Lethbridge City Council approves affordable & social housing developments

The City will provide $1,295,000 to Concept Investment Partners Ltd. (CIPL) to retrofit an existing building on 1730 10 Avenue South.

That facility is currently known as the Seasons Lethbridge Retirement Community, a former supportive and assisted living seniors’ home.

According to CIPL in a document provided to city hall, “This facility in its prior Zoning and Use had reached the end of its usefulness and needed to be readapted so that it could provide new opportunity to the community.”

The organization adds that they plan to build on the existing strengths of the building such as mature landscaping, fully accessible suites, and close proximity to the Chinook Regional Hospital, while creating new amenities such as fully-functioning kitchens, new heating and cooling options, and insulation upgrades.

Once completed, CIPL plans to offer 50 units for seniors that would range in price from $528-$1,131 per month plus utilities. The City said 37 of the units would fall under its definition of affordable housing, meaning it would cost 30 per cent or less of a household’s pre-tax income.

Combined with other funding from private donors and the provincial government, the total cost of the project is estimated at $6,250,000.

Supportive Housing

After amending the initial ask of $850,000 from Streets Alive Mission, city council voted to approve $560,000 in municipal funding.

It will be used for Streets Alive’s Exodus Program, a multi-tiered recovery program for men who are experiencing and recovering from substance use addiction.

The non-profit said, “The program includes different levels of support at different stages of recovery with the goal of increased independence while maintaining sobriety. Some of the supports in different stages of the program include the provision of food, accommodations, transportation, and meaningful daily activity.”

In order to facilitate the expansion of the program, Streets Alive looks to purchase an eight-plex building located at 925 15 Street South, across from the St. Michael’s Health Centre.

The plan is to expand the existing facility to provide for a total of 32 bedrooms/program spaces. Participants in the program would pay $600 per month, which would include the cost of rent and other support services. All of the units would be considered affordable under the city’s definition.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $3 million, and Streets Alive is in the process of securing funds from private and provincial sources to cover the remaining portion.

Streets Alive will still need to have the property rezoned and go through a public engagement process before work can officially begin.

Further details on the two housing projects can be found on the October 3, 2023, city council meeting agenda.

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by David Opinko

Lethbridge City Council approves affordable & social housing developments

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