ABOUT US

City of Edmonton and HomeEd brought together a number of individuals and organizations to develop the City of Edmonton’s response to the United Nations International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in 1987. The people who came together decided ongoing action and activities were required, and formed the Edmonton Coalition on Homelessness (ECOH).

ECOH prepared a report on homelessness titled “No Place Like Home”. The report contained 45 recommendations, and eventually led to a joint consultative committee with Province, City and ECOH.

ECOH spearheaded Edmonton Inner City Need and Demand Study, funded and sponsored by the joint consultative committee. The short term response to the study recommendations were immediate housing projects, while the long term response was the creation of the Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing (Province, City and ECOH). One of the tasks of the Joint Planning
Committee was the preparation of a longer term plan (3-5 yrs).

ECOH worked with Joint Planning Committee to develop projects and programs. It also worked on increasing public awareness regarding issues relating to housing and homelessness.

EOCH was involved in an update on housing needs in Edmonton

EOCH was involved in the Update on Affordable Housing for Low Income and Special Needs Households.
 

EOCH secured funding from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation and a number of its members toresearch the possibility of developing a housing trust fund. While ECOH spear-headed this work, the Joint Planning Committee was also involved in the research and development of the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund.

As the Settler establishing the Trust Fund, ECOH had to incorporate and did so under the Societies Act. The name was changed to Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECOHH), to reflect its broader mandate.
 

The following are the general objectives of ECOHH as it was incorporated:

• To identify the scope of homelessness & the nature & magnitude of housing problems in the Edmonton region,

• To identify a range of solutions to the problems of housing and homelessness,

• To develop &/or to facilitate the development of solutions to the problems,

• To collect funds to further the objectives of the Society,

• To affiliate with other individuals & groups having similar interests.

The Edmonton Housing Trust Fund was created.

ECOHH explored the possibility of establishing the Alberta Housing Coalition, and with funding from the Alberta Real Estate Foundation, worked with representatives from other communities across Alberta to establish the provincial coalition. AHC held three provincial conferences in the next few
years.

In cooperation with the street newspaper Our Voice, ECOHH launched a postcard campaign to persuade the Alberta government to invest in affordable housing and presented more than 6000 signed cards at a rally in November. The campaign was launched at an event in August called “The Last Resort” that involved music, entertainment, and having members of the public create small
houses from cardboard to cover the lawn at Old Scona School.

First HomeFest concert presented, to educate Edmontonians with regard to housing and homelessness issues. HomeFest delivered hours of music from some of Edmonton's best and favourite folk and roots musicians. It also provided good current information about the real situation.

The concert was supported by sponsors, the work of more than 100 volunteers each year, and many musicians and other members of the roots music community. Proceeds from the concert were used to make grants to ECOHH member organizations for small projects. The concert was presented annually for ten years and received a ROOPH award from Homeward Trust in 2013.

ECOHH presented the first Memorial for the lives of people who had died in the previous year due to homelessness or housing insecurity. The event has been held annually since.

With funding support from United Way, ECOHH produced a 2008 calendar with scenes related to housing security in Edmonton and practical ideas for addressing housing security.

ECOHH undertook an extensive strategic planning process and developed revised vision, mission, values and goals. The executive developed a related set of key messages in 2012.

With funding from Edmonton Arts Council, ECOHH undertook a project to work with people having housing challenges in their lives to create a sculpture to honour the lives of homeless people that was unveiled in November and is located in a small park north of City Hall on 103A Avenue, now called Homeless Memorial Plaza.

The two-day Right to Housing conference was presented in June.

Special screening of documentary “Us and Them”

• engaged in public awareness and advocacy with regard to housing, community, and homelessness;

• remained engaged in the Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing and the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund until they were dissolved, with the creation of Homeward Trust Edmonton in 2008, and continued to have representation on some Homeward Trust committees;

• been engaged in policy advocacy and development with all orders of government through such actions as presentations to City Council, meetings with ministers, elected officials, and senior bureaucrats, news releases and letters to the editor, campaigns during elections to draw attention to housing issues, housing tours for elected officials, and the Right to Housing post card campaign in the winter of 2015 to develop support for affordable housing; producing leaflets on key public policy issues (community safety, affordable housing & property values);

• participated in Mayor's 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness on leadership and housing committees

• maintained a website and social media presence

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EOCHH has organizational and individual members. There are monthly meetings with educational presentations. The Policy and Communications Committee oversees education and advocacy work. The majority of the members are local non-governmental associations, but both individuals and the private sector are represented. While not members, representatives from government (eg. City of Edmonton, CMHC) are welcome to participate at the ECOHH table.