Inside the Safe Harbour temporary shelter at the Cannery Row building in Red Deer. (File photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

another temporary lifeline granted

Safe Harbour shelter gets 4-month extension, not proposed year

May 26, 2021 | 8:45 PM

The temporary homeless shelter in Red Deer’s Railyards area can stay for another another four months.

City council spent over five hours on Tuesday listening to concerned citizens during a public hearing. Deliberations were held Wednesday, with the permit for Safe Harbour Society to operate the shelter at the former Cannery Row building set to expire Monday. It was previously set to expire at the end of March before council gave a two-month extension with just two days to spare.

The latest proposal was to extend for another year, as city administration said earlier this month that not only was the current location most viable, but it’d be virtually impossible to find a new site in such a short timeframe.

Once enough councillors expressed opposition to the one-year extension, Mayor Tara Veer proposed the four-month option.

“No matter where we put (a shelter), there will be adjacent residential areas and businesses … and there will be impacts. We’re looking for a perfect solution … but it doesn’t exist. The best we can do is find ways to balance out everyone’s concerns,” suggested Veer.

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“I agree that as a community, we haven’t necessarily gotten this right. We’re seeing the consequences of a longstanding infrastructure deficit in our city. Our community is impatient with us, they’ve lost trust and they’re frustrated. The permanent shelter is coming but we need to do more in terms of mitigation.”

Councillor Ken Johnston spoke in favour of the one-year extension, saying hope can’t be obtained at the expense of another group.

“Losing the shelter will not restore hope, and frankly neither will extending it,” he remarked. “We’ve attempted to legislate, regulate and condition it, and we need to because those are the pragmatic things to do. But now we’re introducing, by way of mitigation, an opportunity which was spoken of many times Tuesday. Here’s an opportunity for dialogue, respect and trust, which (must) include members of our own council.”

Mitigation strategies include increased security, permanent fencing, a community liaison position, outdoor seating, additional lighting, a contract with the Downtown Business Association for enhanced clean-up, and a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessment, all for $41,000.

The City will offer free 2022 business licences to those in Railyards — and a few outside of it — at a municipal cost of $8,500, and there will be a series of community conversations taking place to enhance dialogue.

Other council members were blunt in their assessment of the one-year extension.

“I know this may sound extreme, but I’m at the point where I’d be willing to consider buying a bus ticket to Calgary or Edmonton for individuals in our community who for whatever reason won’t or cannot abide by such simple and basic expectations,” said Councillor Vesna Higham, suggesting better services may be available in those cities.

“We aren’t heartless. I was very moved (last night) and lost sleep over what the best decision is for our community. (We can’t extend) at any and all costs to the rest of our community, and that’s why the status quo can’t continue. We can’t condone a scorched earth approach to providing shelter.”

Councillor Dianne Wyntjes insisted she and anyone opposed to the extension doesn’t represent a lack of compassion or empathy, but a desire to find positive results for a downtown that’s been heavily invested in.

Some noted that with the premier’s announcement about reopening, the need for such a large shelter — chosen for its ability to allow distancing — may cease.

Ahead of Veer’s amendment, councillors Tanya Handley, Buck Buchanan, Higham and Wyntjes stated their opposition. Councillors Johnston and Lawrence Lee said they’d vote in favour.

Handley was the lone dissenting vote on second and third readings, however, once the four-month extension was in play. Councillor Michael Dawe was absent.

Acting City Manager Tara Lodewyk explained what may happen when the four months are up.

“There are several things that can happen and it’ll be a matter of evaluating where we’re at,” Lodewyk said. “One thing administration has committed to is returning with other site locations for a temporary shelter. We did report to council that there are no other places that will lease to us, so the other option is purchasing a building.”

rdnewsNOW will have more this story Thursday.