REDI Enterprises’ Hampson House gives six residents accessible housing in Medicine Hat

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The home includes a shared living space for three residents who require 24-hour support, along with three studio apartments for people who can live independently but may need occasional assistance.

REDI Executive Director Josh Hudson said the project was created to address gaps in the local housing market for people with disabilities.

“A home is such an important thing, and it’s often something that’s taken for granted in society,” Hudson said.

For the residents, the home is designed to provide more than a place to live; it offers an accessible space where they can have greater independence and control over their daily lives.

Affordability and accessibility were two of the main considerations behind the project.

Hudson said many people with disabilities live on fixed incomes, making market-rate housing difficult to afford, adding that truly barrier-free homes are difficult to find, with even a single stair creating an accessibility challenge.

The home was designed without stairs and includes accessibility features intended to make daily living easier for residents.

Hampson House is named after Cathy Hampson, who moved to Medicine Hat in 1993 after spending much of her earlier life at Michener Centre in Red Deer.

Hudson said Cathy’s experience reflected the way many Albertans with disabilities were treated during much of the 20th century, when people were often segregated from the community and had little control over their own lives.

After Cathy died in 2019, her family donated the proceeds of her estate to REDI, helping make the project possible.

Hudson said Cathy’s story is ultimately one about the difference a home and a sense of belonging can make.

The project was built without government funding, with the Hampson family’s donation combined with mortgage financing from Servus Credit Union, with local builders also contributing to the project’s design and construction.

Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark said the new home highlights the importance of accessibility in the community.

Clark said her experiences during the 2026 Special Olympics Summer Games gave her a greater awareness of barriers that can easily be overlooked, including something as simple as a single step.

“It’s hard to find places like this in the city,” Clark said during a presentation.

“This is for our community, and it makes our community a better place to live.”

Clark said Hampson House reflects the community’s belief that everyone deserves dignity, independence and a sense of belonging.

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(Image Credit: Jett Schwaier/CHAT News)

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For REDI, the opening also marks the end of a long process and the beginning of a new chapter for the people who will call Hampson House home.

“We have people gonna be moving in shortly, and it’s exciting,” Hudson said.

The first residents are expected to move into Hampson House in mid-September.

by Jett Schwaier

REDI Enterprises’ Hampson House gives six residents accessible housing in Medicine Hat

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