Councillor slams province, federal government for inaction on homelessness

Ward 6 Coun. Scott McKeen said that he's "ticked off" with the slow pace of the provincial and federal governments in dealing with homelessness in Edmonton.

"We have a significant problem of homelessness in the river valley which is taxing civil resources and revealing the underlying issue of a housing crisis in this city," said McKeen.

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"I'm frustratedthat governments are moving at a glacial pace to deal with what is fundamentally a human rights issue."

On Wednesday, McKeen made an inquiry into the amount of resources that are being eaten up by cleaning and policing Edmonton's river valley homeless camps.

McKeen said that the city is wasting tens of millions of dollars "chasing our tails on this issue."

I'm frustratedthat governments are moving at a glacial pace to deal with what is fundamentally a human rights issue.- Scott McKeen

The end resultleavespeople whoare mentally ill and who can't care for themselves properly livingin horrific conditions on the streets of Edmonton or in the river valley, he said.

"The provincial and federal governments have got to step up," McKeen said. "They are constitutionally responsible for housing, health care and mental health.

"We need to build supportive housing for a lot of these people.We need to distribute that around the city and we need to build a just and fair city for these people."

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McKeenalso saidthat businesses in certain downtown areassuch asChinatownare feeling theimpact of homelessness.

Whilehe's certainthat eventually some action will be taken, he doesn't believe it willbe fast enough.

"I'm tired of us ignoring this issueand by us I mean all of us," said McKeen."I'm not claiming moral high ground.There is a lot of people upset with this and I get a lot of nodding heads, but it is time to do something about this.

"Our motivation going to bed at night should be that people are going to bed at night in beds."