Embargo: 09:00 Jul 08, 2026
A provincial human rights group visited Slave Lake to research how municipal bylaws and a lack of local shelter space are affecting unhoused individuals. The visit is part of a larger project called “Breaking the Cycle,” which is funded by the Alberta Law Foundation. It focuses on unhoused Albertans who are stuck in a cycle of debt and being forced to move their encampments constantly.
Renee Vaugeois, executive director of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, set up a booth at the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Schurter Park on June 19. Because Indigenous populations are heavily overrepresented in the unhoused community, Vaugeois says the event offered her team a crucial chance to connect directly with vulnerable residents and hear their stories.
National data reflects this disparity. Statistics Canada reports that Indigenous households are nearly three times as likely to have faced some form of homelessness compared to the rest of the population. Also, recent numbers from homeless shelters across the country show that 35 per cent of the people using them identify as Indigenous.
Slave Lake is one of six Alberta towns the group is visiting to better understand the rural homelessness crisis. Through community chats and art workshops, they are looking into how unhoused people deal with setting up encampments, finding food, and facing the justice system.
Research from the Homeless Hub showcases the unique challenges of rural homelessness. The data notes that homelessness is just as common in rural towns as it is in major cities, but it frequently goes under the radar. Because there are not enough local emergency services, unhoused people in rural areas often have to rely on friends, couch surfing, or moving to larger cities.
A major problem the group has found so far is the massive debt created by local bylaw tickets.
“One of the most surprising things we learned during this process was the huge amount of debt some people carry just from town bylaw tickets and fines,” Vaugeois says.
She notes her team recently met an unhoused person in southern Alberta who had over $10,000 in fines. The group plans to use these stories to push for rule changes so that being poor is not treated like a crime.
“Because these people do not have homes, these fines basically punish them for being poor. It creates huge money barriers that stop them from ever getting a stable home,” Vaugeois says. “When we talk about fixing the homelessness crisis, we have to remember it is not just about building more houses. The reality is often much more complex.”
When looking at how Slave Lake handles homelessness compared to other towns, Vaugeois says she sees a troubling gap between local decision-makers and the frontline workers trying to help.
“There seems to be a real pushback in this community when compared to other rural areas, especially when it comes to teamwork between service groups and local leaders,” Vaugeois says. “From what I have seen in Slave Lake, there is a big disconnect between those trying to help and those making the rules. Beyond that, the complete lack of a local shelter is a huge problem.”
Vaugeois knows that many rural towns struggle with homelessness, pointing to similar issues in Wetaskiwin and St. Paul. However, she believes local advocates fighting for a shelter in Slave Lake have faced a much harder battle over the years.
On the flip side, she pointed to the Lethbridge area as a place making positive progress, specifically noting shelters run by the local Blackfoot community.
“While there are still many hurdles to jump, moving toward Indigenous-led shelter systems is exactly the direction we need to go,” Vaugeois says. “Those community-run models are where we are seeing the best practices and the most caring rules.”
Despite hearing heavy and emotional stories during her visit, Vaugeois says she is glad her team could support the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre, calling the group a vital pillar for the town.
“Caring for vulnerable people has unfortunately become a deeply political issue, and I really believe it should not be treated that way,” Vaugeois says. “I just wish there was stronger, more united support for the important work being done by groups like the Friendship Centre in this community.”
By Armaan Khanna, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jul 03, 2026 at 11:51
Recent Comments