Despite a provincial program to end homelessness by 2019, the number of people living on Edmonton streets has risen by 18 per cent over 2007 levels to an estimated 3,000, according to the Housing Ministry.

Yvonne Fritz, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs said a rise in the number of people living on the streets should not be a surprise given the economic downturn.

“Not given the economy, and not given the migration of people coming to Alberta, and that includes people, you know, that are homeless," she said.

More than half of those who lived in Edmonton's tent city are still homeless. (CBC)

“The way the 10-year plan is being administered through our agencies throughout the province, you’ll see that decrease next year,” Fritz predicted.

Sandy Ericson, who helps the city's homeless find a roof, says the provincial housing program failed because the government didn't follow through.

“Unless everyone works together, like all of the institutions and agencies and everything work together to keep beds open or create more spaces for people, then we're not going to end it,” Ericson said.

In 2007, when Edmonton closed down its infamous tent city where the homeless had set up their own community in the downtown core, the goal was to find all 58 remaining residents a home. But CBC News has learned that more than half of the people who lived in the tent city are back living on the streets.

“If you're taking someone from tent city and heavily involved in their addictions and stuff like that and housing them, you need to have someone available 24/7 to answer questions, to support them, to be there when they're having a meltdown,” Ericson said. “If you're providing supports and keeping track of that, that's different.”

Valerie Tom was one of the early residents of tent city.

“In the early stages, it was nice. We had a place to go, we had a tent. It was all good,” she said. “But when things started go haywire, that was not good. Because when everything went haywire there were guns being brought into tent city, there was stabbings, gang-related activities, and I couldn't fathom that.”

Tom left tent city and applied for housing, without success. Two years later, she’s living in an alley.