According to data from the city's main housing agent, Homeward Trust, homelessness has risen by 47% this year. Homeward Trust CEO Susan McGee said the data is not definitive, Jason Nixon, minister of seniors, community and social services believes the numbers are skewed while Nadine Chalifoux, chair of the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECHH), believes the numbers may be higher.

The numbers of homeless may be questionable but what isn't is homelessness remains a major issue In spite of millions of dollars spent on various efforts and fronts to address the problem. It may be time for all involved in the various efforts and fronts to seriously consider Albert Einstein's oft quoted saying "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" and whether it may be time to consider a new approach to the issue of homelessness