The lot in Avondale that's been rezoned for the community supportive housing project (photo by Shaun Penner)

By Liam Verster

Supportive Housing

City to hold in-person and online information sessions regarding supportive housing projects

Nov 10, 2020 | 2:24 PM

The City of Grande Prairie is organizing both in-person and online information sessions later this month to provide information and answer questions from the public in regards to a proposed community supportive housing project to help those struggling with housing and homelessness.

The original plan was to build the 42-unit building, which would also house medical and support services, in the Avondale neighbourhood.

That site has already been re-zoned to accommodate the building. However, following a City Council meeting in October, it was determined that a spot in the Gateway neighbourhood may be better suited for this project, and City staff were tasked with looking into the area as a prospective site.

Reed Des Roches, the Senior Planner for the City, says the Gateway site will require a lot more work than the one in Avondale .

“With the Gateway site, we’re not only looking at rezoning for the use, we’re considering the siting of the building. So, the rezoning applies to a really large area of land, and we’re currently undertaking some engineering studies to figure out the best location for building on that land, because there’s also a roadway that’s going to go there.”

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He says in order to engage the public and explain what this supportive housing does and what the development process looks like, the City will host in-person information sessions on Monday, November 23, at the Service Plus Inns & Suites.

“What you can expect at the event is there will be a few City employees spread out across the room in different stations. One will be providing information in general about community supportive housing, another will be providing more specific information about the potential operations of this facility.

“I will be there as well to explain the development process for this project and the other opportunities for input that will come along the way and the key milestones, like public hearings and council decisions.”

The sessions, which will also allow for the public to ask questions and provide feedback on the proposed plans, will be held in 45-minute blocks from 3 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., and as there are group size limitations, people are asked to register in advance through the City’s engagement website.

There will also be hour-long information sessions held on Zoom that the public can tune in to on Tuesday the 24th at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Those interested can register through the City’s engagement page as well, and will be provided with a link to the call. There’s also the option to call in to those sessions on the telephone, but those who wish to do so must call the City and book their spot on the line.

The online sessions will be similar to the in-person ones, though it will be more like a presentation that covers all the points, followed by a question period.

Des Roches adds there is a need to support those struggling with homelessness because of complex physical, mental, and behavioural health needs.

“There’s a strong need for this kind of housing in the community, and so the ideal situation is that we help people address whatever challenges they have so that they can move on to supporting themselves, and there are also individuals who will need support potentially for the rest of their lives.

“A facility like this helps keep people off the street, but also gets them help for whatever physical, mental or behavioural health challenges they’re having in order to improve their quality of life. It also helps keep them from having to do undesirable things in the community to get by. It gives them a place to be safe and warm and a place to call home.”

While some people may be concerned about having these facilities in the community, Des Roches says research shows that supportive housing facilities like these actually have positive benefits to the community, with reduced crime and improved property values.

“It all depends on properly run facilities, so that’s what we will be focusing on once we have a location and we get into the design.”

One supportive housing project has been granted approval by City Council. That project will see a 44-unit facility installed at the old Grande Prairie Care Centre on 98 Street, next to City Hall.