New Shelter Development Strategy approved by Lethbridge City Council

To clarify the City of Lethbridge’s involvement in shelter development and identify opportunities to ensure that there is land available and adequately zoned for ‘Shelter’ use as defined in Land Use Bylaw 6300.
To ensure that the City of Lethbridge has adequate shelter capacity to house all those experiencing homelessness in the community on any given night.

Currently, the City of Lethbridge owns the existing Shelter land and building, and manages a lease with a third-party operator chosen and funded by the provincial government.

Officials noted that historically, the City of Lethbridge has taken a hands-off approach relating to any new shelter development, with the Government of Alberta and interested non-profits taking charge of that responsibility. However, according to officials, recent influencing factors like the opioid crisis, COVID-19, inflation, and cost of living increases have increased challenges related to homelessness in the community. Andrew Malcolm, General Manager, Community Social Development said the City of Lethbridge can now take an increasingly involved approach to shelter development.

Malcolm stated, “By expanding our involvement in this area, we will be able to better influence and facilitate appropriate shelter capacity levels, as well as site design and location.”

“Our Shelter Development Strategy connects directly into the next steps from our recent Encampment Strategy, which included a full-time Housing Solutions Coordinator who will look to coordinate systemic solutions to increase and diversify shelter and housing capacity in the community. Ultimately, this will give more choice to those currently living in encampments to secure safe and secure shelter.”

Current issues for increasing shelter capacity, according to officials, include a lack of available and appropriately zoned land to purchase, develop or re-develop, as well as access to funding, and availability and willingness of operators. The City of Lethbridge’s identified role in reducing barriers to shelter development includes land use regulation, land banking, and capital funding.

City councillor Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, who also serves as Vice Chair of the Cultural and Social SPC said, “We know there are significant needs for shelter resources in our community.”

“Through considering appropriate amendments to the Land Use Bylaw, we could use the Municipal Land Banking Strategy to strategically bank and utilize land for municipal initiatives including shelter and social service uses. Today’s decision is big step in the right direction.”

On Tuesday, as part of the motion, council also rescinded the April 2022 resolution, which had approved a budget up to $100,000 to procure a consultant to do the following:

Conduct community engagement on the creation of a made for Lethbridge community care campus
Create conceptual designs for a community care campus
Develop a business care for a community care campus

The new motion will reallocate the previously allocated $100,000 from Council Contingencies towards the execution of the new Shelter Development Strategy at the discretion of the City Manager or designate. City Administration will return to council, through the Cultural and Social SPC, with quarterly updates on the implementation of the strategy.

The decision on Tuesday started as an Official Business Resolution at the January 24, 2023 council meeting, where Administration was tasked with developing a strategic, long-term response to sheltering residents in need and those who are difficult to house.

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by Justin Goulet

New Shelter Development Strategy approved by Lethbridge City Council

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