Last summer and fall, community organizations serving people who are homeless met to develop a plan aimed at helping people without homes survive the coming winter. Their goals were to reduce the risk of being homeless and advance the collective response to the growing number of people unable to access market housing, supported and transitional housing or shelter and intervention services. The resulting Winter Emergency Response Plan was prepared for the Edmonton Joint Planning Committee on Housing and Homelessness and was endorsed by Edmonton City Council on October 30. The plan encompassed a tapestry of services intended to enhance supports for people without homes, with a view to increasing their wellbeing and ultimately their ability to secure and maintain a home. Emergency elements of the plan included 400 additional mats at emergency shelters in the inner city, the operation of warming centres, the deployment of a van to provide direct service to homeless people on the street and the hiring of a winter plan coordinator. Funding for these elements was provided by the Government of Alberta and the Edmonton Housing Trust Fund. The purpose of this report is to review the plan's effectiveness, highlight what worked well this winter, identify areas that need additional attention and provide suggestions for the future. (abstract from the document)