(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Alessia Proietti

One year update

Red Deer says temporary shelter mitigation strategies showing effectiveness in Railyards

Feb 7, 2023 | 12:04 PM

The City of Red Deer says their temporary shelter mitigation strategies have been effective after one year of implementation in the Railyards neighbourhood.

Administration updated city council at their meeting on Monday, stating they will not be recommending any new strategies but continuing on their efforts for another year as directed.

In January 2022, council approved $513,600 for two years of mitigation strategies following the extension of the temporary shelter services at Cannery Row (5239 53 Ave). The goals were to address concerns by locals in the area such as reducing garbage, helping businesses experiencing vandalism and providing a contact of support, and improving the property design of the temporary shelter to reduce “undesirable patterns of behaviours”.

READ: Red Deer city council approves temporary shelter development permit and mitigation strategies fund

Kristin Walsh, Manager of Safe & Healthy Communities for the City, said feedback has shown the strategies have had an overall positive effect, particularly the Downtown Business Association’s (DBA) Clean Team, RCMP efforts, and overnight security.

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Figure 4.1: “Impacts on Frequency: Monthly Comparisons”. (Red Deer city council February 6 meeting agenda p. 91)

In October 2022, the report says 494 needles were removed, alongside 62 bins of litter, each weighing around 50 lbs, and 15 large items such as bikes and home furnishings.

Respondents of the DBA’s monthly email survey frequently said that loitering was the most occurring issue experienced while theft of a motor vehicle was the least, with many categories decreasing in October and November.

READ: Red Deer sees decrease in almost all categories of crime in third quarter

Figure 3.1 “Frequency by Month” (Red Deer city council February 6 meeting agenda p.90)

However, the City says businesses are showing signs of “engagement fatigue” from frequent surveys and are decreasing in responsiveness. For 2023, Walsh says administration will resort to more quarterly in-person reporting.

The report states that the Social Diversion Team responded to 423 events in the first quarter of 2022, from January through March, with 215 “warm handoffs” which include taking an individual to the daytime shelter as the main choice, followed by providing a basic need, addiction support and more. In Q2, April through June, 558 events were responded to with 225 warm handoffs and in Q3, July through September, 516 events were responded to with 176 warm handoffs.

According to the City’s update, the main cause of events was homelessness with the leading referral source of the events from the general public.

READ: Social Diversion pilot successful, but lots of room to grow

Walsh also said site improvements were made to the temporary shelter such as added benches, tables, permanent fencing, new waste containers, a sea can for overnight storage of personal items, and signage. She says encampments were removed with “very little conflict” and no recurrences have appeared since September.

City administration said the Graffiti and Vandalism Grants have been well received by Railyards businesses; however, changes would be required in Q1 of 2023. Out of $50,000 made available in August 2022, nine out of just 11 applications have been approved with only $2,214.16 distributed.

Walsh says the City will consider increasing the geographic eligibility as businesses outside the neighbourhood have suffered similar vandalism. She says they will also consider increasing the current fund amount of $500 per incident and allowing applicants to apply up to three times per year rather than two.

She says the Safe Walk Program has been one of the only strategies that has shown no interest from the public.