Streets Alive Mission temporarily suspends 24-hour warming center, looking for new location

“Inside the building everything ran really well, we were able to manage without any issues, we had no major critical incidents,” explained Lepko. “But managing the outside exterior is where the challenge was.”

While the not-for-profit had 60 to 100 people regularly using their 24-hour warming service, it also resulted in large groups of people gathering outside the building.

Lepko indicated that even when they sent staff and security out every hour and a half, it didn’t mitigate the crowds that had begun forming, which led to an increase in trash and drug paraphilia in the area.

“Due to some potential safety concerns, because we don’t have any outdoor space here at Streets Alive, and with them being in front of our neighbour’s building and in the parking lots; we decided along with the City of Lethbridge to suspend the actual 24-hour warming centre for the time being while we’re seeing these mild temperatures.”

Although they have issued the suspension as of January 8, 2023, Streets Alive have taken their staff who were operating the 24-hour warming centre and made a 24-hour mobile outreach team to assist people in the street.

In the past 24 hours since launch, Lepko noted their outreach team has connected with 155 vulnerable people in Lethbridge.

The team has been able to supply hot drinks, provide wellness checkups, offer non-emergency rides to the hospital and highlight services that are available to individuals in need.

Lepko believes that by expanding their outreach services at this time, it will alleviate some of the pressures felt by first responders, DOT (Diversion Outreach Team) and the shelter.

“It’s just more of an expansion of services,” she added. “Then what will happen again, if those temperatures drop, and once we have a location, that team will move inside and help manage the warming centre.”

As for the location of a new 24-hour warming centre, it’s up in the air.

The City of Lethbridge stated that while they are working on this initiative with Streets Alive, they don’t have any “concrete plans to share at this time,” but would provide more details as they become available.

Lepko added, “Obviously, a proximity to the services for the homeless population is important. Ideally, we do not want to be downtown.”

“If we could find something closer to the shelter, that would be the best because, essentially, we are taking the overflow from the shelter,” she went on. “So, if we can find something around there, that would be ideal because transportation is obviously an issue and when it hits minus 47 with the windchill, even walking a block can have some impact on people’s lives.”

According to Lepko, Streets Alive and the City have a few weeks before the weather could take a turn into colder temperatures again so the urgency to find a pop-up 24-hour warming centre location is crucial.

Teams at Streets Alive are researching what temperatures would warrant the pop-up 24-hour warming shelter to open, going forward.

“We want it to be very clear at what point we would open and at what point we would close,” explained Lepko.

“Whether that’s going to be minus 10, minus 20, whatever those pieces are, it’ll just open for those cold periods of time and then it’ll be shut down for when its warm enough.”

Since the suspension of the warming centre, the Streets Alive Mission location has returned to regular servicing hours.

by Sarah Jones

Streets Alive Mission temporarily suspends 24-hour warming center, looking for new location

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