Category: ESPC Announcements

Edmonton's population reaches 877,926, Global Edmonton, August. 29, 2014

Here we grow again! Edmonton's population is up more than 60,000 in the last two years. Vinesh Pratap finds out what the numbers mean.

(This television news item was a follow-up to Mayor Don Iveson's announcement that the city's population grew by about seven percent in the past two years.)

Following interviews with two people who recently moved to the city, Edmonton Social Planning Council's executive director Susan Morrissey was quoted saying: "You can't assume that just because we are going to be in another economic growth period that everyone is going to benefit." (and following some images of homeless people… ) "It's not perfect but I do think that we are now on the (same) page and everyone is saying let's take all of these plans and put them together and address these issues that way."

Watch the video here.

The Edmonton Social Planning Council Annual Report for 2013 has been uploaded. Click here to download

The Edmonton Homeless Commission has recently released the Year 5 Update report on the 10 year plan to end homelessness.

Year 5 Key Numbers

• 2,178 permanent homes secured for 2,909 people who had been homeless.
• 80% of formerly homeless persons have secured housing in the private rental market.
• 84% of the people housed have retained their housing.
• 466 newly constructed units have been completed.
• Government funding for homeless supports was frozen for Year 5 but an increase is planned for Year 6.
• Welcome Home matched 85 community volunteers with 55 newly housed Edmontonians to provide companionship and community supports. 

Click here to download the update: Edmonton’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness – Year 5 Update

For over 18 months ESPC has had a representative involved with the Poverty Elimination Steering Committee.  On March 3 the Committee reported back to the City of Edmonton Community Services Committee and submitted our final report.  The work does not stop here, rather this report will form the foundation for the work that goes forward to the Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty Elimination in Edmonton.

Click to download: Changing the Conversation

We have released our annual analysis of the Government of Alberta’s 2014 Budget.

Budget 2014 covers the time period from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 (2014-15) fiscal year (FY). Budget 2014 estimates an operational surplus of $2.6 billion, and a consolidated surplus of $1.1 billion when capital spending and net savings are included. The government’s revenue picture has brightened considerably since last year’s budget due to higher than expected energy prices and a lower Canadian dollar. As a result, operational spending will increase next year though by less than inflation and population growth. In this fACT sheet, next year refers to the 2014-15 FY and this year refers to the current 2013-14 FY.

Click to Download: 2014 Alberta Budget Analysis

tracking the TRENDS is the ESPC’s flagship publication that offers a comprehensive collection of current and historical demographic and socio-economic data focused on the Edmonton region.

The publication divides the trends into six major categories:

• Demographics – indicators of population growth, immigration and population diversity.
• Education & Employment – indicators of educational achievement and employment status of the population.
• Cost of Living & Housing Trends – indicators of the costs of basic necessities, such as food and housing, as well as the housing status of the population.
• Earnings & Income – indicators of the changing value of the wages, incomes and net worth of individuals and families.
• Poverty – indicators of the prevalence of low income, as well as the incidence of acute forms of poverty, such as homelessness.
• Government Income Supports – indicators of the investments made by governments towards improving financial security and the impact of those investments on low income families.

This edition also includes an updated Social Health Index. The intent of this index is to provide a measure of the overall social well-being of Edmonton, and how it has changed over time.

The entire 2013 Edition is now available in pdf format [126 pages] Tracking the Trends 2013.