Surviving Edmonton: 1 year spent with homeless people seeking stable housing

For more than a year, Global News tracked the lives of four homeless people in Edmonton.
Global News Investigates: Surviving Edmonton offers a deeply personal look into a journey few people can understand.
Kimberley Robertson, Troy Cardinal, Leanne Wuttunee and Adam Krause welcomed the Global News team into deeply personal moments in their lives throughout the year.
The team spent time inside drop-in shelters, encampments during extreme cold warnings and inside supportive housing facilities, providing a first-hand and raw account into what it means to live on Edmonton’s streets.
Global News Investigates: Surviving Edmonton is an exploration into the day-to-day struggles of Edmonton’s most vulnerable. It is also a display of how survival can get in the way of the journey from being homeless to housed.
For more info, please go to globalnews.ca/news/10339297/s...
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[@Taco1011]

I actually recognize Kimberly, I used to work at Lucky 97 Supermarket and I'd see her come in every so often. She wouldn't buy anything major, just a bag of candy. Now that I know her and her story, I can say that if I see her, I'm buying her something warm and telling her that this stranger is thankful she's around and thriving despite being unhoused.

[@kaitlyndevine-white6761]

2 years ago I was homeless for 11 months. The summertime was the most freedom I have ever experienced.. and I will always treasure the mindfulness that homelessness taught me. I can relate to every one of these stories. The struggle of loneliness, navigating the system to get into housing, the stigmatization and living day to day. I was fortunate enough to get into my own apartment, and get my daughter back into my custody. I hope that one day we are able to get everyone into safe affordable housing.

[@sergebrunet4218]

I m french from the Montreal area been trucking for 35 years and 10 of those years were from Edmonton, AB. on a normal winter many days are -30c and colder ! i can t imagine being outside for more than 15 min.! rent is so expensive you need to have a really good pay to afford it ! I couldn t even afford it as a trucker. i had to pay my chevy silverado 600 $ a month , 170$ for my storage room were all my belongings are, still paying that to this day ! ya !so i was living in motels on my days off. The rest of the time i was staying in the truck ! God bless those homeless ! one day at a time struggling the elements !

[@elissalabellelabelle4819]

Edmonton winters are brutal 😢

[@cbjorn]

I wish Kimberly, Leanne, Troy and Adam the very best, and I hope they can find housing, peace and joy❤

[@user-pf1qx3hh4y]

What about work? If you didn't work could you keep your housing ?

[@enjoylife780]

Who says they are not working ? Most jobs require that you have a fixed address to even be considered for hiring. That's why "Housing First" exists ​@user-pf1qx3hh4y if you expect people to work, they need some place to go back to afterward, I.e. a home. Can you imagine trying to work while also having to search for shelter every single night? And then be expected to show up at work on time the next day? It's unreasonable/unrealistic for someone in that circumstance

[@Trenchofstolenhearts]

I almost died when I was pregnant , I was sleeping under a bridge just a few roads over from Whyte Avenue. A peace officer woke me up, if he hadn't I don't think me and my 4 year old son would be here today . I was homeless on and off in Edmonton since I was about 14 . It's really hard to get off the streets . Really hard.

[@danc2159]

Happy for you and your son and bless that peace officer

[@marciapalacios9783]

I hope everything goes well for you and your child. Never give up hope, be strong.

[@diannerose8030]

Australia is in a rental crisis, I've been homeless for a year, I've not been on the street luckily but I know what real survival mode is, and how life becomes so small

[@dawnamae7507]

$2000 for a 1 bedroom just reported on the news in Edmonton right now!

[@lynb1022]

It's disgusting. The parasitic landlords love that people are swarming here from BC & Ontario, and won't be happy until they can charge just as high rents.

[@glenncurley680]

We use to have rent control but Doug Ford removed it for all his income property owning friends. That just messed up everything for people to rent a decent place to live. Rent control worked for the people.

[@lynb1022]

@@glenncurley680 none in Alberta at all. It's brutal. And the developers hold municipalities hostage, simply refusing to build anywhere rent controls are implemented, or if they're required to build a % of 'non-market' affordable units. Some get hundreds of thousands in gov't subsidies to do upgrades/repairs and then turn around and raise the rents anyway (e.g. search the ACORN campaign against Avenue Living right now). I don't know how this isn't viewed as classic anti-trust/price-fixing behaviour. It's criminal.

[@lynb1022]

@@Rigmor_Talonbeard you & I both know that is absolute nonsense. While it used to be that way, generally-speaking, in the past 10 years small "investors" have been tripping over each other trying to "get in the game" of "landlording" so they can milk the tenant cash-cow as much as they can, especially in jurisdictions like NB & AB where there are zero rent-controls. Absolute parasites. Don't even get me started on all the foreign money launderers and mortgage-fraudsters. Tell me how the "landlord" in Brampton who packed 25 - TWENTY-FIVE - students into one apartment is "only charging what they need to". I'll wait.

[@northernpunx1978]

@@Rigmor_Talonbeardabsolute hogwash. Landlords are parasites. They could be reasonable but aren't made to so they aren't. They are only in it for quick profits. Housing crisis is a different crime. Oil companies are the top of the food chain as always but we can't blame them of course. They're saints.

[@mathieu8083]

As a Canadian, I feel really sad for our country so called a rich country ! Our governement and society let down those citizens homeless

[@Revolution13878V]

Just like you and me these people make their own choices, we all face challenges and the only difference is how we react, do not feel sad for them.

[@chrthewrestler2301]

SELF PROCLAIMED A FREE AND RICH COUNTRY ONLY.

