City of Lloydminster announces establishment of Housing Working Group

Lloydminster, AB/SK – The City of Lloydminster has established the Housing Working Group, a collaborative initiative to address urgent housing needs and support individuals experiencing housing instability, as identified through the Social Needs Assessment conducted in 2022.

Key Members of the Housing Working Group

• Becky Schille, Chief Executive Officer, The Olive Tree
• Stephanie Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Lloydminster Region Housing Group
• Kagan Kneen, Executive Director, Lloydminster Social Action Coalition Society
• Tyler Lorenz, Executive Director, Residents in Recovery Society
• Sandra Brown, Manager, Lloydminster Métis Housing Group
• Angela Rooks-Trotzuk, Chief Executive Officer, Spark Foundation of Lloydminster (formerly the Lloydminster Interval Home Society)
• Lori Neufeld, Housing Manager, Lloydminster Housing Authority
• Marrilynne, General Manager, Carleton Housing (Lloydminster) Inc.

Background

In 2022, the City of Lloydminster conducted a Social Needs Assessment, engaging more than 2,000 residents and holding over 200 conversations with stakeholders. This assessment identified seven key community priorities:

1. Access to Health and Social Services
2. Income Inequity
3. Transportation
4. Housing and Homelessness
5. Safety and Security
6. Mental Health
7. Access to Recreation

To address these complex issues, the City developed the Social Policy Framework (SPF), which provides a collaborative model for community, business, and government stakeholders to work together. One of the framework’s key recommendations was the formation of working groups to address identified priorities.

The Housing Working Group, comprised of nine experts and advocates from the housing and support services sector, held its inaugural meeting on July 23, 2024, at the Lloydminster Operations Centre. The committee has identified five primary goals to guide its efforts in addressing housing challenges within the community.

Goals of the Housing Working Group

• Host a housing symposium in Lloydminster to foster dialogue.
• Explore cooperative housing models to improve affordability and accessibility.
• Provide fact-based research and up-to-date information to support decision-making.
• Develop and advocate for policies that meaningfully impact housing challenges.
• Collaborate with the City of Lloydminster to secure financial support and advance future development initiatives.

While the City of Lloydminster provides administrative support, including recording minutes and hosting meetings, all decisions are made by the committee members.