After 18 months the Mayor’s Taskforce on Homelessness, Community Safety and Wellbeing is dissolving after completing its mandate.
The taskforce’s goal was to create coordinated approach to address issues facing the community.
It brought together provincial ministries, healthcare, housing, local non-profits and community organizations to identify achievable recommendations.
The taskforce delivered its recommendations in October 2024, but requested to keep meeting for another year to move beyond planning and start collaborating.
“We’re very grateful for the dedication each partner has shown, and this cooperative effort is already creating momentum and attracting Federal and Provincial grant funding to better address the challenges of homelessness in Cranbrook,” said Mayor Wayne Price.
The work won’t stop, it just won’t be under the taskforce. Cranbrook CAO Mark Fercho said groups will continue to collaborate and address local issues.
“Don’t get the wrong impression that everyone is leaving and going home,” he said.
“The Fresh Start Foundation was created under that umbrella and a number of organizations that were under the taskforce still carry on work together.”
City staff said there were a number of quantifiable results that came from the taskforce including the cleaning up of tents behind Ridgeview Road and other encampments near creeks and schools.
Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services also noted a steady stability in the volume of calls for three straight quarters.
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