In Drayton Valley, Alberta, a large forest encampment has sparked community concerns and discussions about homelessness. The encampment, consisting of tents and temporary structures, is located on provincial land leased by the town. This situation has raised questions about jurisdiction and responsibility for the individuals living there.

The issue came to light when Rob Pollard, a resident of Brazeau County, wrote a letter to local officials, the RCMP, and the local MLA. He urged for immediate action and collaboration across jurisdictions to address the encampment. In response, Drayton Valley established a task force aimed at creating a formal strategy to tackle homelessness in the area.

The task force includes representatives from Alberta Health Services, law enforcement, community organizations, town officials, local residents, and a member of Brazeau County Council. Pollard emphasized the importance of balancing public safety with support for the unhoused population. "I just decided it's time to try to get something going, try to see if we can help the community and help the people as well, as it's two sides," he said. "It's not good for the taxpaying citizens as well as for them."

According to town administration, the encampment shelters approximately 25 to 30 individuals without stable housing. However, one resident claimed the number could rise to as many as 70. Wayne Meronowich, who has lived in the encampment for two and a half years, noted that he has been without permanent housing for over a decade. He described the winters as particularly challenging and criticized the town's support services as inadequate. "The town motto … is they try to help the homeless and everything else. But they don't. They try to get us out of here as much as they can," he said.

Brazeau County Reeve Bart Guyon expressed his support for the task force, stating, "The more heads we get together, the easier it will be to actually create a solution." He acknowledged the limitations faced by rural municipalities, particularly regarding financial and resource constraints, such as the lack of mental health workers. "So that's where we need to have the province at the table as well," he added.

The Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services recognized the challenges in Drayton Valley and announced that $186,000 from Budget 2025 would be allocated for summer shelter spaces in the town. Additional funding for winter services is currently under review. The ministry stated, "While encampments are a municipal responsibility, Alberta's government firmly believes encampments are not a safe or dignified place for people experiencing homelessness."

Mayor Nancy Dodds of Drayton Valley called for more provincial support, highlighting that many individuals in encampments face significant challenges related to addiction and mental health. "These are areas that fall under the responsibility of the provincial government, and as a municipality, we are not equipped or funded to provide those intensive services," she said.

Kara Westerlund, president of Rural Municipalities of Alberta, noted that encampments are increasingly common in rural areas. "Most rural communities are not equipped nor do we have the expertise nor, to be honest with you, the funding to look after the complex issues that a lot of these individuals are facing," she said.

Guyon emphasized the need for a multi-faceted approach to address the issue. "It's not in our jurisdiction, but we can create awareness with the public, and we can try and help to find solutions," he said. He pointed out that suitable solutions for encampments have not been developed across Canada, as many communities face similar challenges.

In 2022, Drayton Valley implemented small pod-style shelters as temporary overnight options for homeless residents. However, Meronowich described these pods as inconvenient, lacking basic amenities like water, and requiring residents to pack their belongings daily. "So a person needs something that's more stable where you can actually feel like home," he said.

Safety concerns have also been raised by some residents regarding the encampment. Guyon acknowledged that while not all crime is linked to the encampment, there are issues related to property damage and safety. Pollard noted that drug use and related behaviors have impacted public spaces in town, leading to feelings of insecurity among residents.

The Drayton Valley RCMP stated that they support the task force and reported a reduction in crime rates, particularly property crime, over the past year. They also noted that there has not been a disproportionate number of service calls related to the encampment.

Drayton Valley's council plans to review the first round of applicants for the task force on July 30. Pollard expressed hope that the initiative will lead to meaningful change. "It's not a town problem, although it's portrayed that way … it's a whole community. So something needs to be done in that aspect," he said. "If we can find something that works, you never know it might be groundbreaking or it might be a failure."