[@shauncameron8390]

Not really. Some of the homeless let themselves down.

[@brokenclockfilms]

​@@Revolution13878V Buddy not everyone puts themselves in that position. Not everyone is trained to react accordingly. Try growing up with abusive parents. Try being forced out of school. Try becoming becoming injured and find yourself out of work. I'm a documentary filmmaker and have almost ended up in this very situation with out being an addict of any sort, while shooting a doc about homelessness in Edmonton. I was wrongfully evicted last year and ended up with a criminal charge for gaining access to my belonging and my cats. I would have lost everything including my cats. I was working a full time job as well as taking video projects for clients. Try stepping in my shoes. Try having a slumlord kicking you out for no good reason. Try living with mental health. People like you are disgraceful. Yes unfortunately drugs and alcohol are a huge part of the problem, but that's just the society we are in. Blame the LAPD and the CIA for distributing Crack Cocaine and starting a worldwide epidemic. Blame government corruption. Canada is full of it. Blame the misallocations of funds. Use your damn head.

[@user-wg2vw3mz1v]

​@@Revolution13878V You may end up eating those words one day.

[@Dmart2024]

I'm a red seal journeyman working and I used to have some disposable income to help with my mental health, to enjoy a hockey game with my son, go bowling or eat somewhere... Those days are long gone and the gross expenditures of the federal government and insane taxes have me barely making it paycheck to paycheck.. and work is now drying up as lower paid new Canadians "sub contractors" are taking all the work ... Politicians use the struggle as a political football

[@bcanuck]

The government are trying to make everyone poor. It makes no sense.

[@firstandforemost87]

Many of the ‘new Canadians’ are just temporary Canadians looking to cash in on the exchange rate. The Filipinos I work w will retire better than most any of their Canadian coworkers. They can buy a house back home for $30K. That isn’t even half a down payment on the average detached home in Calgary.

[@michaeljjan6344]

Could try working in Fort Mac. Journeyman are in demand, especially in the oil and gas field. Hell, to add on to this, some are even bringing in councilors to talk to while your there.

[@amandamccallum6796]

Max rent for a single person on disability benefits is $500/mth out of the total $1249/mth and OW is less. Then people wonder why we have so many homeless people 😢

[@katherinekuefler-kappel2328]

God bless the couple that is carrying around Noloxone and trying to help those that need it. They are such a beautiful example of giving of yourself even when you have very little to give.

[@FreedaPeeple-in2mn]

It would help a lot if the governments would establish some programs that actually helped instead of merely giving the appearance of helping (to those who don't need it and don't have to find out the truth).

[@kymchessall7853]

Governments live off suffering like this As well as churches, charities, corporations etc etc THEY will never eliminate their own livelihoods NEVER

[@srealone788]

This is exactly it. I’m so tired of it. Everyone’s under this impression that there’s help out there and everyone has the same opportunities but there isn’t and we don’t. A lot of people are ignorant and blind to it. Making theirselves also part of the problem. Not the solutions..

[@keilana6]

If government would establish rent control for those unable to pay current high rents there would be fewer homeless. Very cruel to "poor" people.

[@FreedaPeeple-in2mn]

@@keilana6 Yup

[@srealone788]

@@keilana6 being poor now isn’t even poor which is crazy.. you can be making above minimum wage like I do. And you can work all the extra hours, I can. And it still doesn’t matter.. you’re still poor. I don’t get why I even bother with this rat race. My son is already like what is the point of even living then? That’s a good question. Kind of sad that a child can figure that out and some adults don’t want to accept that. What are we working for? If we’re working to stay broke? This is practically slavery.

[@AlinaMcleod]

I don't understand how a solution for homelessness through government created employment hasn't been considered. Why can't they create an ethical labor industry that anyone who is unhoused can apply for and then receive a basic place to live, food and a bit of spending money as they get on their feet and enter a rehab program if need be? If they don't want to work for their housing (obviously excluding those who medically cannot), then I don't see why there should be enormous tax payer funding towards systems that obviously aren't making that much of a difference to solve the problem.

[@firstandforemost87]

The government already can’t afford our existing programs, and they aren’t known for getting value for their dollar.

[@smsmsm33434]

The majority don’t want to work and just want to live with no responsibilities, able to use and drain resources. It’s a conscious choice. Those who want to get better have the resources necessary to do so.

[@srealone788]

⁠@@smsmsm33434that is so not true! I’m on the verge of homelessness with my family. I don’t have a substance abuse problem. I work. And no. There is no helpful resources available to us.. we’re lucky to be where we are right now. But even this? Is not a permanent and or helpful solution. You are severely misinformed..

[@lotstosayalways]

Its hard to make wise choices when all the options are crap

[@Tidaltwist]

It's not an excuse to encourage drug use.

[@srealone788]

@@Tidaltwistyou’re focused on the wrong part of the problem.. making you equally part of the problem..

[@danc2159]

It's hard to go to work when you don't want to. I just drove down mainst I saw like 30 of em drinking broad daylight. they just want the handouts they don't wanna work for em.

