Housing authority tasked with helping to end homelessness
By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on March 15, 2023.
When it comes to Lethbridge and the issues that arise here, it is important to stay informed and in the loop.The Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown BRZ, and City of Lethbridge are working together to bring monthly education sessions to the public related to safety, security and community issues.
Located in Casa’s Community Room, the monthly talks are aimed towards businesses and non-profit organizations located in the downtown, addressing the need for more information and education about initiatives that impact their operations.
On Tuesday, the Downtown Safety Education and Information Session hosted Robin James, CAO with the Lethbridge Housing Authority who spoke about the housing continuum and the stages it takes to go from homeless to housed.
“We are hoping to bring some educational material and perspective on what we are moving towards for the city of Lethbridge in a housing continuum,” said James.
Speaking about initiatives, James had good news to share with those in attendance.
“Starting April 1, we will become the community-based organization tasked to end homelessness,” said James.
“It is our goal to do far more with this community consultation than we have ever in the past, and create a community-based advisory committee and start creating a Lethbridge strategy within the realm of a housing continuum.”
This news follows the announcement James made on Monday that the Lethbridge Housing Authority is receiving an increase of $466,000 to its rental assistance benefit for the 2023-2024 budget, with an included one-time funding of $586,000 to support the communities they serve with rental assistance.
The housing continuum is a range of housing types available in a community from homelessness to home ownership. The continuum starts at homelessness and progresses to emergency shelters, transitional housing, supportive housing, community housing, market housing and finally home ownership.
“We are really hoping that we can start putting more supportive housing into our city and various locations,” said James.
“The more people that can understand what is required for people to successfully transition through the continuum, and for them to be able to come out on the other side as a successful tenant, they need to have the various steps in place.”
James noted the importance of guiding people through the continuum process, and how that spectrum needs more options outside of affordable housing.
“We heard it a lot politically, ‘we need more affordable housing, we need more.’ But actually, what we need if we want to make a dent in this community and in our downtown context, is transitional and supportive housing. That is where we are lacking,” said James. “The reality is the best way to transition people, and for them to be successful, is for them to be able to transition to a continuum.
“We can work together to ensure everyone in Lethbridge who is experiencing homelessness can have a goal of tomorrow looking a little bit better than today looks,” said James. 2
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