Daytime shelter, now set for North Railway, on hold awaiting permit
By Medicine Hat News on April 6, 2021.
A plan to move a daytime homeless shelter to North Railway from downtown, where business owners previously objected to its location, will require a permit approval by the municipal planning commission. The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting shows the shelter, which has grant funding until late September, would be located at 435 N. Railway St., and would be zoned for “government services.” That is a permitted use in the area, and the building was previously used to provide a food program by a separate organization. Administrators note however, that due to the high-profile controversy about the downtown location, they will ask the commission to approve the change of use permit. The item states that approval through the commission will provide greater transparency for nearby properties. In February several Third Street business owners and the City Centre Development Agency successfully argued before a permit appeal board that the storefront near Sixth Avenue was unsuitable for a shelter, and that its presence deterred customers and left staff feeling intimidated. The shelter was created in early January with provincial funding to provide emergency supports to homeless populations during the winter and while pandemic restrictions had closed public and private businesses. It was to be a daytime destination for overnight shelter users during cold weather and provide avenues to other social supports. The shelter is operated by McMan Family, Youth and Community services, while the grant is administered by the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society. Organizers said last week when the location was announced they had begun discussing the issues with business owners on North Railway and they hoped problems or misconceptions could be mitigated. The location was recently the home of the Mustard Seed and Champions Centre food program and men’s day shelter before that group changed locations. 11-10
