Wanda Essex, who first moved into the Buffalo Hotel two years ago, says she hopes her stay at Amethyst House can lead to bigger and better things personally. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

"a stepping stone"

Amethyst House a fresh start for permanent housing in Red Deer

Jan 17, 2020 | 5:01 PM

Wanda Essex, 55, first moved into the Buffalo Hotel in March 2018, but now calls Amethyst House home.

Amethyst House (4124 50 Ave) is the new 48-unit permanent supportive housing complex operated by the Canadian Mental Health Association on the outskirts of downtown Red Deer; it had its grand opening on Friday, and replaces the aged Buffalo on Ross Street.

Formerly the Econo Lodge Inn, the repurposed motel is a tad comfier, says Essex, who moved in just over a month ago.

“I’m very grateful. There are a few people I’ve seen on the street recently who should take advantage of this,” says Essex, who’s been clean for three years and lived in Red Deer for 20. She used drugs for the bulk of her life since turning 14 in her home province of Ontario.

“This place is cleaner (than the Buffalo), there aren’t mice running through your stuff, and some of the repairs there were a little shabby.”

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The Amethyst’s rooms are about twice as large, and for $530/month, tenants get a room with cable TV, access to free laundry, and that’s not to mention the smorgasbord of extracurricular programming that will be offered in the building’s downstairs.

But after rent, Essex has $300 to live on for the month.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“I would like to use this opportunity as a stepping stone. I’d like to have my own home where I don’t have people screaming and yelling in the hallway and being obnoxious at all hours of the night,” she says. “And I’d like my son to be able to stay with me.”

Some tenants at the Amethyst aren’t sober like Essex is, but do have an understanding that police will attend if needed. Essex shares that her son, now in his 30s, is currently experiencing homelessness in Red Deer, and struggles with addiction.

“Some people could easily pull their socks up and get off the street, but they don’t because they’re so driven by the drugs that they can’t see the bigger picture,” Essex explains when asked what the public doesn’t understand about being street-involved. “Low self-esteem is definitely a factor; you feel like you’re not worth anything. But if you can love yourself, it makes a big difference for a person.”

Christine Stewart, executive director at CMHA Central Alberta, says the dent Amethyst House will put into the issues in (primarily downtown) Red Deer starts with the nine extra rooms.

“Our city’s report stated that we need 90 more units (not just nine). People are homeless for a reason, and we will help with guest management; a lot of people get evicted because they’ve shared their room with too many people,” says Stewart.

“We help when people are feeling suicidal; they’ll have a staff member to speak with at 3 a.m. People aren’t bad, they just can’t stay housed for whatever reason. If people want housing, and not everyone does, let’s find a method to keep them housed long-term.”

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

Amethyst House’s basement features a work-out room which will be used for other activities including chair yoga, movie nights and paint nights. There is also an ongoing tenant cooking event and a breakfast club, as well as cultural programming for Indigenous tenants.

Stewart says her biggest would be for investors to come forward and assist with the capital costs of expanding so they could house more people.

There are currently more males than females at Amethyst House, and the minimum age is 18. All 39 tenants who were at the Buffalo are now living at the new centre.

It has been dubbed Amethyst House because the amethyst stone is seen as having protective properties which heal the mind from negativity.