Lethbridge Housing Authority not seeking zoning for shelter space

The Lethbridge Housing Authority is walking back a statement they previously made. The organization made a zoning request for Castle Apartments and Halmrast Manor in our city. Staff said they are clarifying that they are only seeking to provide supportive housing at the two locations and not to provide a shelter or a resource centre. Robin James, the CAO of the Lethbridge Housing Authority says the group is hoping to provide 24-hour services to people in our community who are in need of housing.

“We’re already housing people that are coming out of homelessness that have low to mid acuity. So the best way to not have to worry about ever needing a secondary shelter or more space for shelter is to keep people successfully housed. And that’s our mandate. And I hope that as a city, we can stop normalizing people living in shelter for years and years and start looking at shelter as a temporary measure for seven to ten days until we can transition people into appropriate housing where they can stay.”

The Lethbridge Housing Authority will be hosting an open house so that folks can learn more about their group at Castle Apartments and Halmrast Manor on December 5th and 6th.