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The Encampment Response Team works to ensure the safety of individuals setting up encampments on public land. The team also helps connect people experiencing homelessness with community supports.
The Encampment Response Team (ERT) is made up of Park Ranger Community Peace Officers, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and City Operations staff. Together, the team:
Encampment closures are done in accordance with City bylaws and other relevant legislation. However, the team pays close attention to risks such as fire hazards, unsafe materials and the encampment’s proximity to vulnerable locations. Sites with the highest risk are addressed first to ensure the safety and well-being of both the people living in the encampment and nearby communities.
Park Ranger Community Peace Officers (CPOs) and the Edmonton Police Service work together to:
The process for responding to an encampment is as follows:
311 receives an encampment complaint.
ERT assesses the site.
Cleanup crews remediate the site.
Site is resolved.
When an encampment is closed, the ERT offers individuals support, resources and transportation to the Government of Alberta’s Navigation and Support Centre, where they can access additional services.
Once the site is vacant, the team coordinates with City cleanup crews to clear and sanitize the site, ensuring it is safe and usable for the public.
The team’s work balances enforcement with compassion, focusing on both the immediate safety of the community and the long-term support of vulnerable individuals.
Encampments are only closed if there is enough shelter space available. The Government of Alberta provides shelter occupancy data to the ERT. As shelter capacity reaches 90%, teams receive an email prompting them to verify availability before closing a site.
Encampments on private property raise multiple concerns and may involve different agencies, depending on the situation. These concerns may include trespassing, criminal activity and nuisance conditions such as debris or garbage.
Encampments on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The City may review concerns reported through 311 for bylaw or safety issues, but does not remove encampments or provide cleanup services on private property.
Note: If a property owner fails to address unsafe or nuisance conditions caused by an abandoned encampment, the City will respond and clean up the site, with all costs billed to the owner
If people are present on private property:
If no one is present:
If there are concerns about criminal activity, safety or unauthorized individuals on the property, property owners should contact the Edmonton Police Service to address the situation.
Property owners may contact the Edmonton Police Service for assistance with trespassing or criminal activity:
Do not put yourself at risk. Avoid direct confrontation and contact EPS if there are safety concerns.
If someone appears in distress, call 211 (press 3) to reach the Crisis Diversion Team, which can connect individuals to outreach and support services.
Property owners are responsible for removing debris, including needles or other Biohazards, and may wish to use professional cleanup services. Securing fences, doors and access points can help prevent re-entry.
Monthly data may change slightly from month to month as reports are added or updated.
| Type | Targeted Service Level | Actual Service Level | Trend (Compared to January 2025) | Year to Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site Assessment Time required to complete the initial assessment of an encampment complaint. | 4 days | 1.41 days | 44% decrease (2.51 days) | 1.41 days |
| Site Clean Up Clean up vacant sites, once notified. | 7 days | 0.72 days | 82% decrease (3.93 days) | 0.72 days |
| Average Total Response Time from Complaint to Clean Open to completed. The Site Assessment, Site Clean Up and Average Total Response Time measures use different time periods, meaning the Average Total may not directly match the sum of the Site Assessment and Site Clean Up values. | 11 days | 1.68 days | 67% decrease (5.16 days) | 1.68 days |
Monthly data may change slightly from month to month as reports are added and updated.
| Jan 2026 | Trend (Compared to Jan 2025) | Year to Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 311 Encampment Complaints Number of complaints 311 received during the reporting period. It is not uncommon to receive duplicate complaints for the same site. The number of encampment sites addressed each month is reflected in the row below. | 138 | 43% decrease (240) | 138 |
| Encampment Sites Cleaned | 242 | 17% decrease (291) | 242 |
| Propane Tanks Removed | 126 | 56% decrease (286) | 126 |
| Shopping Carts Removed | 103 | 45% decrease (188) | 103 |
| Needles Removed | 898 | 18% decrease (1,094) | 898 |
| Material Removed (kg) | 59,490 | 33% decrease (88,890) | 59,490 |
| Number of medical events EFRS has responded to (encampment-related) | 28 | 69% decrease (91) | 28 |
| Number of fire rescue events EFRS has responded to (encampment-related) | 59 | 64% decrease (166) | 59 |
| Documented injuries from fires at encampments attended by EFRS | 0 | 100% decrease (2) | 0 |
| Number of fatalities documented by EFRS as involving fire (encampment-related) These statistics are subject to change as new information becomes available. EFRS confirms a fire-related fatality. The cause of death will be determined by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. | 0 | 100% decrease (1) | 0 |
Note: The difference between the number of complaints and the number of closures is due to duplicate reported complaints and encampments that are no longer present upon investigation (‘gone on arrival’). This ensures accurate reporting of unique encampments that required intervention.
