Human services and poverty

EDMONTON - In response to Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi’s public commitment to call a special meeting to declare a housing and homelessness emergency, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement:

You might have read in the news about the Edmonton Police's unilateral decision to sweep and dismantle encampments across the city in December 2023. This is the largest decampment event in the city's history. 

Despite a court injunction and massive public outcry, the police have proceeded with their violent plan and have started to dismantle the camps. 

The police are failing to address the most basic question posed by housing and homelessness advocates: after the police sweep and destroy the encampment, where are displaced people meant to go?  

There are not enough shelter beds. And the shelter spaces we do have do not meet minimum requirements for health and safety. There just are not enough supports in place to ensure that the people living in encampments have access to shelter, housing options, and other much-needed wraparound supports. And in the absence of these requirements, the encampment sweeps must be stopped.

Our Executive Director Bradley Lafortune has been in the media for weeks demanding an end to this inhumane practice. But we need your help. 

We have prepared an open letter addressed to the Amarjeet Sohi, the Mayor of Edmonton, asking to convene an emergency City Council meeting to explore the Council's power to call for a moratorium on these encampment sweeps. You can read the letter here.

Will you join over 3000 other Albertans and sign on to this letter? 

The solutions to this crisis are complex, but we know one thing for sure: violent displacement is not the answer. 

EDMONTON - Today, The Child and Youth Advocate released their annual report. This report included the disturbing revelation that the office of the Advocate saw the highest number of deaths of young people in care since 2012, the year the office received a mandate to conduct investigative reviews. Bradley Lafortune, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, issued the following statement in response:

EDMONTON - As the UCP government rolls out its flawed affordability package this month with application details expected Monday, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement: 

“Albertans are suffering under this affordability crisis. Food banks can’t keep food on their shelves. Homelessness has more than doubled across the province, and families are sinking further and further into debt. Albertans deserve better than sleepless nights with their stomachs in knots wondering how they will pay their utility bills, feed their families, or make rent or mortgage payments. 

EDMONTON - As Edmonton City Council enters its second full day of budget deliberations, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement:

EDMONTON - Today marks National Housing Day. Advocacy organization Public Interest Alberta is calling on the City of Edmonton to commit to new funding for affordable housing during the upcoming municipal budget deliberations.

EDMONTON - Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune made the following statement in response to the UCP government’s “framework on affordable housing:”

EDMONTON - The Edmonton Journal has released further revelations of disturbing (and potentially illegal) “bad tenant” lists. In response, Public Interest Alberta sent a letter to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, requesting the launch of an investigation into these “bad tenant” lists and their potential breach of personal privacy protections.

Secret Landlord Facebook group blacklisting Albertans in Edmonton points shows need for overhaul of renters rights in the Province.

EDMONTON - Yesterday, the Edmonton Journal exposed a deeply troubling ‘do not rent’ Facebook group with more than 440 individuals accused of being ‘bad tenants’. In response, Public Interest Alberta is asking the Provincial government and City of Edmonton to strengthen regulations and bylaws to protect renting Albertans, beginning with an urgent investigation into whether personal privacy or human rights protections have been breached in this circumstance.  

EDMONTON - Today, Edmonton City Council reviewed the city auditor’s report on homelessness which finds the city has no corporate wide plan, no central co-ordinator or body, and no evaluation system. In response, Public Interest Alberta’s Executive Director Bradley Lafortune issued the following statement: