FORT McMURRAY — The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, in partnership with several community agencies, is making steady progress in addressing homelessness and closing encampments across the region.
Since the beginning of summer, 27 encampment sites — mostly in downtown Fort McMurray — have been closed, and more than 20 individuals have been relocated into safe, supportive housing.
“While some challenges remain, our shared community efforts are seeing success,” said Edna Olsen-Moman, Executive Director of the Salvation Army. “It takes time, but we continue to work with the Municipality and other partners to safely and compassionately close encampments.”
The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the Salvation Army, Wood Buffalo Wellness Society, Centre of Hope, and the Wood Buffalo RCMP. The approach prioritizes compassion and safety, with outreach teams engaging individuals in encampments to offer housing and support services.
Aaron Anderson, Manager of Bylaw Services, emphasized that the goal is not just to remove encampments, but to reduce homelessness and improve public safety.
“Encampment closures are not just about removing a site,” Anderson said. “They’re about providing safe, supportive housing to vulnerable individuals and reducing the likelihood of encampments being re-established.”
Once an encampment is reported, Bylaw Services and RCMP conduct an initial assessment, followed by outreach efforts to connect individuals with housing. After relocation, the site is closed and monitored to prevent reoccupation. Clean-up efforts are led by the Municipality, often in coordination with nearby property owners.
Residents are encouraged to report encampments through Pulse at 780-743-7000 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse. Anyone experiencing homelessness or at risk can also access housing referrals through the Coordinated Access System by contacting Pulse.
For bi-weekly updates and more information, visit the Community Response to Encampments webpage.
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