For those sheltering outdoors, the City remains committed to compassionately supporting access to safe, warm options that protect their dignity and well-being this winter.

tents in snow in encampment

The City of Edmonton is committed to the safety, dignity, and well-being of all Edmontonians, especially those most vulnerable to the harsh realities of homelessness. With winter’s extreme cold, anyone sheltering outside is in an urgent situation and faces life-threatening risks such as frostbite, hypothermia and even death. 

Internally, our integrated Winter Safety Response plan brings together the coordinated efforts of multiple branches, sections and program areas within the City. These areas contribute their specialized efforts to ensure that vulnerable Edmontonians have access to essential resources throughout the winter months. 

What to Do If You See Someone Outside in the Cold

Edmonton winters can be life-threatening, and it’s vital to act safely and quickly to help. If you see someone sheltering outside during cold weather:

 Call 211 and press 3

This service will connect you with the Crisis Diversion Team.

They are trained to assist vulnerable individuals and help connect them to a safe, warm location. 

Sheltering

During Edmonton's harsh winter, shelters provide more than warmth and safety - they offer a place of refuge and support. 

Staying in a shelter is not only safer but provides individuals with essential connections to support services, often serving as a first step on the journey toward stable housing.

Shelters in Edmonton are funded by the Government of Alberta, which is responsible for monitoring capacity and utilization to ensure there are enough spaces this winter for those in need. 

For more information on shelter locations, visit Government of Alberta's Shelter Resource.

Sheltering in Public Spaces

Public spaces and waste bins are not safe for sheltering. Seeking refuge in bins can be deadly due to waste collection processes and hazardous materials. Similarly, transit facilities are not designed or intended for overnight sheltering.

Waste Bin Danger Awareness

As winter sets in, some individuals may seek refuge in waste bins, which can be deadly. City waste collectors do their best to check bins before they are emptied because collection trucks pose serious risks from compaction and hazardous materials inside, like glass and chemicals. The City, with social services, is raising awareness of these dangers and providing safer options. 

If you see someone near a bin, please call 211 and press 3 for the Crisis Diversion Team, available 24/7 to connect individuals to safe, warm spaces.

Extreme Weather Response

The City remains committed to making sure that everyone has access to safe, warm spaces this winter. By collaborating with partners, the City is doing as much as possible to ensure no one is left without the help they need during the harsh winter months.

From providing overnight winter shelter shuttles to help those who need it get to emergency shelters, and accessing City recreation facilities and libraries to keep warm, the City is doing its part to keep Edmontonians safe through the winter. 

Learn more about our Extreme Cold Weather Response.

A dedicated overnight transportation service is available to support Edmontonians needing a warm, safe way to reach emergency shelters.

Carried by frontline City staff and available in libraries, this card offers essential information on shelter locations, day shelters, and health services.

Wound Care

Healthier Together is a comprehensive collaboration between the City, Alberta Health Service and local social agencies that seeks to remove obstacles to essential health services.

Healthier Together’s weekly events provide individuals with health resources such as hygiene kits, wound care supplies and wellness education, empowering people to take charge of their health. 

Between May 21 and October 15, 2024, the Healthier Together wound care pop-up provided care to 1,026 individual visits.

Wound Care Pop-ups

Note: Healthier Together wound care pop-up at Butler Park (157 Street and Stony Plain Road) has been extended until March 30, 2025

Pop-ups occur every Tuesday, weather permitting (cancelled if temperatures reach -30°C with wind chill).

The following services are available: 

  • Wound care
  • Blood pressure and sugar monitoring
  • Health assessments
  • Education
  • Referrals

Shigella in Vulnerable Communities

From the onset of the Shigella outbreak, the City of Edmonton has partnered with Alberta Health Services and local organizations to implement measures aimed at controlling the spread of the infection in the inner city.

These measures include working with our partners to improve access to hygiene items and deploying staff to both permanent and mobile washrooms. These attendants provide hand sanitizer, sanitary wipes, clean clothing and bottled water to those using the facilities, ensuring immediate access to critical hygiene resources. 

Learn More About Shigella

The City of Edmonton recognizes the need to provide access to safe and clean washrooms to the public.