[@srealone788]

@@danc2159 you don’t know that. A lot of these people? Don’t start out being where they are. They are where they are, suffering like they are with the battles they have. Because at a point? They did try. And it just was never working out for them. They weren’t as strong as some people to keep on pushing and going. They gave up! I’m not even one of them. I don’t care to say I’m a bleeding heart either.. but I’ve raised and supported a family through these economies for some time now and I’m older, knowledgeable and educated and aware of these lack of and failing resources. Everyone pushes everyone blindly to go to our glorious governments for help. Assuming.. the governments will take care of it, always. Take care of these people enough? To the point. They should no longer be where they are. But the FACT! You all seem to be missing entirely? Is that they do not actually end up helping anyone enough! I would KNOW! I have been in circumstances before? Where everyone sent me to them for help and then they FAILED ME! And could not help me! And now in this day? You ask anyone with any real knowledge in the field and work? Of being who’s supposed to help these people? And they’ll even say and point out. They are maxed out! Overwhelmed. And they can not provide enough to help everyone. Too bad. We’re all on our own. What do you in really expect people to do at that point? They get desperate! And this is how crime raises! Because people are desperate and no is helping them enough! The point you are all clearly not getting!!!!

[@helpanimals-]

Finland solved this. Housing first! then they can deal with the issues through social workers. Tiny homes aren't expensive. Make a village. They just need a small space. Unfortunately, homelessness is a business. Lots of people gain from it

[@elizabethanderson136]

This!

[@firstandforemost87]

Where is the government going to get money to build everybody houses?

[@lotstosayalways]

Great idea but we have a way larger homeless problem than Finland ever did. Population of Finland 5.5 million. Population of Canada 39.1 million. I agree its a great solution. Now we need to apply our energy to raising funding.

[@lotstosayalways]

We as compassionate people need to figure it out cause our goverment is not going to do much obviously. What happened to those days when we all looked out for each other? Why is everything the government's fault? The onus is on us as well as government. Unfortunately we have more people judging these people than helping. It costs no money to be nice to someone.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@lotstosayalways Because those people haven't done much to improve their own situations along with the help enabling them to stay where they are.

[@lisanevins3605]

The addictions are a problem . No one wants to rent to them .

[@isay207]

They are fit speak well why can't they get jobs!!!

[@DeeSmith001]

​@@isay207 Because the jobs that are left go to our new guests, while Canadians get passed over. Get it? That's Trudeau's Canada.

[@rosemaryvan6885]

​@isay207 where do they leave their belongings? You have to have an address to get employment in most places. Shower and change for work? Easy to say but nor easy.

[@thimblemunch24]

That's not the issue it's more complicated. These people don't have wallets or ID's. How can you get a ID with no address? Then how can you even get a job or apartment with no ID? See the catch 21 the government put out decades ago that catches homeless in the loop yet?

[@smsmsm33434]

@@isay207 do you think they want jobs?

[@bugsquashed5509]

I have spoken with many seniors living in affordable housing (apartments) that the city has turned into affordable housing for homeless: it’s a nightmare for them. The drug use, prostitution, it’s extremely dangerous, it gets dirty and out of control quickly…. It causes properties to lose value, which is a huge blow to anyone to owns a unit. I have empathy for these people, my own brother was extremely close to this life… I will say, there’s no solution for them until the drug use is addressed. You can’t have a happy, fruitful life slamming dope or high on meth. It wasn’t until my brother quit using, got help, and cleaned up and got a job that he began really living: now he has a common law wife and a child, he’s happier and more importantly clean. Edmonton has a drug problem: period.

[@maeganbyerley]

Adam & I used to volunteer at The Mustard Seed church together. Such great memories & laughs

[@skpixieskpixie3346]

fent and rent do not mix

[@travisjones9010]

True, I know this! I stopped the fent tho ... thankfully. Seems this problem in Edmonton is virtually same as kelowna.

[@elp2689]

My understanding of the housing crisis is that aside from much of it being turned into short term accom like Air BnB, REIT ETF’s as a real estate investment means giant corporations are buying up entire apartment buildings and raising rents exorbitantly. They literally drive people to homelessness. Housing needs to stop being financialized. It should be a basic human right just as healthcare should be. My heart goes out to the many displaced people struggling to survive. God bless.

[@keilana6]

Hurts when family is on verge of homelessness & not able to help because of low resources.

[@kevinsabko7011]

I'm one of the lucky ones I was only on the streets for 3 weeks 8 years ago which in a way was good for me I was hard into the meth for a year being on the streets helped me realize that it wasn't me and I needed to change. It was bloody well cold out got frost bite on my toes in that 3 weeks but got off the meth got help and now I have my family back and thriving again.

[@elissalabellelabelle4819]

😢I lived in Edmonton for 7 years. 2003-2009. 20 years ago you could rent a nice 2 bedroom apartment for 800-1000

[@natashapetkau4045]

I lived on the streets of Edmonton during the winter months and I thought many times that I wasn’t going to wake up. -48 with the windchill so damn cold and I was 3 months pregnant to boot.! Never ever want to be in that place again!

[@dannysteele4013]

So sad we have this problem here in Canada And one can slip in to this problem so easily

[@keilana6]

It's all over - any where real estate moguls have inflated rents to unaffordable levels.

[@jaygamblin3584]

They were originally going to do "Surviving Winnipeg" but quickly remembered it would be the mission of no return

[@dorawilliams4628]

Strong lady and she never gave up 😊

[@fabiobatistaoriginal]

God bless.

[@lotstosayalways]

I wish we could find a solution to this. No one should have to live like this. Substances are a crutch. Lots of damaged people out there.

[@user-wg2vw3mz1v]

Damaged for the sake of "civilization".

[@codypendency9482]

Should use rexall place for them in the winter

[@user-wg2vw3mz1v]

**Daryl Katz has entered the chat** 😮

[@sandradelarosaarellano2658]

Too dangerous. No agency wants to take on that due to the layout of the building

[@Mikinaak2023]

Build rehabs first and then house the successful applicants.

