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Homelessness
Homelessness in rural Alberta is a growing concern across the province. Unlike in urban centres where homelessness is visible with people sleeping outside shelters, on sidewalks, in doorways, and parks, rural homelessness is often less visible and is commonly described as “hidden.” It can include people sleeping in vehicles, staying in spaces not meant for human occupancy such as sheds or trailers without utilities, or couch surfing in overcrowded homes.
Rural communities face unique challenges, including limited access to emergency shelters, affordable housing, mental health services, addictions treatments, transportation and employment opportunities.
There isn’t a single reason for homelessness. Several factors contribute to homelessness in Alberta, including:
- Shortage of affordable housing and rental housing
- Rising housing and living costs
- Mental health and addiction challenges
- Family violence and relationship breakdown
- Poverty, unemployment, and unstable employment
Overall, homelessness in rural Alberta is a complex issue driven by numerous factors. Homelessness cannot be solved by shelters alone. A comprehensive approach is needed which combines affordable housing, mental health and addiction services, emergency supports, and prevention-focused programs.
Drayton Valley, like many other rural communities, has residents that are experiencing homelessness.
Over the past several years, encampments have been located in various parts of the community.
The image below shows the approximate location that Enforcement Services has located encampments between April 2022 and June 2026. These do not include any locations that the RCMP may have dealt with.
History
The Town of Drayton Valley has executed various responses to homelessness and various methods of enforcement over the years in an attempt to mitigate the growing concern. Although homelessness dates back decades within Drayton Valley, this section will focus on the past 10 years.
Near 2017, approximately 30 individuals set up an encampment in a wooded perimeter of a vacant lot north of Industrial Road near 52 Street. These individuals remained in that location for about 1 year before the Town stepped in and closed the encampment.
A “Temporary Shelter Bylaw” was enacted in 2019 as there were ongoing concerns of encampments and shelters being erected throughout the community. This bylaw was designed to prohibit encampments/shelters from being set up anywhere in the community. In 2022, this bylaw was repealed, however the prohibitions were carried into the new Community Standards Bylaw with the additional ability to designate a specific area was introduced.
For many years, the town ran a winter mat program that provided temporary overnight shelter and was funded by the province. The program first ran in or around the winter of 2015, with its last season the winter of 2022. It had the capacity of 10 mats, overlooked by 2 staff. Due to the seasonal nature of the program, securing funding and staffing were consistently a challenge, with the program often not opening well into the cold season.
In 2022, the Town secured grant funding to develop and implement a shelter pod program. This increased overnight sleep capacity from 10, to 24. In 2023 the operational oversight of the pods went to a local not-for-profit. The Warming Hearts Soup Kitchen, another local not-for-profit, volunteer run, organization has operated serving the community for many years; with the provincial grant money acquired by the town, we were able to partner with them to secure a rental space so the could operate a drop in hub and expand to offer laundry, showers, clothes, access to resource navigation in safe and welcoming place. These supports remain in place today and the shelter pods have supported 324 unique individuals and Warming Hearts daytime service has supported 425 unique individuals from opening until May 2026. Warming Hearts is open Monday through Friday 10am – 3pm with the shelter pods open 7 nights per week, with varying hours between winter and summer but are open for approximately 14 hours per night.
Furthermore, in 2023, the Town obtained grant funding to support a Community Outreach worker – this position continues to be with the Town, funded by grants and is expected to be funded until spring 2028. The outreach worker assists with system navigation and reduces barriers to help clients better access services, including income support applications, obtaining ID, referrals to treatment or community services. Outreach works alongside clients exploring available housing in and out of the community, setting goals for housing, assist in applying to affordable housing programs, guidance towards obtaining housing and crisis eviction navigations.
Since the introduction of the outreach worker, they have engaged with over 100 unique individuals experiencing some form of housing insecurity. Several of those individuals chose to relocate and did so with the support and assistance of the outreach worker and community partners, including Enforcement Services.
In 2025, the Mayor’s Task Force on the Unhoused was created. This task force had members of administration, first responders, service providers as well as members of the community. The task force disbanded in summer of 2026, however, Feedback from the taskforce was taken into consideration when creating the encampment strategy.
The Town’s Community Services department conducted a count in early 2026, which shows a decrease in the number of individuals experiencing homelessness, but a drastic increase in those that are at risk of homelessness.
The Community Services report, of the 64 individuals in 2026 that were either unsheltered or provisionally accommodated, all but four were born in Drayton Valley or have been here longer than 5 years. Two are from surrounding communities and two are unknown.
FAQs
Does the Town “bus” people into the community?
