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FORT MCMURRAY — The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has received federal funding to support homelessness prevention efforts in the community through a local non-profit program.
The municipality says $367,296 in funding has been provided through the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund, administered by the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, and will be directed to the Salvation Army.
The funding will support two temporary positions, including a homelessness prevention co-ordinator and a rent bank program specialist, as part of a Homelessness Prevention Project running from April 2026 to March 2027.
Officials say the program is designed to identify individuals at risk of losing housing and provide short-term financial assistance to help prevent homelessness.
The funding marks the second round of support under the federal initiative for the Wood Buffalo region. In December 2025, the municipality received earlier funding which helped create additional housing placements and support roles aimed at reducing homelessness.
The Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund is part of a broader $45-million national program intended to support data-driven approaches to homelessness prevention across Canada. The initiative is tied to the federal government’s Reaching Home strategy, which includes a $1-billion commitment announced in Budget 2024.
Municipal officials say the latest funding will help maintain continuity of homelessness services and strengthen local capacity to respond to housing challenges
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