The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is the national professional insttiute and certification body for the planning profession in Canada.  Similar to other professional organizations, it promotes innovation and creativity in the planning profession through their annual Awards for Excellence.

The Award for Excellence in Social Planning was presented to the City of Prince Albert's Planning Department for the Prince Albert Community Action Plan on Homelessness and Housing at the CIP's annual conference in July 2005 in Calgary, Alberta. The Community Action Plan has since been updated by the 2007 Community Action Plan on Homelessness and Housing.

Realizing the need for an informative housing resource, the community of Prince Albert created a community action plan for addressing homelessness and affordable housing issues in the City.  The action plan outlines the local housing issues and service agency gaps that exist and provides a priority list for action that serves as a guide to community groups and agencies alike in their efforts to address housing-related issues in the city.

The project team applied a Community Development framework to the development of the Action Plan.  An inclusive community participation process was used to encourage input from a wide variety of local citizens and agencies, including homeless people and those at risk.  As a result, an in-depth understanding of the local issues was documented and agencies that had not previously been involved in affordable housing have become involved.

The process used to develop the Action Plan, as well as the document itself, has had an immediate and significant impact on the community.  In the long-term, however, it is hoped that the study will lead to a better understanding of the community's housing issues and, consequently, to the implementation of more effective housing solutions.

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) is the national professional insttiute and certification body for the planning profession in Canada.  Similar to other professional organizations, it promotes innovation and creativity in the planning profession through their annual Awards for Excellence.

The Award for Excellence in Social Planning was presented to the City of Prince Albert's Planning Department for the Prince Albert Community Action Plan on Homelessness and Housing at the CIP's annual conference in July 2005 in Calgary, Alberta. The Community Action Plan has since been updated by the 2007 Community Action Plan on Homelessness and Housing.

Realizing the need for an informative housing resource, the community of Prince Albert created a community action plan for addressing homelessness and affordable housing issues in the City.  The action plan outlines the local housing issues and service agency gaps that exist and provides a priority list for action that serves as a guide to community groups and agencies alike in their efforts to address housing-related issues in the city.

The project team applied a Community Development framework to the development of the Action Plan.  An inclusive community participation process was used to encourage input from a wide variety of local citizens and agencies, including homeless people and those at risk.  As a result, an in-depth understanding of the local issues was documented and agencies that had not previously been involved in affordable housing have become involved.

The process used to develop the Action Plan, as well as the document itself, has had an immediate and significant impact on the community.  In the long-term, however, it is hoped that the study will lead to a better understanding of the community's housing issues and, consequently, to the implementation of more effective housing solutions.