Former hotel site helping unhoused transition to new homes
By Lethbridge Herald on July 22, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
One of the biggest challenges for people living in encampments is finding long-term housing and the Lethbridge Housing Authority (LHA) has taken steps to help make the transition easier.
On April 1, 2025 LHA purchased the Superlodge Hotel to use under the Innkeepers Act as a temporary shelter to help them transition into long-term housing.
Robin James, chief executive officer for Lethbridge Housing Authority, says the resource is for those who are ready to make the necessary steps to turn their life around.
“If they’re willing to take part in an intensive case management program and follow the rules, because they are quite strict, then they are able to stay there.”
James adds that there is a nightly fee and the residents must agree to a recovery pathway and having a case manager.
Since its opening, seven residents have been able to graduate and transition into permanent housing, James says while this may not seem like a huge number, every person counts.
“If you can stabilize them, you can move them into permanent housing you’re giving them an opportunity to change their lives.”
She adds while some have not been successful, getting evicted is not a life sentence and when they are ready, the client is more than welcome to try again.
James also emphasizes that this is not a housing first, there are requirements from the clients.
“We do housing readiness, so when individuals are ready to take that next step, when they are committed to a different pathway, then we are prepared to walk alongside them on that pathway.”
With the Superlodge being a 90-unit building, James says it is far too large and expensive to provide the necessary staffing to keep that many residents safe. They currently have funding for 30 residents until March 31, 2026 and if the program proves to be successful the plan is to tear down the hotel and build a more purposeful space.
Along with strict rules, the tenants are also provided skills for life skills, with each of the units having kitchenettes and LHA has partnered with the food banks to help with food security. The facility also hosts life skills training in the evenings.
While one neighbour spoke out against the program on Facebook recently, James says the majority of neighbours are thankful for the work LHA has done.
“We’ve gotten feedback from neighbours (saying) they’re very grateful that it’s us there now, the vibe has changed there (and) it’s significantly quieter.”
James says it is important to be a good neighbour and LHA, which has nearly 1,000 doors throughout the city, blends right into the community.
James also emphasized that the SuperLodge program is to help deal with the encampments in the city by providing those who are living in encampments transition into permanent housing, which can be nearly impossible without a fixed address.
18-17
worth a try…i wonder, though, how much did the city pay for the business? pardon my concern, but given the history of our admins and councils, i get a feeling they overpaid by a good bit…and, did they, again, pay the realtor fee even though they were the buyer?