By Submitted

$7M for new shelter

Province reaffirms committment to helping Red Deer’s most vulnerable

Feb 24, 2021 | 5:18 PM

Alberta’s government welcomes the opportunity to update residents on the proposed emergency homeless shelter service in their city.

Our mutual objective is to ensure that Red Deer residents have access to a safe, accessible overnight shelter. The Government recognizes that shelter is one component of the homeless-serving system of care. The proposed facility will provide amenities and services, including sober and intoxication emergency shelter beds and spaces, food preparation and services, showers, washrooms, laundry and storage facilities and housing, counselling, health and detox supports.

The shelter and the amenities and services, known as wrap-around supports, will increase the Red Deer community’s capacity to ensure people experiencing homelessness have a safe place to stay, address public safety concerns, social disorder, a growing number of encampments and complaints from local businesses.

Alberta’s government approved $7 million for the project in the 2020 Budget, and established a steering committee to listen to the concerns and input from the community. Local Red Deer MLAs, Minister Adriana LaGrange and Jason Stephan, sit on the committee, along with representatives from the City of Red Deer, Safe Harbour Society, Mustard Seed, Alberta Seniors and Housing, Alberta Community and Social Services, Alberta Health Services, and Red Deer Downtown Business Association.

Committee members offer a wide range of experience and expertise about the needs of vulnerable populations and effective shelter approaches to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness.

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We all share a commitment to addressing community needs including social disorder, economic impacts and the needs of vulnerable citizens.

The new emergency shelter project is now in the planning phase. We are using the design principle that form follows function. In other words, the services offered and the needs of the clients will inform the design and technical requirements of the building.

Late last month the project managers met with MLA Stephan to discuss concerns, and next steps, are as follows:

· Hold a second planning meeting with representatives of community groups and agencies, to validate and confirm client needs and service delivery requirements.

· In early March, we will confirm the service delivery design and begin capital design discussions.

· Also in March we will decide the service delivery approach and establish the operational and capital parameters of the project.

· Concurrently, we are procuring technical consultant services to commence work on the zoning application and building form.

We value the expertise our stakeholders provide, and both the Government of Alberta is committed to working together to ensure this emergency homeless shelter meets the needs of vulnerable populations and those of local businesses and families in our community.

We will continue to provide regular updates and to listen to the concerns of interested parties.

Our collective goal is to support Red Deerians who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, so the community is stronger, homelessness is brief and non-recurring, and fellow citizens have a place to call home.

Seniors and Housing Minister Josephine Pon

Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney

Adriana LaGrange, MLA Red Deer North

Jason Stephan, MLA Red Deer South