Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness

ECOHH is a coalition of community organizations and concerned individuals that informs and advocates on affordable housing and homelessness issues in the Edmonton area.

Lead: John Kolkman & Joseph Ahorro

Homeless Connect Edmonton

Homeless Connect Edmonton is a broad-based community-inspired initiative, providing free appropriate services to people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless, on one day held at the Shaw Conference Centre. Its mission is to provide services that open doors out of homelessness, build lasting partnerships, raise public awareness of homelessness in the community, and provide a vehicle for community involvement in addressing the issue of homelessness.

Past services have included mental health assessments, library services, foot care, haircuts, immunizations, pre-natal support, dental care, tax preparation, laundry, housing information, employment and training services and much more. The event is organized and directed by a Steering Committee made up of members from a variety of organizations, serviced by different community agencies around the city of Edmonton, and staffed by enthusiastic and passionate volunteers.

Lead: Joseph Ahorro

Edmonton Homeless Count Steering Committee

In 2008, the ESPC joined the planning committee for the 8th biennial homeless count in Edmonton. The homeless counts, coordinated by Homeward Trust Edmonton, provide information regarding Edmonton's overall homeless population that organizations, agencies, and governments can use to determine best solutions for aiding the homeless and eventually ending homelessness.

Lead: Joseph Ahorro

Edmonton Homeless Memorial Planning Committee

The ESPC works with ECOHH, Boyle Street Community Services and it’s partners to plan the annual Memorial for Homeless Persons. This event is held to recognize the lives lost due to homelessness in Edmonton. The 2008 memorial service was held Jan 19, 2008 (video below). The 4th annual service was held January 24, 2009. 

Lead: Joseph Ahorro

Financial Plus Collaborative

This muntisectoral group meets monthly to discuss and share iniatives and programs pertaining to family economic support and financial literacy. 

Lead: Susan Morrissey

Focus Edmonton City Plan

This City of Edmonton initiative is developing a new Municipal Development Plan to guide the City’s growth and development over the next several decades.  The Council’s involvement is to ensure that the needs and concerns of low and modest income Edmontonians are incorporated into the plan.

Lead: John Kolkman

Joint Stakeholders Committee on Children & Poverty

Multi-stakeholder group that meets to discuss issues around children and poverty, and advises the Alberta Teacher's Association.

The committee hosted the "Alberta Youth: Growing Up in the Boom Years" conference held May 1, 2008.  The ESPC was one of 10 organizations to present at the conference.

Lead: Susan Morrissey

Public Interest Alberta (PIA) Living Wage Task Force

This task force lead by Public Interest Alberta is urging governments and the broader public sector to adopt a living wage policy to ensure that employees who work for contracted service providers do not have to live in poverty if they work full-time all year.

Lead: John Kolkman

Strategic Alliance on Low Income Issues

An advisory group made up of community, voluntary sector, private sector and all orders of government whose role is to make recommendations to the Deputy Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry on low-income issues.

Lead: Susan Morrissey

Urban Core Support Network

A group of inner city agencies who meet monthly to discuss and problem solve around issues facing individuals living in poverty.

Lead: Stephen MacDonald