File photo taken outside of Lethbridge City Hall. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet with files from Drew Stremick

Lethbridge City Council approves $230,000 to help deal with encampments

Jul 27, 2022 | 7:41 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge City Council has given the thumbs up to do more to address the issue of encampments in the community.

At its Tuesday, July 26, 2022 meeting, council voted 7-1 to allocate up to $230,000 in one-time funding from corporate budget contingencies to help in the administrative and policing funding shortfalls to expedite ‘compassionate clean-up’ at encampments.

Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen proposed the initial motion, which called for a total of $700,000 in funding from corporate budget contingencies to aid in this work.

The remaining $470,000 was sent back to administration to provide more specific details on how funds would be allocated in relation to the encampment issue, and what other work can be done aside from encampment clean-up.

Additionally, other proposed operative clauses in Hyggen’s initial motion were a part of a unanimous referral to a future special meeting of City Council, where more information will be presented.

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They include proposals for:

• The creation of a local community task force to gather key partners together for a community view of the complex issues around encampments.
• City Council writing a letter to the ministries of Seniors and Housing, Community and Social Services and Mental Health and Addictions. The letter would request the formation of a provincial/City of Lethbridge working group to allow for collaboration on medium and long-term housing and homelessness solutions that will ultimately address the issues on encampments.

A date for that special meeting to discuss those clauses has yet to be set.

Mayor Hyggen said, “Council is aware that encampments continue to be on the rise in Lethbridge and that they continue to pose a safety risk to both the individuals living within them as well as the rest of the community.”

“Creating a safe and viable community continues to be a priority, as does a compassionate approach to our homeless population,” he stated.

Hyggen continued, “Today’s [July 26, 2022] funding approval will help us navigate some of the situations encountered with the encampment sites while we continue to advocate to the Provincial Government for the support we need for housing and addictions.”

READ MORE: City of Lethbridge responding to encampment concerns

Mike Fox, Director of Community Services, added that the City of Lethbridge’s partners are “working to help individuals connect to programs and services.”

Fox said, “It’s not just about moving people from one place to another but about making sure they get the help they need and we’ve seen that happening, which is very encouraging.”

More information about the encampment response is available at the City of Lethbridge website.

READ MORE: Mayor Hyggen looking at further actions to address encampments