By: John Kolkman - Edmonton Journal - July 20, 2011

Alberta's next premier should stick with the 10-year plan to end homelessness; in fact he or she should use it as a template to end poverty.

Entering its third year, it is the most visionary social policy initiative of the current government and has achieved good results, meeting or exceeding most of the interim targets in all of Alberta's major urban centres.

Some of this early progress can be attributed to good timing since the plan was launched just as vacancy rates were rising. This made it attractive for landlords to rent to homeless persons knowing the rent would be paid. Now, with vacancy rates dropping in most Alberta communities, including Edmonton and Calgary, and with rents likely to rise, it will be important for Alberta's next premier to ensure that sufficient monies are invested to meet the goal of ending chronic homelessness in our province.

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