Responding to Homelessness

Housing Referrals

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.

Encampment Response

The Municipality addresses encampments on public lands through a collaborative approach with local service providers and the RCMP. The collaborative approach helps:

• Maintain dignity for individuals living rough and provide access to support services.
• Increase the safety of encampment residents, businesses and general public through risk assessments.
• Cleaning up and removing encampments from public property.

Learn more about our strategy.

Reporting Encampments

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.

Extreme Weather Response

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:

• Call 9-1-1 if it’s an emergency.
• Call Pulse.

Landlords and Tenants

The forms below are available to residents 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.

Municipality's Response to Homelessness

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) Homeless Count

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.

Homelessness Initiatives Strategic Committee

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.

Community Plan on Homelessness (CPH) Funded Agencies

Each year, the Municipality receives funding from the federal and provincial governments to support homelessness initiatives in the region. HISC accepts applications from local non-profits and makes recommendations to Council to allocate funding.

Become an Access Point Under the Coordinated Access System

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.

Homeless Sector Resources

Need assistance with housing supports? Contact Wood Buffalo Wellness Society triage line at (780) 742-4003 or one of the  Coordinated Access Points.

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. 

Reports