhile, British Columbia has housed over 4,700 people facing homelessness through new supportive housing units and developed outreach programs like the Homeless Outreach Program and the BC Rent Bank.

Conclusion:

British Columbia (BC) and Alberta display distinctive yet overlapping approaches in tackling homelessness, clear through funding discrepancies, demographic trends, and strategic initiatives. While BC commits significantly more funds than Alberta, aligning closely with the federal investment of $2.2 billion, both provinces meet similar challenges, notably the overrepresentation of Indigenous individuals in homelessness (Blair, N., 2023; Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, 2023). Alberta emphasizes a comprehensive shift towards holistic solutions, prioritizing social service and mental health support systems (Government of Alberta, 2023-a), whereas BC's Belonging BC focuses on preventive measures, immediate response, and community integration (GOVERNMENT OF BRITISH COLUMBIA | BELONGING IN BC 1 Belonging in BC: A Collaborative Plan to Prevent and Reduce Homelessness, n.d.). These divergent strategies call for further evaluation to learn their long-term effectiveness in addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by homeless populations in both provinces.

References:

Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. (2023). Budget 2023: Fiscal Plan [Brochure]. Edmonton, Alberta. ISBN 978-1-4601-5633-9. ISSN 2369-0127, (86). Retrieved from 2023-26 Fiscal Plan (Alberta Budget 2023) – February 28, 2023

Blair, N., (2023). Homelessness Statistics in Canada. Made in CA. Retrieved from Homelessness Statistics in Canada for 2023 - Made in CA

BC Alliance for Healthy Living. (2023). Retrieved from Housing Security Policy: https://www.bchealthyliving.ca/bchla-policies-housing-security/#_edn2

Columbia, G. o. (n.d.). Belonging in BC: A collaborative plan to prevent and reduce homelessness. Ministry of Housing.

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. (2021). Community Profiles. Retrieved from Community Profiles | The Homeless Hub

Frew, N. (2022, October 1). Alberta to spend combined $187M for homelessness, addictions in Edmonton, Calgary. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-homelessness-addictions-187m-1.6567892

Government of Alberta. (2023-a). Alberta's Homelessness Response. Retrieved from Alberta's homelessness response | Alberta.ca

Government of Alberta. (2023-b). Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy. Retrieved from Stronger Foundations affordable housing strategy | Alberta.ca

Government of British Columbia . (2023). Retrieved from Strong BC for Everyone Homes for Everyone: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Homes_For_People.pdf

Government of British Columbia. (2022). Retrieved from Belonging in BC: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BelongingStrategy.pdf

The Homeless Hub. (2021). Retrieved from Public Health Care & Service Delivery: https://www.homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/service-provision/public-health-care-service-delivery

Housing, B. (2023). BC Housing . Retrieved from Homeless Outreach Program : https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/homeless-outreach-program