[@srealone788]

I’m on the verge of homeless with my family and I don’t even have a substance abuse problem or addiction..

[@keilana6]

​​@@srealone788Son works overtime every work week but does not earn enough & to survive rising rent, food & other costs. On the edge of eviction.

[@matthewapplegarth8143]

They can house criminals for years on end but can't take the time to house addicts against their "will" until they get clean and have the mindset refocused by emotional and mental health help.. If one does not show any recovery than house them in a clean environment where they are fed, cleaned and eventually they'll come around.. They do it with criminals not sure why they can't do it with addicts and emotional broken people..

[@488ci]

They would lock you up for drug use and being a drunk. Alberta was the strictest when it came to drugs. Something changed.

[@matthewapplegarth8143]

@@488ci definitely did and not for the better.

[@elizabethklein7073]

No kidding. And I looked up the jail systems in Canada, and they seem to be really good. All the benefits of programs for the incarcerated, education, visits, cheerful and bright facilities, at least for the minimum security members which was what these addicts would be, I assume. It would be so much safer for the chronic street addicts and the general public.

[@Oo-Pitbull-oO]

​@@488cisomething changed already. Socialist governments. Ask Vancouver how legalising hard drugs has went... In fact you can find it in KZbin to see for yourself. It's "The Walking Dead" live in HD, while millionaires teenagers of a certain specific country where the hard drugs are manufactured before they are sent to the Cartels... Drive Lamborghini's and 250k BMWs/ Mercedes, and live in multi million dollar homes that only they can afford. Showing off the avails of living off Canadian citizens suffering. I'm not wrong.

[@Oo-Pitbull-oO]

that their parents back in the home country of origin buy for them***

[@johnlogan-vb9bu]

They are making it harder for the homeless , my bro lives on the streets . Ive also too in the past and know how it is . I remember the temp agencys you go in to work , you used to get paid cash at the end of the day . Now from what i hear , you can go in temp agency , get sent out and work for one day , and now you have to wait a whole week just to get paid for that one day work! So even those homeless that wanna work , they are making it harder for them . Better for cash daily because , living on the street people know you get paid at end of week big cash sum , you gonna get robbed !

[@jaredweis1382]

I'm so happy people are able to use the hope mission, I was able to have a temporary job to help clean and build part of it.

[@ArabicReja973]

There are over 100 million homeless people in China, although there are unfinished apartments enough to house 1.4 billion people in the country.

[@matthewapplegarth8143]

You gotta remember there is 2.2 billion people living there.. Canada has 1.2 million.

[@Bilgewater]

evidence?

[@DeeSmith001]

​@@Bilgewatercommie?

[@phoebezhang4832]

How much money did you get posting this?

[@sean12sean]

This is Canada. Who cares?

[@calmtea5369]

The root is mental illness, then drug addiction. You can’t solve the homelessness issues without solving these issues first.

[@stonerstevesstudio]

We need to take a housing first approach or these people will continue the cycle. Not saying let them do as they please as they please but be more understanding and compassionate obout relapses.. it's worked in other countries. We need to deal with the cause of the addiction or things will never change

[@sassafrass241]

They mention home ed, but they don’t mention how stringent they are. They aren’t just a call away. Getting help from what used to be capital region housing is like pulling teeth. All this money but so much bureaucracy and red tape to get that help. It’s pathetic.

[@yegfreethinker]

exactly the homeless industrial complex

[@SileneKitty]

Its estimated 45% of homeless Canadians are disabled and/or mentally ill. They can't afford to rent anywhere and affordable housing waitlists are a decade long.

[@amandarichards7157]

This is THE comment. 🙏🏻 I got clean, sober, and rehabilitated, and I still almost ended up on the street. Getting from where I was in my addiction to having the assistance needed to get on my feet took immense self advocacy, the help of my family doctor, and a social worker plus so much more. If one of those things faltered even for one month, I would have been on the streets and never been able to get out. Not everyone's story falls into place like mine did. I wish more people could understand how hard it is to exist with disabilities/ mental illness.

[@nivikoseven]

Don't do drugs. Unfortunate you can't trust them with work, housing, or behaving properly when in groups.... they will always let you down and sell their own mother for a fix. I guess that's why the empathy is just low. Good luck to them!

[@lynb1022]

You know a lot of people got addicted by legal medications prescribed by doctors, right? Do you actually know that? That's how the opioid crisis started. Right around the time it was ramping up, Alberta - astonishingly - decided to close down AADAC, so people couldn't get help to get off them, then rents started (needlessly) rising. Stop blaming victims for their circumstances.

[@lisameyer5788]

Sadly, a lot of these people end up addicted as a result of being homeless. Not always, but it often happens...

[@user-pf1qx3hh4y]

Life is for the living. Any bleeding heart who says some generic 'you don't know what it's like in their shoes' Most homeless Canadians have mental health/substance abuse challenges. If your not independently wealthy, you have to work. Period. It's cold outside, work. Then go home to warm house.

[@tanyapambrun8545]

This is difficult to watch , and it’s getting worse each year . More folks falling through the cracks. Praying for all of those affected. Praying for change within the systems in place.

