Shelter gets 15-month extension as wait for permanent site drags into 2024

It remains unknown if by that time shovels will be in the ground for a permanent shelter, $7 million for which was first announced by the NDP government in 2019, then again by the UCP once it took over that spring.

“Decisions around shelter in our community are always complex and challenging,” said Mayor Johnston following the decision. “The temporary shelter plays an integral role in meeting the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness in our community while we continue our efforts on the development of a future purpose-built integrated shelter.”

Johnston went on to say the City knows the community is not entirely aligned when it comes to decisions on shelter and homelessness, but they are trusting that the Strategic Plan will help council find the best solution for community health and well-being.

Speaking with rdnewsNOW, Johnston agreed it is extremely disappointing and frustrating to not be able to give the community more definitive answers on the permanent shelter by the end of 2023.

“We have approved a site as council, and negotiations around that site continue. It’s a huge factor, in terms of determining suitability, the price, its connectivity and traffic flow,” he says. “With the funding commitment of $7 million, I think that needs to be looked at due to inflation, and there are still some things which need ironing out, but the positive piece is we have a place to negotiate on.”

The site has been the subject of many in-camera (private) sessions of council over the last many months, while temporary shelter and site exceptions have been on council agendas for several years.

Meantime, the operator of the temporary shelter, Safe Harbour, led by Kath Hoffman, is business as usual, with around 180 people coming and going every day and night.

Hoffman says Safe Harbour has applied to the province for funding to make safety upgrades at the temporary shelter which would include dividing the shelter into two separate spaces for people who are there to sleep, and others who are awake. The dollars would also add showers, of which there are only two — Hoffman notes this isn’t nearly enough to serve almost 200 people daily.

“There’s a precariousness to council’s decision. It’s certainly better than the three-month extensions we’ve had in the past, though the last extension was for two years. But it can affect some things like funding if the province wants to say that we’re only going to be here for 15 months for sure,” she explains.

“The province hopefully does recognize though, like we do, that in 15 months, it’s not like we’ll have another place to be. Ideally, council could’ve said we can just be here until a permanent solution is in place. We’d still be tied to the conditions of the development permit.”

Hoffman also shares that overdoses within the shelter have skyrocketed from 168 in 2022, to 436 through 11 months of this year.

“It goes to show what’s happening not just in our community, but across the country,” she says, also noting that their 20-bed detox program is the only one in the city, and that it’s under more pressure now that prospective clients of the Red Deer Dream Centre and provincially-funded Red Deer Recovery Community are expected to detox before entering the respective programs.

“In the end, we’ve been waiting 12 years for this permanent shelter. Not being able to let the community know it’s finally in place, it’s the elephant in the room, and it’s adding to the anxiety, frustration and worry the community has.”

One attendee of the public hearing said, ‘Just tell us where it is,’ Hoffman recalls.

“Even though the land use bylaw had nothing to do with the permanent site, of course it is all connected. The community is tired of waiting and it’s unfortunate they couldn’t have it straightened out before we had to go through this process.”

Hoffman says when a permanent shelter is built, she expects Safe Harbour to be the operator.

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, The Mustard Seed, which also offers limited bed space for those experiencing homelessness, says it is actively pursuing housing options in Red Deer.

“The project [we recently announced] in Grande Prairie is the result of a contract between the city and the province and we are coming in as program providers,” says Katie Kitschke, Senior Director Affordable Housing & Property Management. “There are currently no options in Red Deer for this type of project, but we are in constant conversation with the city and the province and the federal government about future housing projects in Red Deer.”

In our coverage last week, Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services press secretary Heather Barlow, also provided comment, saying, “In April 2019, Alberta’s government made a capital commitment of $7 million to fund the construction of a new integrated shelter in Red Deer, which would receive operational funding from the province once zoning was determined. The City of Red Deer is responsible for providing an appropriately zoned site from which to build and operate this shelter.”

The development permit for the shelter extension, which begins Feb. 1, 2024, comes back to council next week.

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by Josh Hall | @Vancan19

Shelter gets 15-month extension as wait for permanent site drags into 2024

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