Not all encampment closures require cleaning or site remediation. In some cases, the site is vacated before the scheduled cleanup or is found to not require additional cleaning upon closure.
Why it Matters
People living in encampments often rely on fires and propane tanks to keep warm. However, this significantly increases the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions and uncontrolled fires. Tents are highly flammable and can catch fire within seconds.
Tragically, unhoused Edmontonians have lost their lives in tent fires. These fires not only endanger those living in the encampments but also pose wildfire risks, threaten nearby communities and can damage public infrastructure.
Why we Care
Fires in encampments represent a serious danger that can lead to injuries, loss of life and harm to the community. The City is deeply committed to preventing these tragedies by working with the Province and sector partners that provide safe and warm alternatives. Our aim is to protect vulnerable individuals from the severe dangers of fire while ensuring the safety of public spaces and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Why it Matters
Data shows people experiencing homelessness face a higher risk of drug poisonings and overdoses. Unsheltered people are often further removed from critical emergency services, making them even more vulnerable to harm. Opioids, including fentanyl, have an anesthetic effect on the body, impairing a person’s ability to regulate body temperature and feel pain. This can heighten the risks of fire and frostbite when sheltering outdoors, leading to life-altering or deadly consequences.
Why we Care
Preventing overdoses and drug poisoning deaths is critical. The City works in partnership with social agencies and other orders of government and care providers to ensure individuals struggling with substance use can access life-saving interventions and support.
Why it Matters
Encampments pose ongoing risks to vulnerable Edmontonians, including violence, theft and intimidation. Large encampments can attract predatory behaviours. These conditions compound the trauma and hardship of living without a secure shelter.
Why we Care
The safety and well-being of everyone, including the most vulnerable Edmontonians, is a top priority. The City’s outreach work and partnerships with social agencies aim to protect individuals from harm and offer safer, more dignified alternatives to staying in encampments.
Why it Matters
Edmonton experiences extreme weather throughout the year. Harsh winters expose individuals sheltering outdoors to frostbite, hypothermia and even death. In the summer, vulnerable Edmontonians face challenges related to heat illness and poor air quality. A typical tent does not provide adequate protection from these risks.
Why we Care
No one should suffer in extreme conditions without support. Helping individuals access community supports is essential for ensuring the safety and dignity of vulnerable individuals.
Why it Matters
Public health experts have advised that infected bodily waste at encampments can quickly lead to disease outbreaks, such as shigella, Norovirus, campylobacter and E. coli. These infections can extend beyond encampments and enter the broader community.
Why we Care
Everyone deserves access to basic sanitation and health care, regardless of their living situation. The City’s Public Washroom Strategy aims to provide access to sanitation facilities in public spaces, but it is not practical to provide sanitation services to individual encampment sites. Ensuring safe and hygienic environments is critical for protecting the health of individuals and preventing broader public health issues.
Why it Matters
As encampments get bigger, they pose increased safety and health risks for both occupants and the surrounding community. Larger encampments can attract criminal activity, create fire hazards and lead to public health concerns. Managing these risks becomes more complex as encampments get larger, requiring more resources and coordination to ensure public safety.
Why we Care
The City is committed to maintaining safe and healthy environments for all residents, including those experiencing homelessness. By addressing the unique challenges posed by larger encampments, we aim to reduce risks for individuals living in these spaces and for the broader community. Ensuring safe, manageable spaces is essential to protecting the health, dignity and well-being of everyone involved.
Why it Matters
Encampments located near schools, sports fields, playgrounds, daycare centres, bridges and high-traffic areas create urgent safety concerns for both occupants and the surrounding community. These locations can expose individuals to environmental hazards and increase the risk of accidents.
Why we Care
The City is dedicated to ensuring the safety and dignity of all Edmontonians. By addressing encampments in higher-risk locations, we work to protect vulnerable individuals and maintain safe, accessible spaces for everyone.
Why it Matters
Encampments often form in dangerous, hard-to-reach areas like riverbanks, parklands, public infrastructure or industrial zones. This exposes individuals to risks from flooding, accidents and other environmental hazards. Encampments in these locations can also lead to parkland degradation and put nearby structures, like bridges, at risk.
Why we Care
Helping individuals relocate from unsafe areas to secure, supportive spaces is essential to their well-being. The City is committed to compassionately protecting the safety of all residents while preserving our shared spaces and infrastructure.
Why it Matters
First responders and frontline staff face serious risks when responding to encampments, including exposure to biohazards, danger from propane tanks and open flames and sharp objects. Unstable structures and unpredictable situations further heighten health and safety risks.
Why we Care
Keeping first responders and frontline staff safe is critical. Their work helps protect the broader public while treating vulnerable people with respect. When they are safe and supported, they can respond more effectively and with compassion, benefiting the whole community.