An organization that is working to end homelessness amongst veterans has opened its second supportive housing development in the country in Edmonton. Nine of 40 studio units at the development at 13015 128 Ave. NW have already been filled, according to officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday. “After a second divorce and being homeless myself, this is something that I could have used then and I’m certain we could use more of,” said attendee Bruce Given, whose military career spanned 25 years across the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Royal Canadian Regiment and engineering branch. “When you take off the uniform, there’s a lot of abandonment between associations. This will reinforce that association and enhance it. Comradeship is a big thing.” The 40 units are available on a permanent and affordable basis. The building also consists of a fitness room, library, meditation park, garden, and park for service pets. Full-time staff will be available to provide professional support or help residents access community supports. “Those supports really give you that leg up to be able to carry on and move forward in your life,” explained retired brigadier-general Alan Mulawyshyn. The roughly $15-million project received support from all three levels of government. Veteran’ House Canada opened its first supportive housing development in Ottawa in 2021 and has had a full waitlist ever since, Mulawyshyn said. The organization estimates Alberta could be home to as many as 150 homeless veterans, based on available data about homelessness amongst veterans. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Dave Mitchell
