Medicine Hat becomes First Canadian City to End Chronic Homelessness

Recognition from Canada’s leaders

“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. That’s why our government has been making historic investments and working with all orders of government to end chronic homelessness across Canada. Today’s announcement is a testament to the real progress we can make for Canadians when we all work together. Medicine Hat is the first city in Canada to end chronic homelessness, but with continued investments like the National Housing Strategy and Reaching Home, they won’t be the last.” – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 

“This is a remarkable achievement for Medicine Hat, and shows us that Alberta is on the right path. I commend the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society and the coordinated efforts of the many homeless-serving agencies for their hard work and passion to improve the lives of the city’s most vulnerable. This accomplishment gives us all hope that we can replicate similar success in other cities and end chronic homelessness once and for all.” – Rajan Sawhney, Alberta’s Minister of Community and Social Services 

“My heartfelt congratulations to the City of Medicine Hat for achieving this ground-breaking milestone. What a wonderful example of what can be achieved when we all come together with a common goal to end chronic homelessness. Our government will continue to work with partners in Alberta and across the country through programs like Reaching Home, to ensure every Canadian has a safe and affordable place to call home.” – The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development  

“When you have to step over a person lying in the street in your own city, you can no longer ignore the issue. From the idea of Housing First to ending chronic homelessness in our city, much work has been done to ensure that all our vulnerable citizens have a place to call home. Medicine Hat has become a beacon for other cities across Canada and internationally to put an end to chronic homelessness. The world is looking at us, and our successes, to find hope in their strategies to give people a hand up and a home of their own.” – Ted Clugston, Mayor Medicine Hat 

“Medicine Hat’s success in ending chronic homelessness is about determined partnerships focused on the common good of the community. Our use of an innovative, collaborative and systems approach is a recipe that can be repeated across the nation.” – Glen Motz, MP Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner