Alberta homeless secretariat gets new chairman
Last Updated: Thursday, July 30, 2009 | 2:26 PM MT
CBC News
A former Shell Canada executive will head up a government department tasked with ending homelessness in Alberta by 2019.
Calgary resident Wayne Stewart replaces outgoing Alberta Secretariat for Action on Homelessness chairman Stephen Snyder.
Stewart is also a past president of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.
Ending homelessness within a decade will not be easy, but it is possible, he said on Thursday.
"I think we should all take pride in the fact that … we are members of this province that has developed the first plan to end homelessness in our country. The prospect that we might spread compassion for those in need across our great country really excites me," he said.
The Alberta government's ambitious plan to end homelessness comes with a $3.3-billion price tag
The plan focuses on moving homeless people into permanent housing and giving them support programs to help keep that accommodation, rather than creating more temporary spaces in shelters.
Alberta has set aside $400 million in capital to build 2,700 housing units over three years.
Another $32 million in operational funding was set aside this fiscal year to help 1,000 homeless people find permanent housing.
The money will be distributed among organizations in several communities that provide services such as life skills training, addictions counselling and landlord liaison.
Share Tools
Latest Calgary News Headlines
- Thousands pack 4th Street for Lilac Festival
- Large crowds hit Fourth Street for the Lilac Festival on Sunday. more »
- Calgary Marathon winner breaks 21-year-old record
- The winner of the Calgary Marathon broke a 21-year-old race record. more »
- Man in hospital after being pinned under C-Train
- A man is recovering in hospital after he was hit by a C-Train and trapped underneath Sunday afternoon. more »
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Syrian regime denies role in Houla massacre
- The UN Security Council condemned the Syrian regime at an emergency meeting Sunday, holding president Bashar al-Assad's military responsible for the massacre of more than 100 people, dozens of whom were children younger than 10 years old. more »
- Ryder Hesjedal wins prestigious Giro d'Italia
- Victoria native Ryder Hesjedal has become the first Canadian to win one of the cycling world's three Grand Tour events, wrapping up the 2012 Giro d'Italia with an excellent performance in the final stage in Milan. more »
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children who had been missing for nearly four years were found in Mexico after a man raised concerns about his neighbour, according to a private investigator. more »
- Accused in blast that killed Alberta mom handled her funds
- Calgary Marathon winner breaks 21-year-old record
- Man in hospital after being pinned under C-Train
- Thousands pack 4th Street for Lilac Festival
- Half the vehicles tested fail new road noise bylaw
- Police ask for help after man found dead in Forest Lawn
- Food festival encourages Calgarians to 'eat real'
- 2 men charged in connection to brutal Beltline beating
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
