Progress is being made on addressing homelessness in Lethbridge.
The Community Issues Committee received updates on Thursday regarding several programs aimed at reducing homelessness and improving community safety.
Officials say the updates were positive.
POINT-IN-TIME COUNT
One update provided to the committee included a joint report on Lethbridge’s encampment response and the 2025 Point-In-Time Count.
The count was done on October 2, 2025, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., and provided a glimpse of how many people in Lethbridge were experiencing homelessness that night.
Results showed a three per cent, year over year drop in homelessness. Officials say this was the first recorded drop in local homelessness since counts started in 2014.
In total, 504 people were identified as experiencing homelessness. Based on data from the 2021 census, officials say this equals about four people for every 1,000 residents. Although that number appears high, the drop is a sign of progress after years of steady increases.
“After more than a decade of rising homelessness, seeing the first measurable decline is significant for our community,” says Andrew Malcolm, the general manager of community social development.
“This tells us that coordinated local efforts, targeted investments from all levels of government and strong partnerships across sectors are beginning to make an impact.”
Other findings from the 2025 Point-In-Time Count include:
- Sheltered vs. Unsheltered: 54 per cent of people were in sheltered locations, while 46 per cent were unsheltered;
- Transitional Housing Growth: Capacity increased by 113 per cent, with 27 per cent more people using these spaces;
- Unsheltered Locations Decline: The number of people staying in unsheltered locations declined by 18 per cent, with officials saying this is likely due to new temporary housing programs;
- Shelter Capacity and Use: Adult emergency shelter capacity increased from 129 to 355 beds, representing a 175 per cent increase. However, shelter use went down by 22 per cent on the night of the count. Officials say this shows that more beds do not always mean more people will use them and highlights the need to keep working together to reduce barriers;
- Treatment Access: There was a 252 per cent increase in people accessing treatment facilities, suggesting that more people are seeking recovery supports.
“These results show that investments in transitional housing, treatment access and coordinated outreach are shifting the system in the right direction,” Malcolm adds.
“At the same time, the data reminds us that capacity alone doesn’t guarantee uptake. We need to continue working collaboratively to address barriers and ensure people can access the supports they need.”
The count is part of the nation-wide Everyone Counts initiative, which falls under the federal Reaching Home program.
COMMUNITY SAFETY
The updates received on Thursday also included information on the work of the Community Safety Strategy Committee.
The group replaced the Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force.
Members of the committee include the Lethbridge Police Service, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services, downtown business owners, and Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Centre for Public Safety and Applied Research.
The committee oversees the new Community Safety Action Plan, which builds on the former Downtown Clean and Safe Strategy. The plan shifts the strategy from a downtown-specific focus to a broader, city-wide initiative to address issues surrounding safety, community well-being, and social disorder.
An updated strategy is set to go back to council for approval in the next few months.
The Community Issues Committee was also given an update on the Building Safer Communities Fund. The national program helps municipalities fund intervention and prevention programs for youth that focus on gun and gang violence.
Officials say work at the local level has already shown positive results and has helped reduce risk factors connected to justice involvement and has boosted prevention efforts in the community and in local schools.
Federal funding is set to end on March 31, so the City says staff will start winding down the program.
Additionally, staff will work with community partners in the coming weeks to transition key elements, so progress made can continue.
