Klein announces $16M to fight homelessness

The province will kick an additional $16 million into combating homelessness in Alberta.

Premier Ralph Klein announced the new fundingduring the Calgary Homeless Foundation's eighth annual premier's roast.

The roastTuesday was an opportunity for comedians and politicians to poke fun at the outgoing premier.

"Can't get your premier to leave office? Stop cooking with cheese," quipped comedian Bob Robertson.

ButKlein ended theevening on a serious note and announced thenew funding. The money will be spent over the next two years tohelp the homeless, he said.

"The struggles of the homeless and the working poor in places like Calgary and FortMcMurray is unfortunately more of a challenge today then ever," he said.

"It's a great concern to see that half of Calgarians that are homeless right now have a job, but are simplynot making enough money to afford appropriate accommodation."

More homeless in Edmonton

A count of Edmonton's homeless population released by the city Wednesday shows2,600 people don't have a place to live,a 20 per cent increase from two years ago.

Jay Freeman, one of the organizers of the count, saidhomelessness isno longer confined to Edmonton's inner city.

"In terms of the actual numbers at specific locations,I can't speak to that, but certainly it's accurate to say that the homeless issueis throughout the city," he said.

OnTuesday,the province announced $800,000 to help cover the cost of emergency wintershelters in Edmonton.