Red Deer's temporary shelter will continue to operate at the same location for an additional two years.
Following a public hearing on Monday, Dec. 2, the city council approved proposed zoning bylaw changes related to the Safe Harbour Society's existing temporary shelter at 5239 53 Ave., as well as the organization's detoxification centre and overnight shelter.
One of the approved amendments extends the continued operation of the temporary shelter to May 2027 — this temporary facility has been open since March 2020 and had been granted permission to remain there until May 2025 under a sunset clause. This amendment also includes an expansion of the site exception to add emergency shelter as a use. Also, it removes the regulation restricting the site exception to Unit 4. These additional amendments support the development of a warming space in the existing building.
"From a pragmatic sense, this was a decision that we had to make in the context of the existing bylaw having about six months of shelf life on it," said Mayor Ken Johnston.
"I thought council landed in a good place, balancing the concerns of the community while also allowing Safe Harbour and its team to make those imprints that they want."
The other approved amendments are:
— The expansion of the detoxification centre and overnight shelter at 5246 53 Ave. This amendment also includes an update changing the defined use to Temporary Care Facility to align with the definitions in the new Zoning Bylaw.
— The removal of supervised consumption and associated use permissions from Lot 14 Block 4 Plan 8420286 at 5233 54 Ave., which is the formerly approved but unused supervised consumption site.
Perry Goddard, Safe Harbour Society executive director, said there's plenty the nonprofit organization can accomplish over the next two years.
"We're already starting," he said.
"We've got recovery coaches in (the shelter) — we've trained 10 or staff as recovery coaches too. We're changing how we operate internally. We're expanding some of our programs, like the Indigenous program and Wellbriety. We've got a bigger presence in the shelter to help people move forward in their journey. We're starting to restructure and reprogram based on the changing needs and requirements. It's changing constantly, so we've got to change too."
A number of community members spoke during the public hearing, including members of the Red Deer business community.
Tracy Chabot, a property owner and downtown business advocate, said while she sympathizes with people experiencing homelessness and suffering from addiction, she does not believe the Railyards neighbourhood is the right location for a shelter.
"I don't want the business community to be left out," said Chabot.
"Even if it was permanent, I think it's a terrible location (for a shelter). There's so much retail and vehicle traffic in that area. ... It's terrible for the business community and their patrons.
"I am absolutely horrified to think the province and city will be kicking this can down the road, or even worse, place the permanent shelter in what I consider to be a horrific spot under the guise of extensions. If the recovery model works as it should, there should be far less need for a footprint as large as the temporary shelter currently has."
Debby Schalifour, lead safety advisor with Prairie Bus Line, expressed concern regarding safety in the area. (Prairie Bus Lines is located next to the temporary shelter.)
"We have had nothing but problems for months," Schalifour said.
"In the mornings, we have to make sure our facility is safe for our workers to come to."
Schalifour noted somebody stole a bus on Prairie Bus Line property a month ago. The bus was later recovered in Springbrook.
"There have been multiple times where drivers come in the morning, they go to their buses and then come get me because somebody broke into the buses," she said.
"Myself, the driver and two shop guys will go out to the bus and we'll open the back door. We use that back door as a shield because we don't know if there's somebody in that bus. We don't know if they possibly have a gun or a knife. That's what we endure to have to do our jobs."
Goddard acknowledged that Safe Harbour Society needs to do more to support surrounding businesses.
"We have to work more closely with them and we have to provide more supports to them," he said.
"We're fully committed to figuring out new ways to connect with those around us."
Christine Carter, a Parkvale resident who has worked as a psychiatrist and provided mental health and addictions care to clients in Edmonton for the past 14 years, spoke in favour of the amendments.
"The people being served by these service providers (such as Safe Harbour Society) are the very most vulnerable people in our society and the most vulnerable citizens in the City of Red Deer," said Carter.
"Although it's very disturbing to see the crime, the disorder and the public nuisance, we have to remember that these are all symptoms of much more complex problems: systemic oppression, systemic racism, trauma. ... It's not pretty to see these things, but we need to see them because they point to the fact that we need to keep working on solutions."
In addition to approval of the zoning bylaw Amendment on Dec. 2, Red Deer council previously approved a development permit enabling Recovery Alberta to operate a Mobile Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (M-RAAM) Clinic in the parking lot at 5256 53 Ave., where the current overdose prevention site is located. Alberta Health Services applied for the permit, and since the service falls under Health and Medical Services, it is a permitted use, requiring no additional zoning adjustments. The OPS will ramp down and transition out between December 2024 and March 2025, with the M-RAAM replacing the current OPS.
