Stony Plain issues update on Poverty Reduction Strategy

STONY PLAIN -- The Town of Stony Plain has provided an update on its poverty reduction strategy.

According to the town's latest report, one-in-seven residents of Stony Plain are currently affected by poverty. This comes as Stony Plain's living wage increased to $24.30 per hour last year, and 1,229 residents accessed the food bank. 379 residents were also identified as "housing insecure" through the 2025 Tri-Municipal Region Housing and Service Needs Estimate.

As part of Stony Plain's work through their poverty reduction strategy, the town continues to engage in accessible and direct communication between council and residents, local businesses, organizations, and stakeholders to enhance the understanding of issues, perspective and solutions. In addition, this work continues to evolve through ongoing research and regional collaboration. 

Councillor Justin Anderson says it’s encouraging to see growing awareness and understanding for those who are struggling with poverty and housing insecurity in the municipality.

"Poverty often comes with assumed ideas about why, and where people have come from, and why they've landed in a situation where poverty becomes a lived reality," said Anderson. "Those cost challenges and pressures that residents are facing -- not just in Stony Plain but across the country -- are something that is not going to go away anytime soon." 

In 2025, the Town of Stony Plain identified seven individuals who were unhoused, which is down from 12 in 2022. Meantime, 121 residents were noted as being "at risk of homelessness", which is up from 101 three years prior. 

Through their regional housing program with the City of Spruce Grove, 20 Stony Plain residents to gain stable housing with $16,937 in financial support. This is funded through the Government of Canada's Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy.

Several local organizations also continue to make an impact in the community, including KidSport Parkland, which provided $19,161 to help cover the costs of registration and removing barriers so that 58 kids in Stony Plain could enjoy a season of sports.