Medicine Hat, Alberta officials say Mustard Seed locations ‘not ideal’ in joint statement

Medicine Hat’s MLA Justin Wright in December accused the city of mishandling communications with the public over a plan he said the city’s known about for months to move shelters away from suburban neighourhoods.

“Alberta’s government and the City of Medicine Hat are committed to supporting vulnerable Albertans in the community,” said a statement signed by Mayor Linnsie Clark, Wright and Alberta’s community and social services minister Jason Nixon.

“We, together with our community partners, Medicine Hat Community Housing Society and the Mustard Seed, also recognize that the current two Mustard Seed locations are not ideal.”

Wright, in response to a question from a CHAT News reporter, told a news conference on Dec. 20 that he’s been working with community peace officers for about six months to find a new spot for the Mustard Seed’s shelter location.

The plan, say officials, is to centralize all of the Mustard Seed’s services — including its shelter and other programs — in one location away from Medicine Hat’s residential areas.

While work has begun on a shortlist for the Mustard Seed’s next home, Wright’s office told CHAT News in December it was not yet able to provide the proposed list of sites.

Residents who live near the Mustard Seed’s shelter on Allowance Avenue Southeast have complained to Wright and the city about the behaviours of some of the vulnerable people who use the organization’s services.

The Mustard Seed, a non-profit organization that aims to take care of vulnerable people in communities across Alberta, on Dec. 12 was asked to add 20 temporary shelter spaces to its Flats neighbourhood location at the request of the Alberta government.

The Mustard Seed and the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society are jointly hosting a public town hall on Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Medicine Hat Public Library’s theatre.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their frustrations, complaints, concerns and suggestions, according to an event poster.

— files from Jayk Sterkenburg, Dan Reynish

by Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat, Alberta officials say Mustard Seed locations ‘not ideal’ in joint statement

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