Lethbridge homeless shelter breaks ground on expansion project
By Lethbridge Herald on July 25, 2024.
Minister Jason Nixon tosses a shovelful of dirt as dignitaries officially break ground on Wednesday for the new project expansion at the Lethbridge homeless shelter.
Herald photo by Justin SibbetJustin Sibbet – LETHBRIDGE HERALD – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Living in the scorching heat and the bitter cold and everything in between, homelessness is a challenge faced by over 400 Lethbridge residents, but an expansion to the homeless shelter aims to reduce the issue.
The provincial government, in conjunction with the City of Lethbridge and Blood Tribe Department of Health, announced Wednesday a new construction project that will see over 100 new beds added to the city shelter. In addition to making the announcement, ground was also broken, officially beginning the construction process.
In February of this year, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the province and Blood Tribe Department of Health to have the Blood Tribe remain in control of the shelter and have this project funded and completed.
Currently the shelter can accommodate around 120 people, but this project will, upon completion, is expected to enable an intake of over 230, according to the government.
The construction is valued at $5.4 million, with $4 million coming from provincial taxpayers and the land, valued at $1.4 million coming from the city. The provincial funding is coming through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program.
Jason Nixon, Alberta’s minister of seniors, community and social services, says this project is a necessary, collaborative effort that will transform or even save lives in southern Alberta.
“We have said ‘this is what we are going to accomplish as a community’ and we laid out a path to be able to make sure that took place,” said Nixon.
He says his upbringing of being raised by his father Patrick Nixon, founder of the Mustard Seed in Calgary, has enabled him to better understand what challenges face homeless shelters.
“My brother (former minister of seniors, community and social services Jeremy Nixon), and I grew up in the Mustard Seed in Calgary, we grew up in homeless shelters,” said Nixon. “We understood the operation of homeless shelters very, very well.”
He says, when he took over his current cabinet role, he knew he had to continue building upon the foundation laid out by his brother before him.
“I saw what my brother saw, as soon as I got here,” said Nixon. “Something that was very special and a way that we could focus on working together in a very different way, particularly in partnership with our Indigenous nations.”
He says this “true government to government” work will yield better results, not only in Lethbridge, but Alberta as a whole.
“I believed that this would transform how we did this elsewhere in the province.”
Martin Heavy Head, Blood Tribe Department of Health board chair, says this project is encouraging and will help support individuals with drug addiction.
“This project reflects our deep traditional obligation to look after our people, to ensure their wellbeing and to uphold our commitment to standing strong and resilient in the face of substance use disorder.”
He says the construction will help those who truly need it, including Indigenous people.
“This expansion will enable us to increase our shelter capacity to provide a safe haven for those in need.”
Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen says this project is creating more than just a building with a few beds.
“This is not only a shelter, it’s a resource centre,” affirmed Hyggen multiple times.
He says the shelter is currently a multi-operational centre, but this expansion will continue the work to grow and continue moving in a proactive way.
“We’ve heard many folks that have been given opportunities to enter treatment and to other things that have happened right here in this facility,” said Hyggen. “So, it’s not that it’s not happening now, but there’s so much more to go. We can always be better with everything we do and I can see that happening.”
The project is set to be mostly completed by the start of December, though “the finishing touches” will come in January. However, the steel structure will be heated and ready to start accepting people before Christmas, according to Robin James, CAO of the Lethbridge Housing Authority.
24-23
If you double the space, the problems on our streets will double, if not triple! Tangible evidence of this in a number of States and across the US. Businesses in the city’s center should be prepared for an increase in crime. Can we use water cannons? 🙂
Well is this the community care campus of which when asked about this a couple of years ago at a council meeting – Rempel and Campbell sheepishly denied any definite knowledge of? How many years in the works do you think this move was? If it was 2-3 blocks from Hyggen’s, Rempel’s etc. house I wonder if they would have voted to make this direct control? Direct control takes the political heat off of council and puts it on admin’s lap. The council many of which want fulltime so they can make more than 90,000 per year ,that they are currently making. What for? What do we need a council for? Anyone can cut ribbons for a lot less than 90,000 a year. A number of them are a complete fraud who will say anything or give anything other than a transparent answer to a sticky question that they want no part of answering. Anything but being transparent and accountable.
Much thanks to you Montreal13 for helping us to remember the Community Care Campus residents regected, yet Council continues building.
I would be cautious what you bring to light or you could be censored and banned as ewingbt has been. A warrior for our city has been silenced by the Herald, pressured by government.
Several of us who supported ewingbt, as a group, have decided to refrain from making any further comments on the Herald because we believe that public opinion should not be influenced by government censorship.
Keep up the good fight!
True RU!
The winners – organized crime, politicians, certain non-profits
The losers – addicts who lose their lives on our streets, families of the addicts, downtown business, the taxpayer, democracy
ewingbt stood for change. Censorship is more freedom stolen
Pursuitdiver signing off the Herald – 10-7
This will do little to reduce the “issue”, under the current policies and procedures.
In the same compound is a stabilization area. How many beds I don’t know. But having them in the same area (and not out of town ,like a Fresh Start idea) is like asking an alcoholic to go through a bar to get to an AA meeting. Insane! Our city and councilors are supporting and enabling this nonsense. And we keep voting them in. Clicking the repeat button on this stuff is insane.
hmm, great to see the photo opp folks holding shovels. what else would one expect. of course, the very idea of getting any that will use the shelter to contribute is beyond the scope of expectations.
i believe an ages old lesson suggests we appreciate and respect what we get via effort; and, when stuff is always gifted to us, we usually do not appreciate much or respect what we are given nor the effort it might have taken for that gift to materialise.
perhaps more simply put: there is a reason we get paid after we produce, and not before.