[@lynb1022]

Canada's shame. Alberta's shame. All of this was preventable. There's no good reason a single person should be on the streets. Blame slumlords. Blame rentiers. Blame speculators. Blame our 40% of Members of Parliament who are rentiers and speculators. Blame Edmonton City Council that still refuses to ban whole-home absentee 'host' airbnbs. Blame all the "mom & pop" landlords who deliberately let their "investment properties" sit empty so they can get manipulate supply/demand and claim another tax-writeoff. Blame developers who hold municipalities hostage by threatening to not-build anything if rent-controls are implemented. Blame everyone who says we need only "build more housing!" while ignoring that few if any new builds are affordable. Blame the Bank of Canada for manipulating interest rates that encourage rentiers to buy more property than they need, and push low-income homeowners into negative amortizations and foreclosure when they're raised again. Have your heard "Canada Is Spending 75% of Its Forecast Deficit To Prop Up Mortgages" (Better Dwelling) rather than just admitting the policies they created were a disaster, the debt-bubble is real, the housing bubble is real, the economy is NOT "OK", and just allowing this giant Ponzi scheme we call Canadian real estate to pop into oblivion once and for all? Stupid stupid shelters that boot people out for hours - for what purpose?! For evidence that simply "building more!" will NOT increase affordability or "solve the housing crisis", read "Sick City" (2021), by UBC Prof & Urban Designer Patrick Condon. For years he insisted we need only "build more housing" to restore housing affordability, but he now admits he was dead wrong, and that only "non-market" housing can save us. The book can be downloaded as free PDF from his website "justicelandandthecity".

[@tedlivermore6955]

How about blaming the people themselves who choose to sit around doing nothing all day instead of working

[@lynb1022]

​@@tedlivermore6955 And who exactly is going to give homeless people a job? Who's going to hire them when they can't even bathe? You with your endless altruism?

[@ellebelle8515]

Sadly, almost all share the blame including the homeless themselves. Each of us could be called a 'victim of our own bad choices."

[@thimblemunch24]

So everyones mad bad choices accept the homeless? I know some homeless are not there from there choices but the vast majority are.

[@lynb1022]

@@thimblemunch24 you got it backwards. Some homeless are there by their (bad) choices, but these days the vast majority are not. They are there solely because the rent is too damn high. The mental illness, addictions and criminal elements usually *follow*.

[@videoworldnewsdaily]

Canada should learn lesson from Finland to resolve homeless problem absolutely

[@fromtheparkbench1979]

👏Well Done! 👏 I am at HOPE myself, and yup, Kim's back, but don't give up "hope" on her! I've watched homeless over 10 years now and it seems like the amount of time you spend IN homelessness is the same amount it takes you to get OUT. Many runs at it must be made, but each time they go a bit further until they reach their dream.

[@lotstosayalways]

Kimberly I would love to have a meal and a conversation with you. I am also needing a haircut so you could make some much needed money. How can I get in contact with you?

[@KieranDevine]

Not a lot of homeless people have any contact information!!!

[@blessed77855]

She has Facebook

[@tedlivermore6955]

I,d keep an eye on your wallet if you're gonna hang out with her.

[@lotstosayalways]

@@tedlivermore6955 happy to take my chances. I say again "it is hard to make good choices when all the options are awful"

[@tedlivermore6955]

@@lotstosayalways Gettin a job is awful? Yeah I guess I never wanted to work either but I been doing it for over 40 years.

[@user-nw5ml7lr2b]

@7:43 that's poor sweet woman has refused to give up her Rings which makes me believe that their heirlooms or of great sentimental value!!!!! and it's really really hard to live like her and hold on to anything worth money I respect that woman so much!!!!

[@lisameyer5788]

This is beyond sad...💔🥺

[@user-cw3hv8vf9u]

Why pay taxes as a generational Canadian when you are last on the list and all tax money goes to others and things that do nothing to bring generational Canadians out of poverty?

[@sjay2177]

It feels me to see this... yet we send all this money to Ukraine..it doesnt matter if some are on drugs or not..were still humans..

[@KieranDevine]

That isnt what HMK's staff says!!

[@isay207]

Ukraine is defending democracy and the free world not drug addicts we pay for rehab and as soon as theyre out back at it again

[@FreedaPeeple-in2mn]

The grossly excessive immigration is far more costly than assisting Ukraine.

[@Smiling3DModel-xm3wc]

There's money for Ukraine and Hamas except for the local people , this country needs to change government the sooner the better.

[@sjay2177]

@@isay207 how have we benefited from Ukraine?

[@srealone788]

This is officially a world where I can work. Not have a substance abuse addiction at all. And my family and I? Are now on the verge of homelessness.. and people still have the audacity to be commenting here as if it’s only heads that end up here and it’s all their fault. Based on their poor life choices.. people really have no idea that it’s even people who work, make all the best choices they can and don’t have substance abuse problems. We are literally on the verge of ending up in the same position. And no. The help and resources aren’t there, they are maxed out! And over whelmed. You guys are really not getting it.. they need to talk to more people like me. Only? My family will just be attacked and bullied for speaking out and telling the truth. That’s crazy!

[@keilana6]

Absolutely right. My son may be out of a home shortly due to rising rent coupled with all the other rising costs. He works overtime every work week, does not do drugs & hopefully will not get mental health issues due to constant money stress. I am not in a position to help him financially & that hurts.

[@Cory_LaRose]

I am native. No support or anything education and no knowledge of modern society. I came here in 2008. Thrown onto the streets of deadmonton. After a month, I got a job and an apartment. J was arrested many times for being native and lost my house and job and had to start all over. Over and over. The help I got from the homeless was enough to thrive. They know what to do to survive. I met a group of native man and showed them that theh are superior to the white man and they went homeless to business owners in 2 years. I am now a home owner and a business owner. I have made young natuve people go from homeless to business owners. You can interview them and make a movie about them.

[@JakobHill]

Anyone who abuses drugs or alcohol to the point that it prevents them from finding work should not expect society's help until they have committed to trying to get clean.

