NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE The Mustard Seed, that has been operating in Calgary and Edmonton for more than 30 years, is coming to Medicine Hat. The River Park Church building on Allowance Avenue will be one of the locations it will operate out of to help people who are homeless and those living in poverty.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
An organization that has spent more than three decades addressing the needs of those who are homeless and living in poverty in Calgary and Edmonton is coming to Medicine Hat.
Dean Kurpjuweit, executive director of The Mustard Seed in Edmonton, says the focus of the organization is to end homelessness and to reduce poverty in cities where it serves. This is achieved through provision of basic services, support services, housing and spiritual care for those who want it.
“We believe it is a very holistic approach in serving those who come to us as clients,” said Kurpjuweit.
They have been aware of the work done by The Champion Centre on N. Railway Street and the Oasis Cafe held weekly in the River Park church building on Allowance Avenue. He says smaller agencies face challenges with limited capacity and the back-end support necessary to provide services.
The Champion’s Centre and the Oasis Cafe will now be merged under The Mustard Seed with services continuing in both locations.
“We hope we will be able to expand some of the food programming that happens at The Champion’s centre currently,” said Kurpjuweit. “At the church building, where the Oasis Cafe currently exists, we hope to add two things of significance.”
These will include a “wellness centre” that will give clients access to advocates and an opportunity to receive basic medical care. Kurpjuweit envisions volunteers in various health fields providing services.
“The church building is an excellent facility for this to happen,” said Kurpjuweit.
This will also be the location for a “family resource hub” where people can seek help regarding housing, employment and even a meal. For children after school, whose parents will not be home from work for an hour or two, could also go here. Kurpjuweit says they could do some homework, pack their school lunch for the next day and maybe even enjoy some cooking time in a kitchen with volunteers and take supper home for the family that night.
There are no plans to provide a homeless shelter, with the Salvation Army currently doing that, he said.
“At this point there’s not a shelter plan for Medicine Hat,” said Kurpjuweit. “Obviously The Champion Centre currently does provide housing and so we would just continue that along.”
The Mustard Seed is going to depend on donations for its operation.
“We believe that the people of Medicine Hat are generous, that they recognize the need and that when they see the quality of work that we do … we think they’re going to want to fund what it is we’re doing,” said Kurpjuweit. “I hope they recognize that we … help people to move out of their circumstances to a place of independence.”
Clay Stevens works and lives in close proximity to the church building and says he’s hoping it will not turn into a hang-out area for what he calls “undesirables from the downtown core.”
“We don’t want our nice residential area turned into what it’s like outside Tim Hortons downtown,” said Stevens.
There has not been a significant issue with people going to the Oasis Cafe but he worries additional services will increase the number of people.
Kurpjuweit says the services and programs that will be offered on Allowance Avenue will be designed for the people who currently live in the neighbourhood.
“It is not to create migration in any way shape or form,” said Kurpjuweit, adding that the type of services are not going to create lineups of people outside either.
There will be an opportunity for the public to hear more at an open house to be held on Sept. 16 from 5-7 p.m. at the River Park church building, 503A Allowance Avenue.
There’ll be a short program and an introduction of The Mustard Seed staff in Medicine Hat. There will be officials from The Mustard Seed in Calgary and Edmonton at the event, too.
