Like many Albertans at this time of year, Louis Francescutti is thinking about the weather.

“The snow fell last night, so temperatures are well below zero,” said the Edmonton emergency physician.

“As we speak, there are probably men and women out there developing frostbite right now. And so my colleagues probably later today or tomorrow will start treating this year’s round of frostbites.”

“About two to three weeks ago, I saw two patients that had infected amputation sites from last year’s frostbite,” said Francescutti.

“In other words, we are still dealing with frostbite from a year ago. And now these men and women are still homeless and chances are they’re going to reinjure themselves again.”

  • HellsBelle@sh.itjust.worksOPEnglish
    2·
    11 days ago

    In debates and at the doors, public safety and homelessness seem to be top of mind for Edmonton residents and municipal candidates alike. While this dialogue is welcome, it leaves out the people most impacted — the nearly 5,000 people in Edmonton who are living unhoused.

    As a result, many fail to recognize the simple truth that most of our neighbours we see on the street have nowhere to go. Too few Edmontonians are aware that a tidal wave of recent funding cuts and closures has wiped the city’s daytime drop-in spaces off the map

    Opinion: Cuts have left Edmonton’s homeless with nowhere to go

    • 1.ceramics926@kopitalk.netEnglish
      4·
      11 days ago

      “What we need in this city is not just affordable housing, as in housing that’s 80 per cent of market value,” said Strikwerda. “We need social housing that’s geared to income.”

      I took a drive downtown yesterday during the day. Homeless are laid down on the concrete sidewalks with blankets. There were some nasty -20C and worse days in Edmonton. The UCP don’t care, neither did EPS under McFee, and I point out the silence from Edmonton Police on the subject.

      There are many reasons why people may not go to a shelter even when space is available, such as feeling unsafe due to past experience.

      A controversial practice in both Edmonton and Calgary has been to dismantle tents and homeless encampments. Both cities confirmed that policy will continue this winter, citing safety concerns.

      “When the city responds to an encampment, we do not simply ‘take it down,’” said a statement from a City of Calgary spokesperson.

      “Our teams engage directly with occupants and ensure they are offered safe, warm alternatives before any structure is removed. No encampment is dismantled without providing support and connections to appropriate services and shelter options. The goal is always to reduce harm, prevent exposure to the elements, and create a safer outcome than if someone remained outdoors.”