Encampment Response Team

The Encampment Response Team (ERT) plays a central role in addressing encampments on public land, ensuring safety and providing compassionate support to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Team Responsibilities

Composed of Community Peace Officers, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and City Operations, the ERT responds to encampments by:

  • Logging community concerns
  • Assessing each site’s status (occupied or vacant) 
  • Prioritizing responses based on community health and safety considerations

While closures of encampments are governed by lawful placement under City bylaws and other legislation, the team’s assessment of risks - such as fire hazards, biohazards and proximity to vulnerable locations - ensures that the highest priority risks are attended to first. This approach aims to protect both vulnerable individuals and the broader community. 

Encampment Closures

During an encampment closure, the ERT offers individuals onsite support, resources, and transportation to the Government of Alberta’s Navigation and Support Centre, where they can access additional services. Once the site is vacant, the ERT coordinates with City cleanup crews to clear and sanitize the site, ensuring it is safe and usable for the public. The team’s work balances enforcement with compassion, focusing on both immediate community safety and long-term support for vulnerable individuals.

Encampment closures proceed only when sufficient shelter space is available. The Government of Alberta provides occupancy data to the ERT as shelter capacity reaches 90%, teams receive an email prompting them to verify availability before any closure.

Encampment Risks Explained

Fire Hazards

propane cylinders in encampment

Why it matters

People living in encampments often rely on fires and flaring propane tanks to stay warm, significantly increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, explosion and uncontrolled fires. Tents are highly flammable and can become engulfed in seconds.

Tragically, in past years, unhoused Edmontonians have lost their lives in tent fires. Fires in encampments endanger not only those staying there but also pose wildfire risks, threaten surrounding communities and can damage public infrastructure. 

Why we care

Fires in encampments are a grave risk that can lead to injury, loss of life and widespread harm to the community. The City is deeply committed to preventing these tragedies by providing safe, warm alternatives protecting vulnerable individuals from severe danger of fire while safeguarding public spaces and the safety of surrounding neighbourhoods.  

Exposure to Extreme Cold

high level bridge in winter cold

Why it matters

Edmonton’s winters are harsh, and individuals staying in encampments face life-threatening conditions due to exposure to freezing temperatures. This can result in frostbite, hypothermia and even death. A typical tent does not provide adequate protection from these risks without the use of heating or flame for additional warmth.

Why we care

No one should be left to endure these extreme conditions without the support they need. Ensuring the safety and dignity of vulnerable individuals by providing warm shelters and spaces is key to preventing suffering and saving lives.

Community Public Health

littered encampment

Why it matters

Public health experts have advised that infected bodily waste at encampments can quickly lead to disease outbreaks, such as shigella, norovirus, campylobacter and E. coli. These infections can extend beyond encampments and enter the broader community.  

Why we care

Everyone deserves access to basic sanitation and health care, regardless of their living situation. While the City’s Public Washroom Strategy seeks to provide access to sanitation facilities in public spaces, providing sanitation services to individual encampment sites is not feasible. Ensuring safe and hygienic environments is critical for protecting the health of individuals and preventing broader public health issues.

Violence and Crime

weapon and drug paraphernalia on ground

Why it matters

Encampments expose occupants to ongoing risks, including violence, theft, and intimidation. When encampments grow in size and complexity, they can attract predatory behaviours, with incidents of individuals being charged for tent space or water access on City land. These conditions compound the trauma and hardship of living without secure shelter.

Why we care

The safety and well-being of everyone, including the most vulnerable Edmontonians, is a top priority. The City’s outreach and partnerships with social agencies aim to protect individuals from harm and offer safer, dignified alternatives to staying in encampments.

Poisonings and Overdoses

drug paraphernalia on leaves on ground

Why it matters

Data shows people experiencing homelessness are at a greater risk of drug poisonings and overdoses. Unsheltered people are more remote from critical emergency services and therefore are more at risk.  Fentanyl and other opioids have an anaesthetic effect on the body which complicates an individual’s ability to thermoregulate and feel pain. This can aggravate the risks of fire and frostbite when sheltering outdoors, leading to life-altering or deadly consequences.

Why we care

Preventing overdoses and drug poisoning deaths is critical. By funding outreach teams, the City works to ensure individuals struggling with substance use can access life-saving interventions and support. 

