The Municipality supports the work of the homeless-serving sector by administering funding and aiding program development.
Are you experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness? Do you know someone experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness? Search the resources below to access the help you require.
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Are you or your family experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness? You can get referrals to housing and support services through a Coordinated Access System. Please contact Pulse
What is the Coordinated Access System?
The Coordinated Access System is made up of multiple community agencies helping Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo residents experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness access services. At the first point of contact, an assessment is completed to understand client needs. Based on this assessment, appropriate programs are recommended to provide the support required.
This system ensures client have access to multiple programs delivered by various organizations across the Municipality.
The Municipality addresses encampments on public lands through a collaborative approach with local service providers and the RCMP. The collaborative approach helps:
Learn more about our strategy.
If you encounter an encampment, call Pulse to report it. Do not approach encampment occupants. If you see an illegal act or are concerned for someone’s safety, call the RCMP non-emergent line at 780-743-4040. For emergencies, call 9-1-1.
See Heading Home: A collaborative approach towards encampments in Fort McMurray for more information.
The Municipality, in collaboration with the homeless-serving sector, has created a plan to support individuals or families experiencing homelessness during extreme weather. The plan is initiated by temperatures colder than -20 degrees Celsius and warmer than 32 degrees Celsius for more than 3 consecutive days. It is intended to be followed when the temperatures reach lows or highs that could be considered dangerous if exposed to for prolonged periods of time.
If you see someone unsheltered outdoors in need of assistance:
Warm Up/Cool Down Centres in Fort McMurray
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Centre of Hope Drop-in Centre (10095 Marshall Street) Operates every day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
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Northlife Soup Kitchen (142 Alberta Drive) 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (Monday - Friday) |
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Salvation Army Emergency Shelters (9919 Macdonald Ave) Operates 24/7 in Extreme Weather Conditions |
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Stepping Stones Youth Services (102 McConachie Crescent) Open every day, 24/7 |
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Wood Buffalo Regional Library (1 C.A. Knight Way) 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (Tuesday - Friday), 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Saturday to Monday) |
The forms below are available to reszidents of Wood Buffalo for the use in residential tenancies. It is our sincere hope that with proper forms the foundation to mutually beneficial tenancies can be established. These forms are not provided as a legal resource and do not replace any legal advice. Any alteration to these forms may render them invalid in the province of Alberta. It is important that the person using these forms understands proper service of these documents and knows their rights and responsibilities as outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act
Form Library for Landlords and Tenants
The Municipality is a stakeholder in the Community Plan on Homelessness (CPH) responsible for carrying out the contractual responsibilities and obligations with the Provincial and Federal government’s funding disbursements.
The CPH team works in collaboration with community agencies to enable programming to meet the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. The CPH team also monitors and supports funded agencies in their agreement responsibilities and obligations.
Point-in-Time (PiT) Counts were established to obtain a baseline against which to monitor the changes in the homeless population. The Municipality has been conducting homelessness surveys locally since 2006 and became part of the province-wide initiative in 2014. Conducting PiT Counts is one tool to determine the progress of ending homelessness.
Municipal staff and volunteer surveyors conducted the Fort McMurray Point-in-Time Count on Oct. 9 and 10, 2024. Surveyors walked through the urban service area of Fort McMurray to speak with individuals on the street about their housing situation. See the 2024 Point-in-Time Homeless Count key findings report
The Homelessness Initiatives Strategic Committee (HISC) is an action-focused group that stewards and advocates for the community plan on homelessness. HISC is involved with strategic planning, funding, communication, research and best practice. It advocates for funding and policy change and are champions in the community. HISC advises the RMWB on the community plan on homelessness including strategic direction and program priorities. Additionally, HISC approves funding recommendations to the RMWB related to federal and provincial funding, complies with provincial and federal agreements, identifies systems barriers and works collaboratively with community to alleviate them.
CPH Funded Agencies and Programs
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Centre of Hope Housing with Supports and Street Outreach |
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The Salvation Army of Fort McMurray Housing with Supports |
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Wood Buffalo Wellness Society Housing with Supports, Outreach, Centralized Intake, and Tawâw Permanent Supportive Housing |
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Centralized Intake This program is a frontline program for all individuals seeking housing. This program conducts triage for assessing needs and placing individuals into housing programs or outreach as required. There are 14 Coordinated Access Points in the region. |
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Outreach Program The Outreach Program receives referrals from the Centralized Intake program, external service providers and self-referrals from within the community. The Outreach Worker assists clients in identifying and addressing the barriers that have either led to them becoming homeless or to them having their housing in jeopardy. |
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Permanent Supportive Housing This program houses chronically homeless individuals with severe barriers. It is highly successful with participants who have been otherwise unable to sustain housing. This program provides 24/7 wrap-around services. |
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Tawâw A supportive living facility that follows an Indigenous lens, harm reduction, and trauma-informed model. The program connects residents with Elders and Knowledge keepers, as well as access to ceremony and language with the understanding that homelessness from an Indigenous perspective is born largely out of a lack of connection to self, identity, family, community and culture. The program offers both Western and Indigenous modalities of healing while offering residents community, stability and dignity. By providing housing and support services, participants will achieve a greater quality of life with improved health outcomes and fewer interactions with EMS and law enforcement. |
Community agencies can serve as single-entry access points where people experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness can receive support and resources. Training is available for new access points. If you are interested in becoming an access point, please contact Pulse
Coordinated Access Points Contacts
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Centre of Hope- Drop-in Centre and Outreach Program 10095 Marshall Street, Fort McMurray Phone Number: 780-743-3912 |
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The Salvation Army- MAT Program, Community Response Unit and Diversion Program 9919 MacDonald Avenue, Fort McMurray Phone Number: 780-743-4135 ext. 34 |
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Wood Buffalo Wellness Society- Centralized Intake and Outreach Program 214-9914 Morrison Street Fort McMurray Phone Number: 780 381-7323 (Centralized Intake), 780-881-2840 (Outreach Program) |
When applicable, Coordinated Access Services can also be received through Alberta Health Services (Street Connect and Inpatient Psychiatry), Waypoints (Unity House and Second Stage Housing), Wood Buffalo Wellness Society (Mark Amy Treatment Centre), and Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre. Clients and members of these programs are eligible to receive Coordinated Access services by contacting the above mentioned agencies directly.
Contact Us
PULSE
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Phone: 780-743-7000
Toll free: 1-800-973-9663
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