Community housing officials are warning of increased strain on its organizations ahead of winter. -- News File Photo
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
Downtown business owners plan to formally object to a daytime homeless shelter that is now operating near the downtown intersection of Third Street and Sixth Avenue.
They say groups of shelter users congregate near their storefronts on one of downtown’s busiest street, and better space could be found.
Announced in mid-December, it provides space during daytime hours to those who access overnight shelter space, as well as providing certain social service resources to others, say administrators.
The group behind it says it’s an emergency location related to COVID response that will only operate through March. They ask for business owners’ understanding and patience.
“This is an emergency response program, and that was considered an excellent location, said Jaime Rodgers of Medicine Hat Community Housing, which funds the project and contracted McMan Family, Youth and Community Services to manage the centre.
“We’re here to support the individuals, and many businesses are closed, many places vulnerable individuals go are closed. This is a safe space for them.”
Nearby business owners however, say it has led to complaints that groups of shelter users are congregating on nearby sidewalks and benches, deterring their customers.
The head of the City Centre Development Agency says the location, on one of downtown’s busiest streets, is bad, and a better location nearby could be found.
“We understand that this service is needed and people are needed,” said Jeremy Silver, the CCDA’s board chair. “The fact is though, that there has to be more thought put into this than simply finding an empty storefront.”
“This is right next door to businesses that are themselves struggling.”
Silver says many neighbours and the CCDA was unaware of the project. The agency will cover the $200 application fee to appeal a development permit that was given to the facility late last month.
The City of Medicine Hat has nothing to do with the project, other than the planning department approving a development permit to change the use of the commercial space to a community centre, a discretionary use under the land bylaw zoning for the area.
The deadline to appeal the planning department decision is Friday, and Silver said his group is prepared to file the paper work.
The location, at 616 Third Street SE, was most recently a virtual reality gaming venue, and before that a centre that offered Christian pastoral services.
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