The province is now directly funding winter emergency response programs in communities across Alberta including 11 extra beds required at People’s Place shelter.
The city approved $47,000 for the program in March prior to the province’s decision in September to directly fund the program.
The extra beds are available from Nov. 1 to April 30 at the shelter run by Central Alberta’s Safe Harbour Society for Health and Housing.
Mayor Tara Veer said, historically, Red Deer has not received as much funding per capita for emergency shelter as other major urban hubs.
“We certainly will be having future discussions around the need for capital allocations for shelter space in Red Deer. But we’ve started to see some necessary adjustments and responsiveness from the province in terms of providing operational dollars for shelter,” Veer said.
On Monday, city council approved funding recommendations from the Community Housing & Advisory Board that oversees two grant programs to end homelessness in Red Deer: the Homelessness Partnering Strategy grant from the federal government and the Outreach and Support Services Initiative grant from the province.
Funding recommendations included:
- $291,730 to Central Alberta Women’s Outreach Society for the Red Deer Housing Team.
- $437,594 to Bredin Centre for Learning for the PATH program.
- $102,000 to Safe Harbour Society for its co-ordinated entry program.
- $367,257 to Red Deer Native Friendship Society for its housing first and homeless prevention outreach team.
- $96,159 to Shining Mountains Living Community Society for Aboriginal Voices on Housing Network.
- Funding runs until March 31, 2019, for all the programs except for Aboriginal Voices which runs until March 31, 2018.
szielinski@www.reddeeradvocate.com