Step Toward Preventing Homelessness

The Cause

Our idea is to establish a new program within our organization with the specific focus to prevent homelessness. Every individual has a right to have a home. This program will provide emergency funds for our clients who are facing imminent eviction.

Rent and utilities expenses are increasingly creating additional stress for those living in poverty.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Edmonton Central Council (SSVP) currently provides funds for rent and utilities to our clients as our funding allows. In 2021 we provided $27,631 to 146 of our clients for rent and $26,366 to 195 of our clients for utilities. Total funding given out in 2021 for rent and utilities was $53,997 and we helped a total of 341 men, women and children. Up to August in 2022 we provided $26,696 in rent for 106 clients and $22,706 for utilities helping 155 of our clients. So far, for the 8 months of 2022, total funding given out for rent and utilities was $49,402. On a monthly basis we provided funding for rent and utilities to our clients of $4500 in 2021 and $6,175 in 2022. This is an increase of 37% in 2022. The need is increasing. We receive many calls for rent and utility assistance, but we are unable to help many who ask.

We will continue to assist our clients as we have done in the past, but the funding received from Field Law will specifically go to those facing eviction on an emergency basis. Often we are unable to help those facing eviction.

In Edmonton 1 out 8 live in poverty, with 31% being children. (www.endpovertyedmonton.ca/statistics). The number of homeless in Edmonton has doubled since the start of COVID to 2,800 and is expected to increase. (City of Edmonton Homeless and Encampment Strategy, 2022)

Who Will it Benefit?

We expect that, in the cases of individuals or families facing eviction, we would need to help them with at least one month's rent. This means that our request for $15,000 will directly benefit between 15 to 30 individuals/families avoid eviction and preventing homelessness.

Preventing homelessness will indirectly help our community. Homelessness is estimated to cost the Canadian economy 7 billion per year. Some estimates place the cost of providing resources to the homeless at $120,000 per year. This includes emergency shelters and policing. By not investing adequately in housing for the poorest Canadians, health care, justice and other taxpayer-funded costs increase. (www.homelesshub.ca). Your funding will help between 15 to 30 individuals/families avoid homelessness.