The number of residents experiencing homelessness and poverty is increasing in Spruce Grove and the Tri-Municipal Region. PathwaysHOME provides a plan to reverse and reduce this trend. While poverty and homelessness are complex issues, we can all play a role in achieving positive change. This strategy was created through engagement and consultation of members of the community and the social serving sector in early 2019. This is an approved Corporate Plan initiative and will be implemented throughout 2021. Implementation of the five year strategy focuses on five key theme areas.

Collaboration

PathwaysHOME seeks to build on already existing community strengths through regional collaboration and collective action over the next five years. Coordinating resources, formalizing partnerships, and developing shared vision and goals are key first steps.

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Fall 2019

• Development of a regional Champions Table
• First convened in September 2019
• Initial meetings focused on establishing foundational components of collaboration.
• The Champions Table is a small core group of stakeholders that support:
• strategic planning
• resource allocation
• future funding
• data collection
• evaluation

March 2020 March 2021

• First term of the Champions Table
• Champions Table established Keystakes, Common Definitions, and Tri-Region Challenges, a Common Agenda for regionally addressing poverty and homelessness.
• Presented at Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, and Parkland County Council meetings.
• Creation and unveiling of Hope&Home

March 2021 – March 2022

• Identify shared measures, outcomes, and data collection methods.
• Initiate First Voice Advisory Group.
• Establishing priority working groups with a diverse range of stakeholders as prioritized by the Champions Table.

Reconciliation

As set out by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission , PathwaysHOME recognizes that Indigenous Peoples’ experiences of homelessness and poverty are the result of ongoing forms of colonialism. For systems to improve, finding and incorporating culturally appropriate solutions is essential.

Implementation will involve:

• Engagement of local Indigenous communities and organizations

Housing and Supports

Housing First is a leading practice to address homelessness by moving people into permanent housing as quickly as possible and then providing supports once housed.

Implementation will involve:

• Coordination of services
• Increase access to housing options
• Dedicated resources

Community Inclusion and Capacity

Spruce Grove is changing. Rapid and continued population growth means there is more diversity.

Key areas of focus within this theme include:

• Community Awareness and education of poverty and homelessness
• Building capacity for lived/living experience to influence decisions within PathwaysHOME
• Youth involvement

Healthy Living

Capacity to maintain a healthy lifestyle depends on access to:

• health care
• healthy food
• education
• employment opportunities
• income stability
• transportation
• housing
• recreation

Focus on healthy lifestyle can lower individual risk factors of poverty and homelessness and improve circumstances when they are experienced. Areas of focus within this theme will be identified with community partners.

Documents

• pathwaysHOME Overview
• pathwaysHOME Strategy
• pathwaysHOME Appendices A-D
• Canadian Definition of Homelessness  

Contact Us

Community Social Development
Phone: 780-962-7583
E-mail: csd@sprucegrove.org

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