By Chris Brown

To close on Aug. 31

Emergency daytime shelter winding down operations

Jul 27, 2021 | 4:20 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – An emergency daytime shelter established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be closing its doors a month earlier than originally planned.

Beginning next week the shelter on North Railway Street will only be open on weekends and will close entirely on Aug. 31. It was originally set to close Sept. 30.

Jaime Rogers, manager of the homeless and housing development department with Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, says funding was reduced by one month when the province lifted most COVID-19 public health measures on July 1.

Rogers is mindful though of the rising number of positive COVID cases in the city and province. Medicine Hat has tripled from nine to 30 active cases in the past week, while Alberta has nearly doubled from 579 to 1,173.

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She says they’ve worked with other community groups to ensure the city’s vulnerable population will be taken care of if restrictions are put back in place.

“Right now we believe that we have those gaps covered, will have those gaps covered in the community,” she says. “Obviously if there is a massive increase in the number of cases then we need to change our response. Those in the sector in the serving sector are fantastic at changing course and really meeting the needs of those individuals that are still experiencing homelessness and are vulnerable in our community.”

Rogers says their review of the shelter and the supports offered by other community groups show the need for the shelter is highest on the weekends.

Work is already underway to find a long-term solution to that issue, and a request for proposals is to be released this week.

McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association operates the shelter under a contract signed with Medicine Hat Community Housing Society.

It first opened downtown in December but moved to North Railway Street in the spring after complaints from downtown business owners.

Even though controversy surrounded the shelter, Rogers says it was a success.

“It met its need, it supported individuals during the COVID pandemic, during the heatwave it provided water and shelter for individuals so that they weren’t out in the elements,” she says.

She says one positive indicator is that there was no increase to calls for police services on North Railway when compared to previous years. That was a concern expressed in the community when the location was first announced, something Rogers says exposed some of the issues still faced by the homeless and vulnerable population.

Issues identified and to be examined include stigma discrimination and education of the community, bringing a lens of reconciliation to the homeless and vulnerable Indigenous population and a potential hostel model of housing for those passing through the community.

Rogers says meaningful daily activity was also highlighted.

“Cash jobs or looking at different types of social enterprise for individuals that are maybe looking for different types of employment options,” she says.

She says they want to work with the business community in some capacity to tap into their expertise and resources for employment of volunteer opportunities.