‘Not manageable’: Mountain Rose Centre responds to changes in provincial shelter funding

The changes are set to take effect July 1. MRWSA says that falls in the middle of its fiscal year, after the shelter’s 2026 operating budget has already been approved and staffing commitments made.

“We recognize that the Ministry of Children and Family Services faces difficult choices in a complex funding environment. However, cuts of this magnitude, on this timeline, are not manageable,” Easton said.

Easton says rising fuel costs have strained the budget at the rural shelter, which regularly transports clients to and from the facility. She also points to increasing grocery costs.

She adds the funding reduction follows a 2025 announcement that a provincial grant would not be renewed, forcing the shelter to reduce capacity from 28 beds to 21.

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After more than a decade without substantial or permanent funding increases, Easton says the shelter has little capacity left to absorb further cuts without reducing services or eliminating positions.

She says the changes could lead to job losses and reduced services for residents of Rocky Mountain House and Clearwater County.

“In a small community, the people we hire are from our community,” Easton said. “That has a trickle-down effect. People lose their jobs and it affects economic growth in our community.”

Despite higher rates and greater severity of gender-based violence in rural communities, Easton argues rural shelters are being disproportionately affected by the funding changes.

She adds distance, transportation barriers and a lack of local support networks mean urban services cannot easily fill the gap left by cuts to rural shelters.

Shelter to lobby government

In response to the changes, MRWSA is asking the public to support efforts to delay implementation of the new funding model until the 2027-28 fiscal year.

Officials say a one-year delay would give organizations such as MRWSA time to identify alternative funding sources, adjust operations responsibly and minimize disruption to their communities.

Funding shift to urban shelters

A release from the Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters (ACWS) acknowledges the province has committed a net increase in shelter funding, but says the additional funding is not being distributed evenly among shelters.

ACWS says the changes disproportionately affect rural shelters and predicts 13 shelters could face a combined funding reduction of about $1 million.

Easton notes the increases are largely going to urban shelters, while rural shelters often deal with higher rates of challenges such as domestic violence.

Like MRWSA, ACWS is asking the province to delay implementation until the next fiscal year.

The council has also launched a public advocacy campaign urging Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton to release the full methodology behind the new funding allocation model.

ACWS executive director Cat Champagne says shelters should not have to depend solely on fundraising, pointing to rural police services as an example of essential public services that receive funding regardless of local population size.

Response from the Government of Alberta

A statement from the Ministry of Children and Family Services, to Pattison Media, says the new program was created in extensive engagement with shelters and sector partners to provide more flexible options for Albertans to access support.

“We understand that some organizations have concerns about the new funding allocation approach,” says Chinenye Anokwuru, press secretary for the ministry.

“We encourage service providers to explore the new funding opportunities available to help expand access to services for Albertans across the province. Our government remains focused on strengthening family violence services and helping more children, individuals and families find safety and support in their healing journey.”

Chinenye notes the government is providing a capital grant of $4 million over three years to support repairs and maintenance at shelters.

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rdnewsNOW has learned that shelters in Red Deer, including CAWES and the Outreach Centre, are not going to see a decrease in funding.

by Jordan Rein | 94.5 Rewind Radio

‘Not manageable’: Mountain Rose Centre responds to changes in provincial shelter funding

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