February 7, 2023 Westlock & District FCSS Survey

News Release

For Immediate Release

February 7, 2023

Westlock Begins Housing and Service Needs Estimation Survey

Westlock, AB – Westlock and District FCSS has commissioned the Rural Development Network (RDN) to conduct a housing and service needs estimation in Westlock. This project is funded in part through the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home program.

The purpose of the project is threefold:

1. Provide a comprehensive picture of housing insecurity and homelessness in Westlock.
2. Inform service providers and municipal, provincial, and federal policies, practices, and funding decisions on homelessness, housing, and support services.
3. Elevate and incorporate the voices of people experiencing homelessness in the solutions to end homelessness.

Data collected across the community will help us understand the extent of housing and service needs in Westlock and will also inform the development of Westlock's Community Housing Action Plan. The survey will be available online and at participating agencies from February 13 to March 31, 2023. The participating agencies are Westlock Library, Westlock Community Victim Services, Alberta Supports, Westlock County Community Services, Hope Resource Centre, and Youth Unlimited - YFC Westlock, and Healthy Families Healthy Future.

"Given the increasing number of people experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness across the country as a result of COVID-19 and rising inflation rates, it is more important than ever to collect accurate data on the state of housing and homelessness in rural communities such as Westlock, to provide an accurate picture of current need and build a plan to address housing and service needs moving forward." Emma Wallace, Project Manager of Community Development and Homelessness Estimations at RDN.

Media contact:

Tracy Proulx, Executive Director
Westlock & District FCSS
780-349-5900

Emma Langevin, Program Coordinator
Westlock & District FCSS
780-349-5900