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EDMONTON — Alberta is investing an additional $30 million to expand community health centres in Calgary and Edmonton, doubling provincial support for the program to $60 million over four years.
The funding will expand integrated primary care and social services for Albertans facing barriers to care, including people experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental illness and addiction.
The province says the investment will strengthen access to same-day and ongoing primary care, mental health and addiction services, housing navigation, food access programs, community outreach and other supports designed to help people receive care before their needs become emergencies.
“Every Albertan deserves access to the care and support they need, when and where they need it, without having to navigate the system alone,” Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Justin Wright said in a statement.
The funding builds on a previous $30-million investment that expanded interdisciplinary care teams and community-based health services. Alberta says the additional money will increase front-line capacity while improving patient navigation and care coordination.
Mental Health and Addiction Minister Rick Wilson said the investment will improve access to services for Albertans struggling with addiction and mental health challenges.
The funding will be distributed among four organizations serving Alberta’s two largest cities. The Alex Community Health Centre in Calgary will receive more than $23 million, while CUPS Calgary Society will receive more than $13 million. In Edmonton, Radius Community Health and Healing will receive $14 million and Jasper Place Wellness Centre will receive $9.6 million.
Joy Bowen-Eyre, chief executive officer of The Alex Community Health Centre, said the funding will help vulnerable Albertans access care before reaching a crisis while reducing pressure on the broader health system.
The province says the investment supports its primary care modernization strategy by strengthening coordination between health care, community organizations and social services. Community health centres will also track patient outcomes and health system use to measure the program’s effectiveness.
The funding is provided through the Canada-Alberta Bilateral Agreement to Improve Health Outcomes for Canadians.
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