See Drug Poisoning Response and Prevention

Encampment Size

RV in encampment

Why it matters

As encampments grow in size, they pose increased safety and health risks for both occupants and the surrounding community. Larger encampments can attract criminal activity, create fire hazards, and generate sanitation challenges, which can lead to disease spread and environmental damage. Managing these risks becomes more complex as encampment size increases, requiring more resources and coordination to ensure public safety.

Why we care

The City is committed to maintaining safe and healthy environments for all residents, including those experiencing homelessness. By addressing the unique challenges posed by larger encampments, we aim to reduce risks for individuals living in these spaces and for the broader community. Ensuring safe, manageable spaces is essential to protecting the health, dignity, and well-being of everyone involved.

Lack of Access to Emergency Services

person helping an individual to stand

Why it matters

Individuals living in encampments may struggle to access emergency services during crises, such as during health emergencies or extreme weather events.

Why we care

Everyone deserves access to emergency care. The City aims to reduce barriers to life-saving services, especially during the winter months when conditions can quickly become dangerous. When encampments are in inaccessible locations, occupants and first responders are put at risk.

Locations

homeless tent under playground set

Why it matters

Encampments near schools, sports fields, playgrounds, daycare centres, bridges, and high-traffic areas create safety concerns for both occupants and the surrounding community. These locations expose individuals to environmental hazards, increase the risk of accidents, and can impact the well-being of children and families nearby.  

Why we care

The City is dedicated to ensuring the safety and dignity of all Edmontonians. By addressing encampments in higher-risk locations, we work to protect vulnerable individuals and maintain safe, accessible spaces for everyone.

Environmental Hazards

hilly encampment

Why it matters

Encampments often form in hazardous, hard-to-reach areas like riverbanks, parklands, and near infrastructure, exposing individuals to risks from flooding, accidents, and environmental dangers. These locations can also lead to parkland degradation and put nearby structures, like bridges, at risk.

Why we care

Supporting individuals in relocating from these unsafe areas to secure, supportive spaces is essential to their well-being. Responding in hazardous areas also poses risks to first responders. The City is committed to compassionately protecting the safety of all residents while preserving our shared spaces and infrastructure.

First Responders and Frontline Staff

persons cutting through trees to encampment

Why it matters

First responders and front line staff face serious risks when responding to encampments, including exposure to biohazards, fire hazards from propane tanks and open flames, and hidden sharp objects. Unstable structures and unpredictable situations further heighten the risks they encounter.  

Why we care

Keeping first responders and frontline staff safe is critical. Their work helps protect public health and safety while treating vulnerable people with respect. When they are safe and supported, they can respond more effectively and with compassion, benefiting the whole community.

Quick Facts

  2022 2023 2024 (as of Oct. 31)
Total Encampment Complaints 9,328 17,044 16,578
Total Encampment Closures 4,298 6,693 8,869
Waste Removal - 1 million kg  1,441,764 kg
Encampment Cleanups - 2,417
Cost: $1,699,858
4,739
Cost: $5,328,726
$4,500,000 is funded by the Government of Alberta’s one-time grant

Encampment Response - Year to Date Statistics

As of October 31, 2024

    Trend (Compared to Last Year)
311 Encampment Complaints
Number of complaints 311 received during the reporting period
16,578 10% - increase
Average Response Time (Days to Initial Assessment)
The time from complaint receipt to initial assessment
4.3 38% - decrease
Encampment Sites Cleaned
Closure and removal of abandoned material occurs after a site has been vacated. An encampment site can include multiple structures
4,739 142% - increase
Propane Tanks Removed 2,594 120% - increase
Shopping Carts Removed 4,826 171% - increase
Needles Removed 25,989 38% - increase
Material Removed (kg) 1,441,764 70% - increase

How You Can Help

The Neighbourhood Empowerment Team (NET) offers tools and resources to help residents and businesses create safer neighbourhoods.

The Neighbourhood Response Guide also provides information on how to help people experiencing homelessness and what to do if you see someone in distress. 

NET also partnered with the Mustard Seed to provide virtual training on encouraging positive interactions with vulnerable people and those experiencing homelessness.
Edmontonians can also help welcome affordable housing in their neighbourhoods to support efforts to end homelessness.