True North to break ground on long-term transitional housing facility

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

True North is set to officially break ground on their affordable housing and wellness hub. 

The project was first announced to the public in June 2023, when the organization rebranded from the Wheatland Crisis Society.

Since then, the team has been seeking to raise the funds and acquire the necessary permissions associated with construction.

“Second-stage and longer-term supports were identified as a need for the community, and prioritized as a strategic next step, and so this has been a lot of hard work over many years to finally get to this point,” said Courtney Helfrich, executive director of True North. 

“Construction is just one phase and then, it really allows us to put up the physical walls, but it is the strategy and all that is going to be able to happen within this community space that is also incredibly important.”

Once completed, the facility will consist of 36 affordable housing spaces, being a mix of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom units. It will also feature five commercial spaces on the main level, community, and office spaces. 

Helfrich added the building will be equipped with a community kitchen, sensory, and counselling spaces available to its residents.

Aiming to deliver long-term, on-site care and support, it will be effectively the only facility of its kind within the local region. 

The units are set to be defined as second-stage housing, which aims to provide safe, affordable spaces for those escaping domestic violence to find their footing and regain stability for themselves. 

These will largely be occupied by women and children, however men are also noted to require support, should they be the ones fleeing from abusive situations. 

True North was awarded $3.5 million from the Province of Alberta in July 2025 to support construction of the facility. 

They also approached the Town of Strathmore in April, requesting permit fees for construction to be waived.

“What is challenging is emergency beds and emergency shelters save lives … and there is still a need for those longer term supports to really help break cycles of violence,” said Helfrich. 

“What we are really looking forward to is this sort of continuum of care model where … we are able to offer more wraparound care in an effort to really give people an opportunity and provide those supports.”

The existing emergency shelter will continue to operate on its 30 to 60-day residence model, as it is meant to operate as a temporary space. Second-stage housing is more so intended to support those who require it for up to years at a time. 

Though the location of the building will be more public than the emergency shelter, it will still be equipped with levels of security at its entrance and between floors.

The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled to take place Aug. 26, beginning at 11 a.m. Construction is anticipated to take between 18 months and two years before the facility is completed and able to accept its first residents. 

– With Files from the Strathmore Times