Edmonton is considered the frostbite capital of the world. In 2024, the city reported a record-breaking 110 amputations from frostbite, with 58 percent of those cases affecting unhoused people. The rise in frostbite amputations has been attributed to Edmonton's aggressive encampment eviction policy and insufficient frostbite treatment protocol. Hypothermia and accidental fires started in makeshift attempts to get warm are common causes of death for unhoused Edmontonians.

Recent inflation and low vacancy rates have provided cover for corporate landlords to put their thumbs on the scale to jack up the rents. Demovictions and renovictions have ejected people from their homes to make way for higher-paying clientele. Corporate landlords like Boardwalk and Avenue Living collectively own about half of Edmonton's rental market, and they have implemented aggressive rent hikes to maximize profits. Last year, corporate landlord ARH Holdings imposed a 200 percent rent hike at the Annamoe Mansion in central Wîhkwêntôwin, one of Edmonton's oldest residential neighbourhoods. "It's basically, 'Read between the lines. Get out. We're going to force you out by rent increase rather than just a flat eviction,'" said one resident.

One-fifth of the Alberta legislature (18 of 87 MLAs) and nearly half of Alberta MPs (15 of 37 MPs) are private landlords. In 2023, 36 percent of Alberta MLAs and 48 percent of MPs were invested in the real estate industry. Conflicts of interest are also created by the re-introduction of corporate campaign donations into Alberta politics and the revolving door between political and lobbying careers. Even Edmonton's local elections are influenced by developers who want multi-million dollar subsidies to expand the housing market.