The weather outside in Alberta can be frightful and living in a snow fort because you're homeless and the city tore down your tent is not delightful..That's exactly what the less fortunate seems to be doing in Edmonton to brave the winter cold, making snow forts, instead of calling 211 for help..In 2021, 211 answered more than 100,000 requests from Albertans by phone, text, and chat. More than 200,000 Albertans accessed the 211 service listings through the website. 211 is available 24 hours a day by phone, text, and chat. The service is free, confidential, and available in more than 170 languages over the phone. It also helps connect people of all ages with other virtual supports, such as Kids Help Phone and the Addiction and Mental Health Helpline..Behind 7-Eleven near 66 St. in Edmonton, it appears a snow fort has been taken over by the less fortunate. It is believed the person dug out a snowbank made by a plow behind the store to shelter themself. Others suggested online the person commandeered the fort and it was originally built by children..Garbage now litters its surroundings and ventilation holes have been carved in the fort..But the fort on the north side is not the only place the homeless are living after the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) assisted with the closure of two homeless encampments on October 21 in downtown Edmonton..Tattered tarps, dilapidated tents, and trash blew aimlessly in the wind as vulnerable people could be heard screaming as they packed up their belongings. Word quickly spread in the tent city the law was coming to remove them..READ MORE: EPS assists the City of Edmonton in removing homeless encampments downtown."I can confirm the EPS assisted with the closure of two encampments, one in the area of 99 Street and 106 Avenue and one in the area of 105 Avenue and 96 Street," EPS Media Relations Spokesperson Carolin Maran said..Vulnerable people could be seen wandering the downtown core screaming and crying shortly after some of the camps were removed.."Where am I supposed to go," one lady screamed as she wandered amongst traffic on a busy downtown street..Some wore shoes, others had none, while some looked like pack mules with a heavy load strapped to their backs navigating to find their next spot..It appears many of the homeless fled to the north side of Edmonton to seek refuge in wooded areas for the winter..Several camps were spotted on Thursday in different areas..Residents from the north side posted warnings on Facebook to lock up garden sheds.."Lock up the garden shed, it's way warmer than a bus shelter and has things in it to sell for drugs," one resident posted.."They broke into my neighbour's shed. it had a steel frame, steel door, two deadbolts, and handle lock with an anti-theft plate and motion detector light. if they want in they will get in," another person in the area claimed..If a snow fort cannot be built or commandeered, the less fortunate have also been making residents' garbage boxes their homes.."My brother has a garbage enclosure they keep breaking it apart to sleep inside," one person said..As some residents complain about human beings trying to survive in the winter, others who wished to remain unnamed are helping.."We collect essential items during Christmas and distribute the bags we make to the people homeless in the area," one lady told the Western Standard..The lady claimed addiction has a lot to do with most of the people's problems who live on the street on the north side..Alberta’s government said Wednesday it's investing more than $15 million over three years to help connect Albertans to local addiction and mental health services..As part of building a recovery-oriented system of care, Alberta’s government is doubling 211 funding from $7.5 million to more than $15 million over three years to help people of all ages access critical addiction and mental health support services in their communities..211 provides a single point of contact for information and seamless connections to health services and organizations that support a range of addiction and mental health challenges..“Increasing funding for 211 is part of our government’s efforts to build a recovery-oriented system of care for mental health and addiction," Minister of Mental Health and Addiction Nicholas Milliken said.."Every month, thousands of Albertans across the province are reaching out to 211 for help, support, and referrals to local services in their communities. For many of them, it’s a life-changing call.”.Doubling 211’s funding will enable the call centre to significantly increase its capacity to help more Albertans, improve the way they connect people to services, and enhance the referral services and crisis supports it offers..211’s increased capacity will allow the service to:.Meet current call volumes, which have remained high since 2020.Connect callers from rural and Indigenous communities with increased culturally and locally relevant support.Develop and implement a community engagement strategy to increase the understanding of the needs and challenges faced by under served populations.Develop and implement specialized navigation supports for children, youth, and families.Continue expanding the digital navigation and crisis support hub that allows for seamless transfers between virtual resources..Alberta's government stated the additional supports will help "this proven, time-tested virtual resource" connect Albertans to essential services within Alberta’s recovery-oriented system of care..“Expansion of 211 services will enable people to access much-needed care, including evidence-based addiction services like what we offer at Alberta’s Virtual Opioid Dependency Program," Dr. Nathaniel Day, medical director VODP, Central Zone, Alberta Health Services (AHS) said.."Alberta is a leading jurisdiction at helping people connect with much-needed opioid addiction treatment on demand. In fact, today any Alberta resident can start treatment when and where they need it, with no cost and with no waitlist. Any steps taken to better work together and provide more straightforward access for those seeking help is going to benefit Albertans, their families, and communities on their path to recovery.”.Albertans experiencing addiction or mental health challenges can contact 211 for information on services in their community.
