The fourth site Red Deer city council considered for a permanent homeless shelter project has fallen through after 10 months of negotiations.
Council previously never revealed its location, but now says it was in the northeast part of the city.
On Monday, the city released a statement saying this site is no longer on the table. Mayor Ken Johnston said city council ceased negotiating with the private landowner this week, in part, because the proposed site is too expensive to take on.
“The site was determined to be cost prohibitive, based on currently committed provincial funds. The size of the site, servicing required, and environmental factors all contributed to the financial constraints, making the site unviable,” a release from the city stated.
City council next plans to go back to the province, which has committed $7 million for the shelter project, “to talk about a way forward.”
Mayor said this time council wants the province to fully share its vision and operating model for a future permanent shelter before any more sites are investigated.
A discussion is needed about what kind of shelter will be built, and for how many clients? Also, what kind of services will it offer, and who will be the operator, he added.
The city expects an integrated shelter, with onsite services for housing and mental health. But the province has not released details of what exactly it intends to build, including what kind of on-site programs, dining or recreational facilities will be offered, added Johnston.
He feels this is necessary information so council can determine where it the shelter can fit.
“We, as a city council, want to know what services a future permanent shelter might include. We want to know who it will serve. We want to know how it will be integrated into our community.”
Johnston stressed this is “1,000 per cent a provincial project,” which the city only getting input on location.
Although this week’s set back sends the entire process back to the drawing board — which Johnston said is “frustrating,” he added council will continue to do everything possible to work with the province to develop a shelter that “acknowledges the needs of all in our city.”
The proposed site in the northeast was initially supported by the province and negotiations started with the landowner last May.
On Monday, council accepted a report on the shelter site, which was discussed in camera, and then released a public statement that the latest location will not work, after all.
Over 130 potential shelter sites have so far been considered by council, with four formally put forward to the province for consideration:
The first site in Railyards was opposed by many downtown businesses, the second site at the north end of Red Deer and was not supported by the province due to incompatibility with nearby amenities, the third site, located in south Red Deer was set aside when the owner refused to sell.
“We know this is disheartening…. (we) hoped we might already have shovels in the ground for a new permanent shelter in Red Deer,” said Johnston. But developing a shelter “in the right place in the right way is important work, and we want to ensure we are aligned in our vision and approach.”
Meanwhile, Red Deer’s homeless population is growing. According to Red Deer’s Point in Time (PIT) Count, held in the fall of 2022, the number of persons experiencing homelessness in the city increased to 334 in 2022 from 144 in 2018, confirming local outreach staff expectations that the number of people experiencing homelessness is increasing.
The temporary shelter at former Cannery Row Bingo can continue to operate in its current location at 5239-53 Ave. until May 1, 2025 and now will likely need to apply for another extension.
For more information on the future shelter project, visit www.reddeer.ca/shelter.