The former Grande Prairie Care Centre will be converted to a 44-unit permanent supportive housing facility. (Photo by Shaun Penner)

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Council approves zoning changes for one permanent supportive housing facility; more discussion coming for second site

Oct 20, 2020 | 5:30 AM

City council has approved one of two permanent supportive housing proposals.

Council voted unanimously to have a 44-unit facility installed at the old Grande Prairie Care Centre on 98 Street.

An idea for another one on 105 Avenue just west of 100 Street will be up for more discussion at the next council meeting.

Many VLA-area residents and downtown business owners had objected to both facilities, saying they were worried about stealing, theft, and drugs.

Mayor Bill Given says Council has already added more police and a street outreach team to help deal with homelessness.

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“All with the intent of trying to improve people’s perception of safety in Grande Prairie. I’m not at all surprised that the neighbourhood had some of those concerns and had specific examples. They are the exact kind of reasons the city has been taking the actions that we have over the last couple of years.”

He adds helping people get services that improves their place in life reduces the strain on other community services.

“We have a limited amount of experience with permanent supportive housing. It is a model that is very well-understood in other communities and I believe that it is one of, not the only, but one of the missing pieces of the housing continuum in Grande Prairie.”

Councillors Jackie Clayton and Kevin O’Toole both say 105 Avenue is the wrong spot and voted against going ahead with third reading on bylaw changes at last night’s meeting. This means it will come back in two weeks. In the meantime, city staff will compile a report, comparing the 105 Avenue idea of building a similar facility on city-owned land in the Gateway area.

“Administration was directed to initiate the public consultation on that alternate site. That will happen over the next couple weeks. At the same time, Council didn’t want to delay submission of an application for capital funding to build a building,” says Given.

He adds many people in the community feel there is too much of this type of housing in one part of the city.