The Mustard Seed Street Ministry still plans to rebuild Mountain Aire Lodge, three years after it burned to the ground west of Sundre.
The Calgary-based non-profit Christian organization, which reported this week it was having financial difficulties, is still looking at rebuilding as part of an overall look at the operations. In July 2008, a blaze ripped through the restaurant, gas station and convenience store.
The cost to rebuild at the time was estimated at $600,000.
Mountain Aire Lodge is where clients who are homeless come to the rustic setting to work on the grounds and to rehabilitate from addictions.
Mustard Seed spokeswoman Alyssa Burnham said on Thursday that trailers were put up following the fire and are still in use. They are serving as the main business locations.
“We’re using the trailers while we develop a concrete plan for the future,” Burnham said. “The question of rebuilding the lodge are still part of the discussions.” Burnham said the building delay is actually an opportunity for Mustard Seed.
“We took this winter to scale back operations and take a look at how this facility could best be used to help the women and men we serve,” Burnham said.
When the fire took place, there were 25 people staying at the site. Currently, there are five clients on site who are learning different employment skills.
Burnham said there had been more clients earlier because they were involved in renovating the motel.
Mustard Seed continues to run six campgrounds in the area.
The Mustard Seed is about $330,000 behind in its fundraising efforts in Calgary, and must raise another $200,000 by the end of August. It’s also experiencing a money lag in Edmonton as well. These shortfalls in operating dollars aren’t affecting Mountain Aire plans, Burnham said.
“We’re certainly not at the place right now where we’re looking at cutting back any of our programs,” she added.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com