By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

demand increasing

Women’s Emergency Shelter seeking green light from City to expand

Jan 20, 2020 | 5:46 PM

The Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter (CAWES) is looking to expand, but first they need a rezoning approval from the City of Red Deer.

First reading on the matter was on city council’s Jan. 20 agenda, though they voted 8-1 to table so more community consultation could be completed. The matter must return to council within eight weeks.

Councillor Dianne Wyntjes requested the tabling, noting the importance of making a well-rounded decision.

“It’s a really sad day in our community and many others when we have to build more shelter space,” says Wyntjes, noting the city’s growth. “Our RCMP are responding to domestic violence, and to me it’s linked to community safety, and the health and wellness of our community. We will see what the neighbours say.”

Nonetheless, demand at CAWES has increased dramatically, hence the desire to grow and move from 14 to 30 rooms.

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Shelter admissions spiked 40 per cent between 2015 and 2018. In 2018, CAWES served 461 women and 185 children, but turned away another 1204 women and 1861 children because they were at capacity. Demand for their outreach program has also jumped 198 per cent since 2015.

“CAWES has an Intensive Case Management Team that works with families on an outreach basis to provide safety planning, risk assessment, legal support and ongoing case management,” says Rayann Toner, executive director. “Workers will connect with other sister shelters to see if there is an opportunity for families to be accommodated temporarily until there is room at CAWES.”

Should city council eventually approve rezoning following a public hearing, the non-profit’s expansion — currently in the conceptual stage, Toner says — would happen in two phases.

The first would consist of replacing the current facility, while the second will potentially add small-scale commercial space (ie. massage, salon), and additional affordable transitionary housing on the second floor. Any commercial situated at CAWES would only be allowed to operate as long as the shelter still exists.

Part of the expansion depends on how much land they have. A boost in that aspect could be provided if the City allows CAWES to take over a parcel of City-owned land directly north of its current building.

That would require the demolition or relocation of the 1937-built Scout Hut building, which has sat largely unused since the 1980s. Though the Scout Hut is not designated as a historic resource, and was once the site of a fire, it could be restored for a cost of $150,000 to $400,000. However, reviews done by the City have found significant decay and do not recommend that avenue.

There is also a provision to protect any trees on site should the expansion go ahead.

According to a staff report, rezoning approval would also align with the City’s strategic goals of being a “safe” and “socially responsible” municipality.