A new housing facility for homeless veterans will soon open in Edmonton, providing dedicated support for those in need.

This marks the second such home in Canada, offering shelter and services tailored specifically for veterans.

The new building, once it’s opened, will provide 40 affordable units and amenities similar to the first home in Ottawa. The new home will provide various services from mental health support, employment literacy training, to addiction support.

“Geez, it was even hard to find a doctor, never mind housing,” said sgt. Bruce Given, veteran advocate and retired sergeant since 2000.

Given says the home would have benefitted him 15 years ago, as he experienced homelessness after he retired in 2000.

“I got out in 2000, so I’ve been out for 25 years already,” said Given. “There was little encouragement and or transition, aids back then, and now there’s much more for that now. So, the transitions, aids, would direct people to this location would help immensely for them to start over again.”

According to the veterans’ house executive director, an estimated 150 homeless veterans live in Edmonton.  The transition from military service to retirement is not always smooth.

“I think it just takes a while for people to realize that, given how over-impacted veterans are in their homeless population,” said Alan Mulawyshyn, executive director of Veterans’ House Canada and retired brigadier general. “Veterans represent 1 per cent of the Canadian population, about four to five times to homeless population, and so we’re really trying to put our effort into now to taking care of those homeless veterans because they deserve it.”

The building is within the partnership of the veteran’s house, the federal, provincial and municipal government and plans to finish construction and open by the end of 2026.

“Looking to have from coast to coast, from BC to Halifax and Toronto, and so we are working towards that one step at a time, with Edmonton being our second one,” said Mulawyshyn.

“There in both coast BC and the Maritimes that have the biggest veteran population, and that’s where a lot of this needs to go to,” added Given.