Back in September, the Mountain Rose Women's Shelter Association out of Rocky Mountain House conducted a survey on homelessness in the Rocky and Clearwater County area.

They presented their results to Rocky Mountain House Town Council at their regular meeting today (Tuesday, November, 21).

Surveyors went to campgrounds, hostels, emergency shelters, and other temporary accommodations, and asked people if they had a permanent residence to go back to. Out of the 68 people surveyed, 46 of them said they did not.

Executive Director of Mountain Rose Cindy Easton says rural homelessness often looks different than in the big city.

“Right away people from the big city think that means we see them sleeping on doorways, and sidewalks, and under the bridge, kind of like in the big cities. But, many of them identified they were couch surfing, or living in unstable conditions. That could be something like a tent in a park, or sleeping maybe in somebody’s garage that’s not set up as a house, those kinds of things.”

Easton says homelessness comes in different forms, especially in areas with a harsher climate like Alberta.

“Provisionally accommodated refers to those who’s accommodation is temporary or lacks any kind of security. At risk of homelessness, or referring to people who are not homeless, but whose current economic, and/or housing situation is precarious and does not meet public health and safety standards. You could say somebody who is living in their truck and camper in the park that would be someone who is provisionally accommodated, so that might work for the summer but certainly not for the winter in Alberta.”

She hopes the survey helps build awareness and partnerships so they can address all the issues that lead to homelessness, which she says requires help from the private and public sector, as well as all levels of government.

 You can see the full results from the survey presented to council by clicking here.