New shelter site goals, Eighth Street location’s future: Here’s what to know from The Mustard Seed’s town hall

The Mustard Seed’s CEO was seated on stage to answer questions from the full 152-seat theatre and gave a few new details and clarifications about The Mustard Seed’s plans.

Future of Eighth Street

The Mustard Seed took over the former Salvation Army mens’ shelter at 737 Eighth St. SE in 2022.

Gardiner said it wasn’t a spot his organization would’ve chosen if it had the choice.

The Seed was asked to take over the site to fill a community need, he said.

When the shelter is moved to a new consolidated site, Gardiner said the non-profit would not be focused on continuing operations there.

While the sale of a Mustard Seed would be up to its board, Gardiner suggested the Eighth Street site could be sold after it moves to a new location.

Allowance Avenue

Gardiner said operations at The Mustard Seed’s Allowance Avenue site will continue even with a new shelter location.

It won’t include any overnight guests but only the family programming and career services the space was designed to offer.

The Mustard Seed, at the request of the Alberta government, has filed a rezoning request with the city to temporarily add 20 beds to the Allowance Avenue site.

The aim is to address an urgent need for overnight shelter amid freezing temperatures.

Gardiner revealed that, should the rezoning be approved, the temporary overnight service would remain in place until The Mustard Seed’s new location opens.

The ideal location?

Gardiner at the Jan. 8 town hall gave some insight into what features would make a good location for a new shelter site.

“It would be our desire for it not to be in a residential area,” he told reporters at the forum.

It should also include enough washrooms, fresh air and space, municipal access and clear sightlines, Gardiner said. The Mustard Seed typically has to upgrade the washrooms when they acquire a space, he said.

It’s also important the new shelter be located “in a neighbourhood where the local neighbours are supportive of us being there,” he said.

Gardiner did say the new site does not have to be downtown as the organization has the ability to shuttle its guests around.

However, some residents disputed that suggestion, saying one of the problems with The Mustard Seed now is that many of its guests spend time walking through their neighbourhoods.

The Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, the City of Medicine Hat and the Alberta government, in coordination with MLA Justin Wright’s office, are working on a shortlist of potential locations.

Officials have not been able to provide a timeline as to when a new site could be chosen and as of early January were not willing to share of the locations under consideration.

Map

Here’s an interactive map of the two locations.

More coverage

Here’s more of CHAT News’ recent coverage of The Mustard Seed:

– Enraged Medicine Hat residents share frustrations over Mustard Seed locations

– Medicine Hat’s MLA to co-lead Alberta homelessness panel, search for new shelter site underway

– New Mustard Seed location shortlist not ready to share, MLA’s office says

by Eli J. Ridder

New shelter site goals, Eighth Street location’s future: Here’s what to know from The Mustard Seed’s town hall

Future of Eighth Street

Allowance Avenue

The ideal location?

Map

More coverage

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