April 2025

By Gerri Logan

Click HERE for the new spotlight on Shelters, Sweeps and Substances.

• • Beliefs and Challenges: Some believe that sweeps (forced cleanups or displacement efforts) will encourage people to move to shelters and access services. However, these actions make it harder for individuals to maintain relationships and access necessary resources, leading to interpersonal conflicts. Additionally, people being forcibly moved often face the loss of important personal property like medications, identification, and blankets.

  • Housing Crisis and Displacement: The lack of affordable housing contributes to the houselessness crisis. Encampments are being pushed out of inner-city areas, into the suburbs, or further away. These displacements force people into hazardous, less visible areas, which leads to health risks. As a result, there has been an increase in opioid overdoses and stimulant use, as people try to stay awake at night or while on the move.

  • Substance Use and Fatalities in Edmonton: Fentanyl and Methamphetamine remain the highest risks for accidental drug poisoning fatalities in Edmonton. 

  • Health Risks: The displacement also results in increased incidents of frostbite and amputations, as individuals are forced to endure harsher living conditions without proper shelter or protection.