The City of Red Deer has identified a potential location for the permanent emergency shelter in the City’s old Park’s facility located at 4934 54 Avenue.

“There is still a great deal of work to be done as it relates to finalizing capital and operational plans and dollars related to future shelter services in Red Deer. Plus, the location cannot be finalized until we hear from the public on the rezoning,” said Mayor Ken Johnston. “However, getting to the stage where we can consult the public about a location is an exciting step in this process, and it will enable us, with the support of the Province of Alberta to begin the next steps of this project as our community works together to establish a purpose-built shelter that responds to the needs of all in Red Deer.”

The City will be undergoing the rezoning and development process and will be looking for community feedback on the site, what it should look, and feel like. If the rezoning is approved, the original structure of parks facility will be demolished  in order to replace it with a new building suited to operate as an integrated shelter.

“There has been extensive work done on where the permanent shelter could go, and Council is confident that with receiving provincial agreement to consider this site, this is a good place to consider a future purpose-built shelter in our community,” said Johnston. “We also know continued collaboration and work with our community is critical to ensuring its success.”

In November of 2020, the province committed $7 million in its 2020 Capital Plan for a purpose-built integrated emergency shelter in Red Deer. In February of 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Province and City of Red Deer was signed.

 “A permanent shelter has been a need in our city for years, and I am so encouraged that we have reached the major project milestones of securing provincial funding and identifying a potential location,” said Johnston. “Right now we are talking about site, but at its core, this project is about people. It is about shifting our focus to the future of an emergency shelter that provides dignity and hope for some of our community’s most vulnerable. The selection of this potential location is an exciting step in the process of addressing the issue of housing and homelessness in our city.”