Council commits to developing long-term homelessness strategy
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on January 25, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com Lethbridge city council on Tuesday unanimously approved an official business motion presented by councillors John Middleton-Hope and Nick Paladino calling on administration to develop a long-term approach to deal with homelessness.The motion stated that the province has indicated that $1 million in funding is available for shelter space if Lethbridge has the location and approvals in place.
Therefore, they asked council to direct administration to develop “a strategic, long-time response for sheltering residents in need and those who are difficult to house (high acuity), including the establishment of a permanent shelter that may also be used to temporarily house citizens during severe inclement weather or in the event of a disaster (including any required funding amounts and the proposed sources of funds).”
The motion asked that administration report back to city council through its Cultural and Standing Policy Committee by the end of the second quarter of this year.
Middleton-Hope, in a response to a question from acting mayor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel Tuesday, called the proposed shelter “a permanent weather facility and a permanent emergency facility. It does not impugn the relationship that we currently have with the day shelter that is currently being run by Blood Tribe Health Services.”
Paladino stated in debate on the motion “co-sponsoring this motion was a no-brainer to me. Frankly, I was of the opinion that this had already been done.
“I’m hoping this time some concrete solutions will be presented. I look back at the attempts by previous council to locate supportive housing sites that failed for one reason or another that was followed by the encampments last summer. Then it appears we have abandoned the Civic location and let’s not forget the Park ‘n Ride and the damage caused there. And now the Streets Alive warming centre which lasted all of two weeks.
“I think council is still waiting for some real options to either buy, lease or rent and finally approve a more permanent solution. This motion is presented to express a sense of urgency on this matter.” Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
-3