[@lotstosayalways]

I didnt read your comment correctly first time around so deleted my comnents. Your idea is a good one

[@truetech4158]

Precursors such as the often overlooked PTSD and C-PTSD, those are precursors. We must show empathy to such delicate framework of the human condition, not everyone is as sheltered in life or with a determination to be viewed as being stoic towards the consideration of precursors. Shellshock related to various forms of injuries occurs, these are shoved through the cracks. If depression is a element of PTSD related cognitive challenges, or multi generational concerns that often resulted in a person finding themselves living with PTSD and possibly secondary physical challenges directly related. Are you suggesting sociopathy is more powerful than empathy though, based on your willingness to try to direct society awat from empathy, when empathy choses to not overlook the elemental precursors of the affected individuals? Perspective understood can help people who are cognitively disabled away from empathy, to grow empathy, even to the point of apology for previously overlooking core concerns of precursors. Addictions we see in many forms.

[@corinaking2052]

It's hard to imagine a harsher major city to live in if homeless than Edmonton.

[@jaykay5142]

You can get to such a bad point in your life that any improvement chances are unlikely and, even worse, anyone who tries to help you will not only fail but be harmed in the process. At that point you're cursed in a sense and could even pass your curse on to others, like a drowning person pulling a lifeguard under the water with them.

[@Bleu-en2bf]

Some people want to be rid of them by not helping them. The problem is there will always be poor people just like there will always be sickness. By helping them, we protect our city from diseases and crime. Most faiths require we assist them.🙏

[@MarieMarten-uq5vb]

Honestly how much people try to take them out and try to help them….your doing more harm on their mental health then any good. I have a sibling who’s been downtown Edmonton and we tried everything to help her…but she was happy to be down there…..she’s jn a housing program and doing better. She’s been there for over 10years in that lifestyle. ❤❤❤❤

[@kellyann1854]

Homeless when it's 35below outside. Canada has outdone itself again...

[@rondasawchuk]

I'm not sure if it's just me...I'm thinking drugs are not free or cheap. I don't know how anyone can afford substance abuse. Many sad stories for sure.

[@tedlivermore6955]

Government gives them money and when that runs out they steal from the working people.

[@srealone788]

As expensive as they are to acquire. You can make a lot of money off them, really easily, all the same.. also adds to crime because people get desperate and that’s why a lot of crime happens. Also not just because of drugs but high costs of living and people getting desperate..

[@kelusitepitbeautifulwoman4154]

its unbelieveable to me how much avail for free dr ug use and drug even now in Bc,. i never thought i would live to see the govt supply anything like this!! im a recovering addict myself, so i know the choke hold it has on a person. Sublocade is what saves my life. why aint the govt giving them that instead of anything else! ?? people think their jobs wont be gone. and they wont ever be in position like that! rude awakening coming for many!!! Tahoe.

[@williaml3300]

If we take 1% of the money that governments piss away everyone could have a place. We are all being taxed to death anyway so why not set aside a certain amount of tax money for that. Everyone should have a safe place to stay especially in the winter months. I found out that for every person in the shelters they charge $1100.00 per person every night. This is why they have to leave every morning by 8am. So when they come back later that night they can charge another $1100.00 per person. This is what the millionaire owners charge the government. So we tax payers are footing the bill anyway.

[@SWEDnawmeen]

"he dreams of going home to Stoney plane." that's like 5 mins outside of the city lol he can catch the bus.

[@tedlivermore6955]

Yeah but he,d have to move out of his free apartment and get a job which for all these people isnt an acceptable option.Just lazy

[@AskAlice112]

It is only going to get worse.....heartbreaking

[@rickhadfield1097]

No one will rent to an addict. They destroy everything. They need to kick the habit with some help and then maybe they will get clean and find a better life. Courts need to come down harder on the drug dealers and organized crime groups that control and peddle drugs to these people

[@starlight_44]

Something can be done, treatment centres and outdoor areas set aside for homeless (lots of land) help set up parking areas with outdoor bathrooms/showers (for people living in their cars). Alot of things can be done but gov't rather pay millions to management to figure this out.

[@keilana6]

It is not all drugs & alcohol. Many working people do not earn enough to afford rent, food & costs of living to say nothing about transportation.

[@JJJohnson441]

Lol, they are looking for stability while doing drugs?

[@tedlivermore6955]

Yep and we're supposed to feel sorry for them,nah

[@tedlivermore6955]

@@Another-Address If people support themselves but want to be an addict that's up to them.When you expect the taxpayers to prop you up because of addiction that's not ok.Big difference man

[@michellebenn1677]

So Kimberly got housing, yes it’s not ideal but it’s a step in the right direction. So why now has she still not went job searching. Maybe if she got herself a job instead of spending her days inside a statue, more options would be available to her. At the end of the day, you have to want to help yourself. You can’t rely on other Canadians to make your living for you, that’s called enabling.

[@tedlivermore6955]

Exactly,she doesn't want a job and is one of the most entitled people I think I,ve ever seen. She seems to think the taxpayers should design and build her a luxury treehouse to live in for free while she lays around and does nothing,oh I forgot she,s an artist,lol.These people are the biggest scammers out there. .

[@moondancer334]

Her room at the Sally Ann was nice; clean, safe, warm....and a lot more than others have and would give anything to have. Why didn't she try to find even a part time job to get back into the work force and to slowly save up? Her "dream" of living in a tree house is not the least bit realistic. Does she think someone is just going to offer her a fully equipped tree house for free? IMO she did nothing to help herself.

