Monday, January 28, 2008

Big week

In the next two days, we will finally have the release of the 10-year Plan from the Calgary Committee to End Homelessness. As well, City Council has a strategic planning meeting in which they have the opportunity to make a hugely symbolic move: to defer suburban edge growth in favour of focusing on density. Both moves have the potential to change the fabric of the city, and we'll be watching closely.

1 comment:

Bob McInnis said...

I agree that we could see the social development fabric change with the release of Calgary's 10-year plan. The Herald has a rave review from Phillip Mangano, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. The plan, developed by a committee over the past year, includes targets such as reducing the number of emergency shelter beds by half within five years, eliminating family homelessness within two years and chronic homelessness within seven, and creating more than 11,000 affordable housing units, including secondary suites and student housing.

Most encouraging is Mangano's quote is that "Calgary has decided to stop managing the crisis and begin ending the disgrace."

I have been skeptical about the plan and quoted as saying " that it is full of hope and promise but not much real substance". I hope I have to eat my words after the complete plan is released.