Calgary homelessness in 2021: The second year of the pandemic for the city’s most vulnerable

This year was another challenging year for Calgary. A pandemic, smoke from wildfires and extreme cold impacted every single person.

But for those facing homelessness, they’re experiencing it without shelter.

CityNews spoke with the Calgary Homeless Foundation about the highs and lows for our city’s most vulnerable.

“Yeah, so many lessons learned from the first year of the pandemic. First of all, the level of collaboration among so many organizations was unprecedented. The action of agencies created the assisted self-isolation hotel of which 700 used it and 200 were housed from there,” explained Patricia Jones.

“We all came together and said ‘let’s park our egos at the door and do what’s right for people experiencing homelessness so they can feel self isolated and feel safe and healthy.’”

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Jones says the pandemic created an urgency to house people like never before and led to a substantial win.

“We have housed more people in 2020 and 2021 than we have in Calgary’s history. That’s amazing and with continued funding, flexibility, collaboration, I can see it continuing to happen.”

She adds that this year was also draining on those that help the most vulnerable.

“We’ve been in a long-term pandemic, it’s making staff tired, I can tell you from talking to service providers that they’re as worried about the mental health of staff as the people they serve,” Jones explained. “So, at a time when, you know, we’re required to give a little bit more, we’re at our most fatigued so we’re doing our best we can to support them as much as possible.”

Addiction is at the foundation of a homeless population. Last year broke a new record for the deadliest year in the opioid poisoning crisis, and with a lethal supply on the streets, 2021 is on track to be even deadlier than last year.

READ MORE:

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“Our stats show, on average, in the last five years, people self report whether they’re taking opioids and it’s anywhere between 70 and 79 per cent of people we serve.”

There has been a polarizing debate around harm reduction. Advocates vehemently called for more funding for it, but the UCP government instead placed a larger focus on recovery.

“I think there needs to be an emphasis on doing what’s right for people at the time they need, and to get polarized into different approaches doesn’t work. I think we look at people and say ‘what do you need to be well?’ and every individual is different and we need to customize our services to them,” said Jones.

A highlight moment in 2021, dignity given to this population, was the unveiling of Calgary’s memorial for those lost while living in homelessness, located in Victoria Park.

WATCH: A permanent memorial is set up in Victoria Park to remember those who lost their lives to homelessness. 

The City of Calgary launched its 10-year plan to end homelessness in 2008, but in 2018, almost 3,000 people were found to be living in homelessness still.

In the last two life-altering years, Jones says it’s given the agencies who are fighting homelessness a new outlook, even though they’re up against so much more.

“What I see different this year is people really willing to step up and say ‘we’re going to park our egos and park our titles’ and ‘we’re going to do different for people.’

“So, I think there’s an appetite to change the systems and the structures so people can be served in a way that’s humane because people are in the darkest hours of their life. They want someone who’s going to be kind and reach out and say ‘we’re here for you’ and ‘we’re going to journey with you’ and ‘we’re going to listen and figure it out together.’”