[@river8760]

Don’t judge what you don’t know.

[@tedlivermore6955]

@@river8760 We all know her very well,she s the same as the rest of them , lazy.

[@Blahblahrahrah]

I agree, got a weird vibe from her . She is doing & saying what the interviewer wants to hear but not necessarily wants to do or really believe herself.

[@gregsly308]

let's be honest she's her own worst enemy . as a society we should try to help these people as much as we can but we can only do so much. to quote her own words ( I was happier on the streets ) look living in a treehouse not having to work and having everything paid for sounds lovely. unfortunately it's not realistic so where does our responsibility begin and end. ?

[@susan638]

Meanwhile, Sohi is the highest paid Mayor in Canada. He gets an annual salary that is higher than the Premier of Alberta. Shame on Edmonton's Mayor Sohi.

[@ma.melinegarcia5639]

Someone please ask Global News this question..When Canadians work lets say 20yrs or more and the person passes away..What's happens to their tax dollars that they paid into the system go..And what does the Canadian government do with the taxes you paid all those years

[@t9amera]

Well no one gets their tax dollars back but their CPP benefits would go to their next of kin orif let's say they owed money to child maintenance then it would go to their kids IF they filled their taxes. So ultimately if they didn't file their taxes then CPP is never given. Everything else is government money.

[@MsFifthstone]

and going around saving everyone SAVE YOURSELF

[@kurtbaldwin6984]

ALMOST a great piece. Ole Kimberley, you show her getting housing(which is awesome), show her drawing, writing, doing whatever that is to her hair, buy look for a job?? God forbid!!🙄. And again just so disappointing, I feel like showing her filling out applications or going on an interview towards the end would have totally changed the tone for the better.

[@NatashaSmash]

Edmonton has poor services for the homeless, especially for women.I know because I was homeless here.

[@scotthowell7676]

Our stories are varied and always different. [Most] seem to share common ground in drugs and booze, but some (mine) are stories of intentional displacement by policy.

[@bat2275]

If you are homeless in Edmonton you need to take a bus to Vancouver now. It is a lot warmer.

[@Oo-Pitbull-oO]

Global I see it took you less than 10min to delete my comment re: Vancouver... Ill keave it again every hour on the hour. State Run media/propaganda pretending to have a heart, but refusing to recognize 2 core issues. Or allowing a comment about them. SOCIALIST Governments deisgn of LEGALIZED DRUGS IN VANCOUVER HAVE MURDERED MANY and ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAJORITY OF HOMELESSNESS ... Refuse to recognize the cause the housing market quadrupling every couple years.... IT IS FOREIGN OWNERSHIP FROM A SPECIFIC COUNTRY OF ORIGIN. THE SAME COUNTRY PROVIDES THE PRECURSORS OF FENTANYL FOR THE CARTELS DOWN SOUTH THIS COUNTRY'S TEENAGERS DRIVE Lamborghini's, High end BMWS and Mercedes, live in Multi million dollar homes in Vancouver off the backs of Canadian Citizens, while their parents remain in that specific country of origin. All easy to look the FACTS I say everyone...

[@tailrj]

How do they get money to go to Vancouver when they are on the street? 🥹🥹🥹

[@shauncameron8390]

@@tailrj Hitchhiking?

[@user-cc5od3zk4p]

I grew up in Edmonton during the 70s-80s. This was unheard of. Sure, we had a little bit, but not like this.

[@lastChang]

They should have moved Chinese 🇨🇳 Xi to stay with the homeless people since he's been talking about them a lot.

[@donnaconrad5433]

If more people would help the homeless people it wouldn’t get to this level , it doesn’t have to be like this , why can’t people give a little

[@Sensecommon557]

If you leave out the homeless people that don't deserve any special help, then there really isnt a homeless problem in canada. Plain and simple.

[@SlimshadyVictoria]

SO...FREAKING...SAD....EVERYBODY deserves to have shelter, food, warmth....EVERYBODY!💔💔💔

[@bunnybangz]

Moved from winnipeg to Edmonton and back bc its literaly the same 😂😂

[@DeeSmith001]

Surviving Trudeau.

[@tedlivermore6955]

Surviving laziness

[@shauncameron8390]

@@tedlivermore6955 Surviving envy and entitlement.

[@raptorlover004]

Trudeau is getting his big raise in a week cause he does such a good job

[@RS-el2oy]

That's all where many will become.

[@sorrelflowr]

This issue will only get worse after April 1 carbon tax increase

[@christianshirley-zg6oi]

Cool now what ? I'm pretty sure the good moral people at this news station have fixed these people's problems

[@user-pf1qx3hh4y]

It's very hard to get ahead if you don't work and use drugs. And stfu anyone who is about to say something. Is what it is

[@yegfreethinker]

Isn't there a bridge you normally reside under? Or are you indifferent to the suffering of others and understanding that actually anyone can face this type of predicament when they're in such a horrible heartless capitalistic society that has no care for the common good? You could easily end up in that position yourself one day. Wouldn't it actually had helping hands in our society in case you actually God forbid one day will end up in that circumstance?

[@keilana6]

My working full time son is unable to keep up with rising rental costs as well as all other costs. Never has anything left over & has no addiction issues.

[@user-nw5ml7lr2b]

@9:25 all the black people know where to get a list for housing and exactly what time you need to be there to get it tha Ts a fact!! I got denied for food stamps one time!!!! One of my black homegirls called Social Services for me and got a phone interview she didn't even have to go to the office and I got my food stamp card in the mail 5 days later because she pretended to be me!!!!!!

