A new report said a lack of daytime options for people experiencing homelessness, insufficient treatment and inadequate healthcare options are driving a rise in drug use, social disorder and ultimately death in public spaces, including along Calgary Transit.
No Place to Go, a study done in collaboration with Vibrant Communities Calgary, Dr. Nick Falvo, and a research team from the University of Calgary, examined social disorder and drug use and how they relate to the public transit area.
The research was conducted by talking with those Calgarians who experience homelessness in addition to transit workers, police officers and community outreach staff. They also examined more than 160 research papers and local data on social disorder and substance abuse.
According to No Place to Go, the city has seen a 186 per cent rise in unintentional substance deaths from 2016 to 2023 noting that individuals who struggle with addiction believe if they experience a medical emergency there will be more attention available in public spaces. The study also shares how encampment sleeping, which saw an increase of 500 per cent between 2018 to 2023, along with Calgary’s current housing crisis play a role in poverty across the city.
“While some solutions require time and systemic changes, it all begins with ensuring we have stable housing so more and more people aren’t being pushed into homelessness,” said Meaghon Reid, Executive Director, Vibrant Communities of Calgary, in a prepared media release.
There were five primary recommendations made out of the report. It included the need to invest in more emergency spaces, including bed space at night and daytime options. More treatment and harm reduction options are needed, along with more medical respite. The report also called for a coordinated approach among the more than 30 outreach teams, many with different strategies. Finally, it said there was a need to invest in more housing.
“It’s clear, that people experiencing homelessness need places to go during the daytime. Even as we work towards long-term solutions like housing, more options are in everyone’s best interest,” said Dr. Falvo.
Certain stations see more social disorder activity
Five stations have been identified within the study that appear to contain the most activity: City Hall/Bow Valley College, Victoria Park, Marlborough and Chinook. The report said that some vulnerable Calgarians “ride the rails” on the CTrain until such time as they can gain evening entry into their shelter of choice.
Ticketing transit users for not paying was largely ineffective, according to transit peace officers and CPS officers.
The report stated: “One CPS officer complained that writing tickets for drug use or loitering feels a bit like a revolving door, where people are arrested but then quickly let go, only to do the same thing again.”
“We cannot afford to wait to help people in positions of vulnerability and that’s why City Council has made so many decisions in the interest of those folks that need us right now.”
Mayor Jyoti Gondek
Simon Nagtalon, who rides transit regularly, said he’s seen firsthand the challenges at many of these LRT stations.
“I would describe it as an increasing presence of homelessness and drug usage,” said Nagtalon. “Social disorders are very apparent in public transit stations…. and it is quite sad to see how much there is.”
He added, “We need more mental health support. We need easier access for all these people that don’t know how to get access to support that they need.”
Mayor Jyoti Gondek said Calgary has already taken steps to help address many of these issues. They’ve been looking at different aspects of outreach and housing solutions, but she said they can’t do it alone.
“What I will point out is that (Vibrant Calgary’s) recommendations really clearly indicate that we must be working together as provincial and municipal orders of government.”
Gondek noted, “Many of the things that are in that report are simply outside the jurisdiction of the city, but we’ve been trying to address them.”
The province has provided millions in support over the past two years for affordable housing and emergency shelter spaces in both Calgary and Edmonton. However, many critics say their singular approach to treatment and recovery options for drug use flies in the face of an overwhelming body of research that suggests a multi-pronged plan is required.
The mayor said there’s an urgency to resolve issues as more than 115,000 people are on the brink of potential homelessness in Calgary.
“We cannot afford to wait to help people in positions of vulnerability and that’s why City Council has made so many decisions in the interest of those folks that need us right now,” said Gondek. “We have put money into housing that we simply should not have to. But we’ve done it because we need to take care of Calgarians, so we continue to invest in the wellness of Calgarians most in need.”