The site of the emergency daytime shelter. (CHAT News File Photo)

By Chris Brown

On North Railway Street

Emergency daytime shelter gets OK for new location

Apr 29, 2021 | 4:28 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A daytime shelter in Medicine Hat established as an emergency response to COVID-19 has been given the official go-ahead for its North Railway Street location.

Jaime Rogers, manager of homeless and housing development department with Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, says it’s a positive step but one that should have happened sooner.

The shelter was first downtown, but moved to the former Mustard Seed and Champion’s Centre location on North Railway on April 1 after vandalism and harassment complaints from neighbouring businesses.

When the permit came before the municipal planning commission earlier this month, they asked operators to present a plan to avoid the same issues at the new location.

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“I think it’s unfortunate that it took three weeks to get to this stage given that it was a permitted use,” Rogers says. “But I can’t say enough about McMan and the work they’ve done with some city administration and the businesses on North Railway and the community as well and their diligence about getting this plan in place even though it was not a requirement.”

One main aspect of the plan presented by shelter operator McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association was having a security guard on site. The plan also addressed concerns about loitering and parking, and littering and washroom availability in the area.

Rogers says those are the same concerns heard about community members and locations in general, and asking McMan to present that plan is not within the parameters of the municipal planning commission.

“I believe that McMan went over and above to demonstrate that they did engage with the community, that they did have plans in place. However it is not a requirement of receiving that permit,” she says.

She believes neighbours in the area are pleased with McMan’s efforts.

“I think McMan has set up a good communication strategy with them where they can pick up the phone and to the best of McMan’s ability they will respond if it’s within their purview. If it’s a crime matter that’s going to go to police service, if it’s mental health we’re going to get the mental health team in as we would anywhere else in the community.”

Rogers says the ordeal has presented the housing society and its partners to look at how they educate the community about the homeless and vulnerable population and what the roles and responsibilities are within a system of care.

Funding for the emergency shelter ends in September. Rogers says they are working on how to protect the city’s vulnerable population then as winter approaches.