No. The Town does not bring or bus people into Drayton Valley who are experiencing homelessness. According to reports done by the Community Services, approximately 95% of those experiencing homelessness have strong local ties to the community, either were born in Drayton Valley or have lived here for more than five years.
Does the Town receive compensation – monetary or otherwise – for taking in/supporting those experiencing homelessness?
No. The Town does not receive compensation in any form for individuals experiencing homelessness, nor is the Town “taking in” people from elsewhere. Municipal tax dollars are not used to fund the Shelter Pods, daytime program, or outreach position. These supports are funded through provincial and federal government grants secured by the Town to respond to homelessness and support community safety.
Can we put those experiencing homelessness onto a bus and send them to another community?
No. Homelessness is not solved by moving people elsewhere, it is addressed by connecting individuals to housing, supports, and services that help create long-term stability. People cannot be forced to leave Drayton Valley or relocated to another community against their will. If an individual chooses or desires to relocate voluntarily, various agencies can, and do work, with them to explore available options and supports. The goal is to connect people with the resources they need and support them in making informed decisions.
Can’t homeless individuals just get a job?
Employment is a piece of the pathway out of homelessness; however, its not always a simple, or immediate solution. Lack of stable housing, transportation, identification, reliable phone, mental health or substance use challenges, medical needs, limited work history, or limited employment options are all contributing barriers to employment sustainability. Several individuals experiencing houselessness do work odd-job labour work, however, it is not enough to secure or maintain housing or erase the barriers in place.
Various services are provided for those that are at risk or those experiencing homelessness, directly within Drayton Valley and area. These services are available for all members of the public and include:
- Drayton Valley Shelter Pods
- Warming Hearts Soup Kitchen Society and Centre
- Drayton Valley and Area Community Food Bank Society
- Alliance Church Food Pantry
- 24/7 Food Pantries (Warming Hearts)
- Drayton Valley and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS)
- Community Outreach Worker
- Drayton Valley Municipal Library
- Free Public Phone Booths to connect to supports
- Alberta Supports
- Service Canada (Drayton Valley)
- Drayton Valley Community Health Centre – Addictions and Mental Health
- Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
- Narcotics Anonymous (N.A.)
- Young Adults Narcotics Anonymous (YaNA)
- Opportunity Home
- Opioid Replacement Therapy
- Alberta 211
- Pembina Crisis Connection Society
Note: There may be additional services provided which may be applicable but have not been captured.
These services providers work to ensure that there is a “pathway out” if an individual experiencing homelessness is ready to move to the next step.
Please review the FCSS Community Resource Directory for additional information and resources.
In 2022, Shelter Pods were brought to the community to provide a temporary, short term emergency accommodation to those that require it. Shelter Pods are located in a fenced yard at 5309 54 Street, the former Public Works Shop, and across from the RCMP detachment.
The Shelter Pods are a different approach to emergency shelter, rather than supervise a large group in common areas, the pods allow clients to secure individual rooms, where they can safely stay the night. This replaced the previous emergency shelter program – the Mat Program. The pods include 12 separate rooms, housed within two buildings, and can accommodate two people per room for a maximum of 24 individuals.
Operations and management of the Shelter Pods is done with the support of a not-for-profit. From inception to summer of 2026, the pods have supported 324 unique individuals, including those fleeing domestic violence and other similar situations. The pods are open 7 days per week, with varying hours between winter and summer months but are open approximately 14 hours per night.
The cost to purchase and operate the pods comes from various federal and provincial grants. Upon the initial setup of the pods, several local companies donated their time and resources to help deliver, install and set up the shelter pods.
Clean ups are an important step to ensure the cleanliness of encampments and to reduce the spread of any diseases and biohazards. When Drayton Valley references a cleanup, it’s not a complete removal of all individuals and their items, it is a removal of excess garbage, refuse and similar items.
Between the three previously organized cleanups of the encampment areas in 2023, 2025 and 2026, a total of 44.65 tonnes of garbage/debris has been removed.
Contact Us
Should you locate an encampment within the community, please contact Enforcement Services at 780-514-2386, or the RCMP at 310-RCMP. Please ensure you provide detailed information about the location of the encampment.
If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness and requires assistance, please review the Resources Available section of this webpage for more information. You may also wish to speak to the outreach worker by calling 780-514-2200.
Additionally, you may also wish to reach out to elected officials at the provincial level, in particular, the local Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) or the Minister of responsible for Assisted Living and Social Services.
Do you have an idea that may solve homelessness? Please email enforcement@draytonvalley.ca.
The graphic below shows the steps taken once an encampment is located.
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