Town supports homeless shelter

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Escalating numbers of those destitute, soaring job losses, and an incessant unstable economy became active motivators in local officials’ decision to dig into the town’s pockets and invest up to $60,000 for a transitional shelter – much to the surprise of those in attendance where town council had earlier indicated bringing the proposal back in early 2016 to allow time to familiarize themselves with the content.
John Hilton-O’Brien, Pastor Elizabeth Karp, Pastor Dawn Nelson, and Waldo Munoz provided council with a detail proposal on a transitional shelter that would house those without overnight accommodations, and provide them with a meal in the morning before vacating the premises.
However, while the Harvest Healing Centre Church is willing to provide the space, the building requires upgrades and modifications to make it eligible for the necessary insurance. As a result, the town was asked to donate $40,000 for capital costs, and $5,000 a month for operations.
This would translate into the installation of showers and added washroom space.
Although some council members had praised the proposal and acknowledged the urgency of the project, they said they would like to see the issue be brought back in a few weeks time. Yet Pastor Dawn Nelson, with Lord of All Lutheran Church, ensured council of the need within the community, having already dealt with more residents in need than before.
“Since Monday morning at nine o’clock, I’ve had 13 people come to our doors that are in crisis, I’ve never seen it like this and if we don’t do something, we’re going to find bodies, I know that,” said Pastor Nelson at the council meeting on Wednesday Dec. 16. “I’ve never had a week like this and it scares me. The other concern I have with that is the economy right now. What we’re seeing is scary. People don’t have money for their own needs, so as we go out into the community there’s a need.
“I’m going to tell you that most of the people I’m talking to are going, ‘yes, because I’m that close.”
Pastor Elizabeth Karp at the Harvest Healing Centre Church echoed Pastor Nelson’s concerns about the increase of local people in need, with the line-ups continuously increasing for their bread ministry program – a program she said attracts not only homeless people or those on the verge, but regular citizens and those who’ve lost their jobs.
The transitional shelter – for now a mat program – would accommodate 10 individuals per night. To ensure the shelter’s ongoing operation throughout the year, the expected cost is estimated at $164,000, including the $30,000 donated by the Harvest Healing Centre Church for space, which would’ve been spent on rent otherwise.
The shelter would also require some staff, some with mental health training, to be hired.
With at least 10 individuals in Strathmore without shelter on a daily basis, some of them sleeping in vehicles that are moved each night as to not attract attention, and additional units in the campgrounds living in trailers without insulation, concerns are rising.
As organizations in Calgary, such as the Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre and Inn from the Cold, have already reached capacity, Strathmore is running out of options to house its homeless.
“We know that the problem is going to get worse, following the numbers it looks like about 300 jobs, mostly in oil-patch-related work, are going to be lost in Strathmore this year that’s what the total should stand at right now,” said John Hilton-O’Brien, member of Knights of Columbus in Calgary and an experienced homeless worker. “People will be coming up on the end of their employment insurance this winter. Given the numbers, that’s about 900 men, women, and children whose family is deprived of its primary source of income.
“We’ve also seen anecdotal evidence of people who are staying temporarily in nearby campsites, people who are staying in their cars often moving overnight so as not to be disturbed by authorities, and the occasional person who is simply sleeping in the rough. There is a real concern that this winter may see someone die of exposure. And we’re hoping to avoid that.”
Council requested a five-minute recess, and upon their return voted in favour to approve $40,000 from financial stabilization for 2015 to the Harvest Healing Centre Church, and up to $20,000 in matched donations for 2016. Councillor Rocky Blokland and Councillor Pat Fule were not present during the meeting. Council was told the transitional shelter could be up and running within a couple weeks of receiving the funds.