The Year 3 Report Card (2017-2018) from Grande Prairie's Five Year Plan to End Homelessness (2015-2019) was released today by the City of Grande Prairie and the Community Advisory Board on Housing and Homelessness.
The local plan aims to end homelessness by having people connected to housing supports within three weeks of experiencing homelessness. It works in support of the Government of Alberta's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness.
Highlights include:
- Housing First program
- 94 people housed
- 61 program graduates
- 92% retention rate
- 92% of participants demonstrated self-sufficiency via stable income within 6 months of entering the program
- 56% reduction in use of emergency medical services, 63% reduction in visits to the ER and 71% reduction in interactions with the police among participants after 6 months in program
- Grande Prairie's Housing Loss Prevention program supported 207 people in stabilizing or improving their housing
- 7 youth received mentorship and support through a youth transition house
- 'Voice for the Voiceless' lived experience committee assisted with planning and analysis in addressing community needs
An online version of the report and the full plan is available online here.
The public is invited to a presentation on the results on July 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Teresa Sargent Hall. It features guest speakers with lived experience of homelessness, displays from the Homeless Initiatives programs and other resources and services available in Grande Prairie. A community barbeque follows. The event is free and open to everyone in the community.