I’ve been reflecting on the level of need we saw in our shelters this past winter—and what it means for the months ahead.
Shelter demand increased dramatically—again. It’s a pattern that has been building over several years, and it’s already shaping how we think about next winter. If we want to ensure we can continue to offer a warm, safe place to go, we need to begin planning now.
From January to March, Hope Mission’s average shelter occupancy in Edmonton was 23 per cent higher than in the first three months of 2025. That reflects a consistent trend–in the three winters before that, shelter occupancy increased by an average of more than 20 per cent each year.
Taken together, these numbers point to sustained growth in the number of people turning to shelter—not just in extreme weather, but consistently over time.
This winter, we were able to respond to that need. Each night, our teams worked to make sure that anyone who came to shelter had access to a warm, safe place to stay. For nearly a century, our doors have been open to those who need it, and we never want to turn anyone away.
At the same time, the trend we’re seeing is clear: our average shelter occupancy has doubled over the last five winters, and there is no more room in our existing shelters to expand capacity. We anticipate that the need will grow again next winter, and we are preparing to meet that need.
- Read more: Responding to record need for shelter
We’re already having conversations about expanding shelter capacity, and we’re going to need to work with the city on land use. Expanding capacity takes time, coordination, and planning.
One of the first steps in opening a new shelter is going to be rezoning, and that’s where we’ll need the city’s support.
Our focus remains the same. We want to ensure that every person who comes to our doors has access to a safe place to stay—and a pathway forward.
That consistency matters. It’s what allows people to begin stabilizing, and it helps hundreds of people rebuild their lives every year through health services, housing, and addiction recovery.
The decisions made in the coming months will shape our ability to respond next winter. That’s the work ahead of us—and we’re starting now, so we can be ready together.