New Lethbridge shelter operator developing positive relationships

By Lethbridge Herald on April 26, 2023.

Workers clean mats in a sleeping area earlier this week at the Lethbridge Shelter Wellness and Stabilization Centre. Herald photo by Alejandra Pulido-Guzman

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Lethbridge Wellness Shelter and Stabilization Centre has been in operation for almost four months under the Blood Tribe Department of Health and shelter coordinator Tim Heavyshields says it has been an exciting and successful venture so far. 

“We’ve established great partnerships with such stakeholders in the community as the Lethbridge Police Service, Fire and EMS and Alberta Health Services. We have re-established a lot of those partnerships and working relations as far as working with the marginalized population of Lethbridge so it’s been really positive just reconnecting with those folks,” said Heavyshields. 

He said going forward they are working in a more positive light, and they look forward to further positive relationships working with them.

“As far as our shelter operations go, our stabilization side has been open for approximately a month-and-a-half, and presently we are working with 27 beds towards addiction recovery,” said Heavyshields. 

He said they also have developed a great relationship with their shelter guests and have received positive feedback from them. 

“They have obviously been accommodating with all the changes and they’ve been really good about it, and we’ve had great feedback almost all the time (about) just how clean our facility has been, organized and structured amongst our working stations throughout the shelter side and overall positive organized feeling in the building,” said Heavyshields. 

He added that as far as stabilization goes, they are looking forward to some partnerships with addictions treatment, detox and treatment programs in Lethbridge and southern Alberta. 

“Those ventures we’re really looking forward to expanding on, and just improving our stabilization program overall,” said Heavyshields.

He said they have established a partnership with Fresh Start Recovery Centre, and it has been a great working relationship thus far. 

Heavyshields added that the beds they have in the stabilization wing are meant to offset wait lists from other detox or addiction programs within the city and the region. 

“A lot of our guests in our stabilization wing are for the most part meant to stay inside. We don’t allow a lot of community outings, we’re more focusing on their maybe detox period, or the overall wellness and health,” said Heavy Shields. 

He said other guests who maybe have moved along a little further in their health, are feeling better and who have received dates for an addiction program, are allowed to leave the shelter. 

“They are a little more community-focused and working with our case managers, who work with them closely around a lot of their plans that they’ve created with our case managers,”said Heavyshields. 

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