[@leajohnson8441]

It’s was a lot different in 2007-10 then it is now their wasn’t tents all over the place and their wear shelters to sleep at.

[@a0thic]

Im suprised there was no mention of the WEAC. Its a choice for women to stay for up to a year and they feed you everyday.

[@cosmicwoman]

This is what Canada has become and was in process for a number of years. Putting our most vulnerable Canadians last

[@Babuka54]

ПОЧЕМУ в "НИЩЕЙ" России НЕТ такого количества БЕЗдомных,и их можно встретить с огромным трудом и придётся поискать?!

[@tedlivermore6955]

Because Russia doesnt pay people to sit around and get high all day like Canada and the U.S. do.

[@tailrj]

Yeah right but no freedoms

[@Ilove_stitch]

Welcome to modern Canada !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you all for Welcoming all unwanted people on board !!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need more Ukrainians here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@chriscatherwood4806]

We have an abundance of social programs to help them. Most come with 1 requirement. Stop getting drunk and high. If you're homeless in Canada you got there by your own crappy choices, and you renain there by your own crappy choices.

[@sykassler8491]

Sadly we do not have robust services. There's many folks that fall through the cracks, and the services are getting even scarcer. This isn't limited to our homeless community members but all folks needing economic, health (including mental health) services. Wait lists are out of control and what's happening now with younger populations are going to create future unwell adults who may experience addictions. It's a myth that folks can immediately access services. It's wonderful when it happens but barriers are increasing.

[@tedlivermore6955]

You are correct,that's why this show purposely didnt go into any of these peoples past as it would have explained why they are on the street

[@elizabethklein7073]

Homeless is a broad spectrum and it annoys me that we almost always see this programs of the street homeless as representative of homeless. Living in cars, RV's. I also want to see an expose of what it's like in an actual shelter by a few residents who go there on a longer term basis. Just to see how dangerous it really is - so say the street homeless...

[@tedlivermore6955]

@@elizabethklein7073 They wont do that,it doesn't fit the narrative that all these leftist shows want people to believe.And it works because a lot of people believe this nonsense.

[@shauncameron8390]

@@sykassler8491

[@arwenwebkinzfreak]

Why isn’t Jason Nixon responding to this?

[@1008chaz]

We need to stop enabling people like this. We are taking money from the middle class and throwing it into the burn pit of addiction.

[@keilana6]

Not all homes are addicted.

[@frankihatch]

Stop doing drugs

[@yegfreethinker]

I find your ignorance rather disturbing or cruelty depending on how much you know about the psychology concerning chemical addictions in life. One doesn't simply will one's out of these things that's why AA has absolutely abysmal success rate because it's not about willpower it's about actual mental health and ensuring someone actually has a healthy environment in which to be once they have a healthy environment it actually becomes much easier to kick these habits but if they're in a stressful circumstance like these people. Once a positive environment is there it's actually rather easy for people to shake these problems so that's why when you look at problem places like Finland which actually has now a policy of housing people first they actually have drug problems that are receding from their society. So it's pretty obvious it in that case then that the first thing that we need to do is actually establish stable housing and then you can deal with those other problems that you wish to deal with -- That's not dealing with it in that order is inherently counterproductive as we can see by our own approach here my God. Maybe next time don't resort to such an oversimplification yes One would probably make the argument of okam's razor the all things beig equal the simplest explanation is usually the right one but the simplest explanation that doesn't belie the complexities of whatever is you're examining.

[@truetech4158]

Please be safe, no matter what manipulative debate evading unapologetic narcissists with sandbox issues smilingly say, homelessness frostbite never really produces afterlives. Vote very carefully if and when allowed. Please reply back, because nefarious people engage in theft of freedom of speech rights and this comment might not be publicly visible if not ignored with willful ignorance of which there remains a generalized surplus.

[@sophiegauthier6041]

I live in a small town a few hours away from Edmonton. Last summer a bus of homeless people showed up . We dont have any infrastructure or programs to help them at all. So in between our town scrambling to try to help, crime rate has risen significantly. Now the the residents are being harrassed and robbed, they are taking a defensive approach and no longer want to help the homeless. Its also has brought more fire hazards :(

[@user-be7zh6pe1j]

Not sure if PP can fix this mess we are in … but I know 100% JT and Jaggers can’t (they didn’t create this mess - it goes back much further than then … but it sure got a lot worse on their watch!)

[@cccs800]

And what about the PROVINCIAL government and municipal government? Do you just choose to ignore that they also have a responsibility to care for their citizens. What have they done or not done? If you're counting on PP to make things better for the homeless, look at his history for that answer.

[@Average--Joe]

Well, drugs will have this effect.

[@StephInOttawa]

We create all these jobs in people helping/managing the homeless, food banks, addictions, welfare, etc-- yet we can't create jobs to get people off the streets, feeling useful, & paying taxes.. It's so backwards how we spend more money paying people to help people, (CAS, LTC, Homelessness, Addictions) than we spend on helping those people get better/have better lives. It's the same with opiates.. we spend all this money on harm reduction and you can get highly addictive morphine for free, but if you actually want to get better and get on methadone/off drugs-- it'll cost you a small fortune and way more than just stayinng on drugs.

[@shauncameron8390]

[@HerveVillechaize22]

Most homeless aren't interested in working or paying taxes...or feeling usefull. That's a major part of their problem to begin with.

[@cozzihoffmaann]

Why would they government try to solve homelessness. New comers means more spending more into the economy. Why lower rental prices which means less money on property taxes to the government. You all voted for the current government to remain in power but complain about it . Make that make sense .