Supportive housing project well underway

By Toyin Obatusin - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on November 27, 2024.

Construction is progressing on a new supportive housing project being built by Lethbridge Housing Association.
The project is located at 416 Stafford Drive North and is one of the community solutions discussed at the panel discussion addressing the opioid crisis in Lethbridge that was held on Oct. 29 at the Lethbridge Public Library.
The Herald was invited for a tour this week of the construction site by Ryan Olsen of Elevate Construction Partners, who is the primary contact for construction and Robin James, Chief Administrative Officer of the LHA.
Elevate Construction Partners, after a unanimous vote by Lethbridge city councils started the build in early summer of 2024 and construction has been on schedule and on budget ever since. The supportive housing Unit is scheduled to be completed by fall of 2025.
Councillor Rajko Dodic earlier this year noted the importance of this initiative for the City of Lethbridge after council unanimously approved an official business motion by him to provide LHA with $1,050,000 from the Affordable and Social Housing Capital Grant for the project conditional upon the inclusion of key project features and the execution by LHA and the City of Lethbridge of an agreement satisfactory to the City Manager.
Total cost of the project estimated by LHA to be $11,276,000 with $10,226,000 being provided for the province to cover the cost of 25 units.
This is a three-level building with options to use elevators or stairs to reach either the second or third levels. There is also added wheelchair accessibility.
The units in the building will not be shared accommodation, but rather single occupancy bedrooms with a kitchenette and a small fridge. On the third level of the building there will be an uncovered rooftop patio, as well as connected apartment suites with emergency exits already in place.
On the main floor is the dining area, as well as a commercial kitchen. There will also be a medical clinic, with doctors and a pharmacy.
This initiative is for those who have recently gone through detox and recovered from addiction and are wanting to continue on the path of sobriety. “The focus is recovery,” said James during the tour.
LHA wants to ensure that this “purpose built” supportive housing facility and its programs maintain a recovery focus. Folks who are living in recovery are advised to have daily meaningful activities, which is why The LHA will provide indoor (on site) and outdoor (within the Lethbridge community), activities.
For future residents whose goal is to transition back into society, this will allow them to merge in a positive manner. Programs based out of the facility have yet to be determined.
Residents who have been homeless or lived in shelters prior to attending rehab or a detox program, will be accommodated first. Although all residents will be considered low income, the range of yearly income will be based on their most current income released by the Government of Alberta.
Because of the high chances of residences being in recovery, there will be a “no use” policy within the building, says James.
All referrals for potential residency at the establishment will go through LHA’s Coordinated Access Round Table aka as CART, and if certain criteria are met, they will be accepted.
Staffing will include recovery coaches, support staff, case managers, cleaning and janitorial staff, and kitchen staff.
Although there have been objections to the construction of the supportive housing initiative, James would like the community to know that, “We’ve also had some great support”.

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