MLA Justin Wright's office says a shortlist of potential new locations for The Mustard Seed is not yet ready to share. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

IN THE COMMUNITY

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

Dec 24, 2024 | 10:14 AM

Work to find a new, central location for The Mustard Seed in Medicine Hat is ongoing, the office of MLA Justin Wright confirmed to CHAT News on Tuesday, saying a shortlist for a new site is not yet ready to share.

“Once this process is complete, we will move forward with sharing those locations,” a spokesperson for the Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA said in a statement.

The Mustard Seed, Medicine Hat Community Housing Society, City of Medicine Hat and the Alberta government are jointly “undertaking a comprehensive process to identify a new permanent shelter location.”

“This location aims to address the needs of the community, consider neighbourhood concerns, and provide services for the most vulnerable in a single, effective setting.”

Wright during a council committee meeting Thursday accused the City of Medicine Hat of mishandling public communications over a plan he said the city’s known about for months to move The Mustard Seed’s homeless shelter away from its current suburban site.

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That sparked headlines and a response from city leadership. Coun. Shila Sharps said blaming a lack of communication on the city “is both inappropriate and misleading.”

Wright said he’s been working with community peace officers for about six months to find a new spot for The Mustard Seed’s shelter location.

“They are in the midst of a search for that location and I understand that they have a shortlist right now,” he said in response to a CHAT News question during a news conference on Friday.

The required permits for the shelter’s temporary expansion are coming to the Municipal Planning Commission on Jan. 15, according to Sharps.

The commission will decide whether to approve or deny The Mustard Seed’s permit request. Any decision made by the group can be appealed and it could end up in front of council at-large.