There remains no firm date for completion on a Lethbridge Shelter expansion, but will be completed and open for use, but say crews are working as fast as they can to get the project complete.
Director of the Lethbridge Wellness Shelter and Stabilization Unit Suzanne Buchanan says those who drive by can now see the outside of the expansion is completed, which she says is exciting, but now the focus is on completing the inside of the building. According to the director some of that work includes finishing wiring, putting up internal structures up and putting in plumbing for area such as bathrooms.
“A lot is going on inside that structure, that [crews] do need to make sure is done safely before we can open,” Buchanan says. “The expansion will add 109 spaces, which will be really great to see because we are seeing numbers that demand that we need that space.”
She says once the construction part is completed then the next step will be moving in and utilizing the space, which will help improve the services that can be offered to clients. In Lethbridge, she says there is an increase in need being seen by not only those who are accessing the shelter to stay there, but also by those who are couch surfing or living in their cars.
“They do park outside of the shelter just to be close to the soup kitchen or to come in and have a shower. People are trying to go to work still even though they’ve lost their housing and trying to just kind of keep afloat that way.”
In colder temperatures, Buchanan says that need goes up even more as those who live in an encampment are encouraged to use the shelter. She says this in not only because it is warmer but also for safety concerns, as many who live in an encampment try to heat their tents by using a propane tank when the temperatures dip, which could result in the tank exploding or the tent catching on fire.
“So we just really trying to get people to come on into the shelter and stay where it’s safe, where it’s warm, where they have access to resources so if they do want to go on a recovery pathway they have case managers that can connect them to the appropriate resources.”
“The one nice thing here about the shelter is if people do come in they can be assessed on a case-by-case basis. So if they do need something specific the case managers can work with them to meet those needs and help them along their way to getting out of homelessness essentially.”
According to the city’s fire code, the max capacity of the current facility is 91 spaces. However, Buchanan explains the number being exceeded at times because they will not turn those in need away in sub-zero temperatures.
