Council approves funding for supportive housing projects
By Lethbridge Herald on October 3, 2023.
A cyclist passes by in front of the property along 10 Avenue South across from the hospital that has been approved for funding as affordable housing units.
Herald photo by Ian MartensAlejandra Pulido-Guzman – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – apulido@lethbridgeherald.com
Lethbridge City Council has voted in favour of two supportive housing projects in the city worth several million dollars.
Following a session of the Economic Standing Policy Committee earlier Tuesday, councillors passed two items in their regular council meeting, after making some revisions to the amount of money the city could provide.
Two recommendations by city administration to council members for financial support of two proposed supportive housing projects were discussed during SPC meeting and further discussed during council meeting.
The first was a request to provide $850,000 to Streets Alive for a supportive recovery housing project at 925 15 St. S., conditional on securing the balance of project funding on or before Dec. 31, 2024, and the acquisition of a development permit for the project.
The request was made by Andrew Malcolm, general manager of Community Social Development.
The proposal was amended to instead receive $560,000, then passed in SPC with a 7-2 vote. While in regular council meeting, it was further amended to direct that the funding be contingent on receiving provincial funding of at least the same amount, and it was once again passed with a 7-2 vote.
The Streets Alive project involves the purchase of the property, along with rezoning and permit processes, and fees and a renovation or retrofit of the property.
The facility will include eight, two-bedroom units on the second floor and 16 one-bedroom units in a communal living setting on the main floor.
Administration has determined that all 32 spaces would be considered affordable by the city’s definition, which means 30 per cent of a household’s pre-tax income.
Because the project is supportive housing, a separate rezoning process with engagement and a public hearing is required.
Total cost of the project is estimated to be $3 million. A report previously presented says Streets Alive wants to apply for Affordable Housing Partnership Program money from the province to cover 28.3 per cent of the project’s costs with the remainder being provided by other sources.
Money requested from the city are for capital development, not operations of the facility. The city has $5.9 million available to support social and affordable housing projects, says the report.
The second request Tuesday was for council to provide $1.5 million to Concept Investment Partners Ltd. for an affordable housing project; a 50-unit facility with 37 units being considered affordable.
The building, at 1730 10 Ave. S. across from Chinook Regional Hospital, was previously a community living facility.
During the SPC meeting, the amount was amended to $1.295 million before it was passed with a 8-1 vote. While in regular council meeting, it was further amended to reflect that the funding is contingent of receiving provincial funding of at least the same amount and it was once again passed with a 8-1 vote.
The total cost of this project is estimated to be $6.25 million, with the city’s money being used for capital development.
-with files from Al Beeber
19-18
No, no, and No! Another $1.3 million gifted to Streets Alive, to support their ongoing efforts to infiltrate more parts of the City with homeless hangouts. Absolutely ludicrous.
And what happens to the seniors that made that their forever home?
Supportive housing is needed in this city as rent prices continue to rise, unrealistically, but if you think this is going to stop the issues on the streets downtown, you are not understanding the issues.
The people who hang out all night on the streets downtown are all part of the gangs that sell sexual services, drugs, break and enter, damage property, graffiti property, commit other crimes, hang out in business doorways while urinating/defecating in those doorways . . . and leaving their garbage there and will not move from the area because this is the area where they conduct their illegal activities . . . their area of operations. They are all connected. The truly homeless are not on the streets at night committing the crimes!
The only way you will end this is by law enforcement.