Local and provincial government officials announce the $11-million supportive housing project. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

$11-million supportive housing project announced for Lethbridge

Jan 31, 2020 | 9:49 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – It may be a case of deja vu, but the Government of Alberta is pumping $11-million in partnership with the federal government into supportive housing.

The previous NDP government made a similar commitment in December 2018.

Lethbridge-East MLA Nathan Neudorf says the United Conservative Party (UCP) wanted to fully review the project and do their due diligence before going ahead with it.

The housing complex will provide permanent, safe, and stable housing for 42 people who are identified as being at-risk.

A spokesperson with the Ministry of Community and Social Service says typically, these types of facilities have a range of social services like addictions treatment, counseling, mental health services, home care, as well as life and employment skills training.

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Each facility has services that are geared to the needs of that particular community, so it remains to be seen what specifically the one in Lethbridge will have.

In providing these services along with a stable place to call home, Community and Social Services Minister Rajan Sawhney believes the facility will allow people to get the care they need while reducing expensive costs for medical or justice intervention.

Mayor Chris Spearman says this is an important step in advancing the continuum of care for those experiencing homelessness, substance addiction, or are struggling with mental health.

He and city council have been working for as much as six years to get something like this off the ground.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen in terms of treatment and recovery, how can we get people [off the streets], how can we provide culturally-appropriate recovery for people that are seeking it, recovery options they can trust? That’s going to be the next step,” adds Spearman.

Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon said she has been working since last spring to review this project.

The $11-million will be shared between the provincial and federal governments.

The province and the City of Lethbridge are still working on finalizing a location for the supportive housing complex, but Spearman says it will be somewhere that people who need it will be able to access it but will not disturb the community.

Construction should start sometime in 2021.

Between design, construction, maintenance, and long-term care, the project should create around 80 jobs.