The Buffalo Hotel in downtown Red Deer

By Sheldon Spackman

Housing First

New era coming for Red Deer’s supportive housing program

Aug 16, 2019 | 11:01 AM

Residents of The Buffalo Apartments in downtown Red Deer will soon be on the move.

Christine Stewart, executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Red Deer branch which provides 24-hour staffing for the building’s residents who were either previously homeless or struggling with addictions, says those living in the Buffalo’s 39 units will be moving into the 48-unit, soon-to-be-renovated Econo Lodge Inn and Suites located at 4124 Gaetz Avenue for November 1.

“We’re trying to make all of our rules and everything as similar as possible so that it’s not too stressful for the tenants there to make this change,” says Stewart. “The rooms are almost double in size so the tenants are very excited about that piece. There is a little more space, there’s a commercial kitchen in there, a huge meeting area, more opportunity for life skills work and a little more privacy for the tenants.”

Stewart says their waitlist specific to homelessness went from about 90 people last year to 30 this year, good news for the Buffalo’s ‘housing first’ philosophy, but notes a list of roughly 400 people currently waiting for low-income or affordable housing options in Red Deer.

“Then there’s also kind of 14 other stand-alone units at the backside,” adds Stewart. “Those won’t be part of the Buffalo exactly but the plan will be to make those low-income housing for people as well, separate from our program. So that’s going to be a huge addition to the community.”

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

Apr 04, 2026

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

In order to live at The Buffalo, Stewart says potential residents have to go through their coordinated access prioritization committee, something she describes as being combined of all the community’s housing programs for those who have been homeless for at least three months.

“Then we figure out what the best housing program is for each individual,” she explains. “At the Buffalo it’s not a group home, it’s an apartment building. Everyone pays their own rent and has their own rules they have to follow in that apartment building just as any lease.”

Stewart says staff are there to help enforce boundaries for the residents.

“Guest management, medication reminders,” she continues. “Because once you’ve lived on the street for a while, there are things you need a reminder to get back into the habit of. Anyone that has extreme mental illness or really struggling with addiction, they’re there for support as well.”

As moving day approaches, Stewart says it’s important to acknowledge the help Potter’s Hands Developments has given them, as the organization owns and rents-out the apartments at The Buffalo.

“We’ve been really grateful to them,” exclaims Stewart. “It’s been a long haul having us in there as tenants. They have been very patient when rent doesn’t get paid and there’s been a lot of perks working with them, so we’re very grateful for all that they’ve done.”

Seth Schalk, manager at Potter’s Hand’s Developments, says it has yet to be determined what will happen with The Buffalo after the current tenants move out.

“It’s been renovated, so it will likely stay some kind of housing at this point,” says Schalk. “We’re not 100 per cent sure how that’s going to look but that’s the most likely route it would go. But we are open to suggestions. We’re even open to selling it for the right price if someone was interested in the land or knocking it down or something.”

Schalk anticipates those decisions to be made sometime after The Buffalo’s current residents move out.

“It’s been an integral part of our city for almost 130 years now,” says Schalk. “I don’t know if its seen its last days or if it still has some more life in it but we’re going to see that in the next coming months, I think.”