(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Process update coming July 18

Red Deer city council approves criteria for ‘Shelter Site Evaluation Matrix’

Jul 5, 2022 | 2:44 PM

Red Deer city council approved a site criteria evaluation matrix for a future permanent shelter at Monday’s meeting.

The City says the matrix will help guide the site selection process for the future shelter.

After three public meetings on June 24, 27 and July 4, Red Deerians saw council work through multiple exercises to determine five criteria, 22 sub-criteria and the weighting assigned to each:

Criteria for the site evaluation matrix (City of Red Deer)

The City explains that the sub-categories identified as ‘general’ represent the remaining points allocated to the overarching site criteria.

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“The [approved] site criteria evaluation matrix will be utilized by administration and city council to inform decisions about the future site of an integrated shelter in Red Deer,” said Lisa Perkins, Acting City Manager. “The process of developing this matrix has been all about our commitment to consider what we heard from the public, honouring the voice of the city council in the development of the matrix and selecting a site for the future integrated shelter.”

Council also adopted a resolution outlining conditions upon which they developed site criteria for the matrix. They say the site criteria are the right criteria if the following are true:

1. Shelter is for those who need short stay emergency housing. There are other services/facilities along the housing spectrum.
2. Shelter is one site.
3. Funding may limit scope.
4. New services have potential to change outcomes.
5. The permanent shelter will be a housing focused delivery model [(Per Council resolution Nov – 21) – GOA confirmed Jan 22]
6. Shelter with wrap around services may not necessarily eliminate the need for those requiring shelter to access external services, to connect with community.
7. There are innovative alternative delivery/service and systems that need to address the diversity of clients and impact on community.
8. The shelter will operate 24/7.
9. The shelter will be designed to provide adequate spaces for short time stays that honour the dignity of each person.
10. There is a recognition and advocacy for the ongoing housing (eg. PSH & Affordable Housing) needs.
11. Council will continue to have discussions with the Provincial Government on future Overdose Prevention Services/Supervised Consumption Services.
12. A good neighbour policy will be developed.
13. Community agencies are supportive of an integrated model and willing to work collaboratively towards this.
14. The shelter would integrate or operate as many related services on site as reasonably possible.

“While the decision in front of city council in the immediate future pertains specifically to site, we also know there are many conversations to be had with the Province of Alberta about other aspects of shelter including, but not limited to, shelter design, operations and service delivery,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “We look forward to continued collaboration with our provincial colleagues as we work in partnership to ensure a safe place for our vulnerable citizens to access required services on their journey to permanent housing, which is beneficial for the whole community.”

Council resolved that administration will begin preparing a list of possible sites alongside a commercial realtor, with Mayor Johnston and the current deputy mayor providing council perspective.

Administration is to return to council on July 18 to share an update about the site selection process.

For more information on the shelter project process, visit www.reddeer.ca/shelter.

Citizens and community partners can also receive email updates on the shelter project by subscribing with The City.

READ MORE: Criteria for Red Deer’s permanent shelter defined, approval to come July 4