City council to address funding requests for supportive housing

By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on September 29, 2023.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge city council will be putting in double duty Tuesday with two meetings scheduled during the day.
Council, acting in its role of Economic Standing Policy Committee, will meet at 9 a.m. in council chambers. At 1:30, council will hold its regular meeting.
On the SPC agenda are two recommendations by City administration that it recommend to council members that they financially support two proposed supportive housing projects.
The first is a request to provide funding of $850,000 to Streets Alive for a supportive recovery housing project at 925 15 St. S. conditional to the securement of the balance of project funding on or before Dec. 31, 2024 and the acquisition of a development permit for the project.
Requests will be made by Andrew Malcolm, general manager of Community Social Development.
The Streets Alive project, says a report to be submitted by Malcolm, involves the purchase of the property along with the rezoning/permit processes and fees and a renovation or retrofit of the property.
If approved, the facility will include eight two-bedroom units on the second floor and 16 one-bedroom units “in a communal living setting on the main floor” says the report.
Administration has determined that all 32 spaces would be considered affordable by the City’s definition which means 30 per cent of a household’s pre-tax income.
The project, says the report, is intended to be supportive housing so a separate rezoning process with engagement and a public hearing are required.
Funding for the project would be conditional upon the successful achievement of the process.
Total cost of the project is estimated to be $3 million. The report says Streets Alive wants to apply for Affordable Housing Partnership Program funding from the province to cover 28.3 per cent of the project’s costs with the remainder being funded by other sources.
Funds requested from the City are for capital development, not operations of the facility. The City has $5.9 million available to support social and affordable housing projects, says the report.
The second request is for council to provide $1.5 million to Concept Investment Partners Ltd. for an affordable housing project at 1730 10 Ave. S. This will be a 50-unit facility with 37 units being considered affordable.
The building, located across from Chinook Regional Hospital, was previously operated as a community living facility.
The total cost of this project is estimated to be $6.25 million, with the City’s money – if approved – being used for capital development.

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