Ramada hotel in Lethbridge. (Supplied by Trip Advisor)

By David Opinko

Sober shelter still in the works

Mustard Seed pulls application for supportive housing after funding request denied

Jan 28, 2021 | 12:19 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Ramada Hotel and Chinook Motel are no longer being looked at by The Mustard Seed.

LNN reported in December that the non-profit was looking to re-zone the Ramada for a permanent supportive housing facility and Chinook for a sober shelter. Both facilities are located next to each other on Mayor Magrath Drive South.

READ MORE: Mustard Seed looks to rezone Lethbridge’s Ramada for supportive housing

Public reactions to this location have been strongly mixed as some felt it would harm both the nearby residential neighbourhoods and the strong business sector in the area.

A petition to “Vote NO” on the application currently has over 6,300 signatures.

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READ MORE: Lethbridge residents petition against proposed location for supportive housing

Managing Director Byron Bradley was informed this week that their application to the federal Rapid Housing Initiative has been denied.

Bradley was not made aware of the exact amount of money his organization had applied for, but said it would have made up a large portion of the funding needed to purchase the properties, have them re-zoned, and make any needed changes.

As a result, he told LNN that they have pulled their rezoning application for the supportive housing complex.

“We are disappointed that we cannot currently provide affordable housing at this time, but we remain wholly committed to our housing strategy. We know that safe and sustainable housing is critical in the fight against poverty and homelessness, so we will continue to look for opportunities to bring affordable housing to the communities where we serve.”

Bradley says these issues continue to be of the utmost importance to him and The Mustard Seed, and that they have actually been involved in Lethbridge for longer than some may realize.

“Some people don’t know, kind of behind the scenes, that we have been having conversations with the City of Lethbridge for some time. We actually sat down on roundtables a few years ago on the study that was done that looked at housing and the overall homeless and wellness of Lethbridge.

The group will be reaching out to potential housing partners in the city to see what other housing alternatives could be created as he feels there is a great need for such supports in Lethbridge.

They still plan to go ahead with the sober shelter, but they are now looking at the former location of WesternOne on 110 13 Street South.

“That will provide a sober place for people to sleep at night. Lethbridge doesn’t currently have that – a place that is completely sober for people to stay at overnight.”

At the time of publication, there is no date for a public hearing regarding the sober shelter.