WHEREAS the City of Leduc’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, developed and adopted by motion of Leduc City Council identifies as its mission statement, “People. Building. Community;”
AND WHEREAS the said Strategic Plan identifies as its vision, “A great life. A caring community. A thriving region;”
AND WHEREAS the said Strategic Plan identifies council values, including: “A Citizen Focus,” “Transparency and Accountability,” “Social Justice,” and “Excellence and Prosperity;”
AND WHEREAS the said Strategic Plan indicates under the heading of Social Justice, “We respect and support our community’s need for social justice through access, equity, participation and human rights;”
AND WHEREAS the said Strategic Plan identifies Council Commitments, including, “We represent the people of Leduc,” and which commitment is further elaborated upon to say, “We understand that municipalities are established to serve people and that municipal councils are obligated to carefully consider the needs and expectations of all their citizens when making decisions and setting policy;”
AND WHEREAS the said Strategic Plan identifies as Goal 1, “A City Where People Want to Live,” and under which goal is listed the following strategies:
1.1.3 Foster a community that celebrates diversity and promotes inclusion
1.1.5 Focus on mental health and addictions support
1.1.7 Enhance community safety and well-being
AND WHEREAS the City of Leduc has developed a Homelessness Prevention and Poverty Framework, adopted by Leduc City Council;
AND WHEREAS the said Homelessness Prevention and Poverty Framework aligns with the City’s stated mission statement, vision, values, commitments, goals, and strategies aforesaid;
AND WHEREAS the City of Leduc has already made substantial progress in the stated goals of the said Framework;
AND WHEREAS strategy 2(b) of said Framework indicates, “Ensure existing temporary emergency housing at the HUB is available all year; explore innovative forms of emergency and temporary housing;”
AND WHEREAS under the auspices of the said Framework, the City of Leduc has commenced an anti-stigma campaign, entitled, “Not the Plan,” and the City’s official communications recognize that, “The causes of homelessness are complex and the result of multiple factors like poverty, lack of affordable housing, family violence, economic conditions and a lack of community supports;”
AND WHEREAS providing a firm commitment in principle to uninterrupted emergency shelter in Leduc is in line with our Strategic Plan, its stated mission statement, vision, values, commitments, and strategies, and the strategies outlined in the Homelessness Prevention and Poverty Framework, and furthermore, such commitment would serve in furtherance of same;
AND WHEREAS people experiencing homelessness are people, and citizens, but furthermore are our neighbours, and are as deserving of:
- community;
- a great life;
- being able to thrive and prosper;
- access;
- equity;
- participation;
- having their rights respected;
- inclusion;
- support;
- safety;
- well-being; and
- not being stigmatized
as any other person, citizen, or neighbour;
RECOGNIZING that homelessness and housing generally is a national crisis, and regarding which crisis, municipalities are the level of government least equipped to handle, but are nonetheless being forced by circumstances to deal with in any event;
AND RECOGNIZING that emergency homeless shelter is only one necessary component of a comprehensive strategy for the crisis that has landed on our doorstep;
THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED THAT Leduc City Council affirms in principle its commitment to uninterrupted emergency shelter in the City of Leduc.