CANMORE – The Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley (HSBV) will have a secure home until 2026.
Canmore council approved the use of Scout Hall, but also allowed it to run from Oct. 1 to May 1 with free rent during its operating hours. The shelter is scheduled to open Nov. 1 this year.
“I think there’s a real value add for the community for this service. It’s lifesaving, quite literally, and in doing so hopefully for some life-changing,” said Mayor Sean Krausert.
“I believe that the current location has worked well, albeit I know there’s a constant search for more permanent digs. As the society gets more mileage under its belt and it’s been doing very well in becoming known in the community, I believe those opportunities will improve.”
The approval comes after HSBV made the request at council’s June meeting. It came after the society had its busiest season in 2023-24, with its beds being used 640 times by an average of 5.9 people per night.
The shelter ran Dec. 11, 2023, to April 1, 2024, and had a nightly capacity of eight beds. There were 40 people who used the services.
Jessica Klaric, the society’s executive director, said the non-profit was “deeply grateful” to both the Town and the community for continued support.
She noted they continue to look for a long-term home, but the decision provides “security and certainty of interim space” for the next two years.
“We had a significant increase in use, but the ability to access Scout Hall until 2026, it means we have the guarantee so we can allocate more time to consider the longer term solutions,” she said.
A minor amendment to the original motion provided more clarity on concerns expressed by some councillors of it potentially looking like it could be a more permanent location, particularly without receiving feedback or providing more engagement with the community.
Coun. Wade Graham said though “it may not be the best use of time” for the society to come to council each year to request use of the space, he noted it could help it be a “bit front of mind”.
“If we want to keep this conversation going, I think it needs to come back to council on a yearly basis,” he said.
The rent-free request was to expand to 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. after last season had it rent-free from 12-6 a.m. HSBV said it cost $16,517 to use the space when they were charged from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. and 6-10 a.m. The rent-free approval will mean about $15,000 in savings.
Its 2023-24 annual report outlined a redeveloped strategic plan that would be created for 2024-25. It also noted it is seeking to move to charitable designation and find more long-term sustainable funding.
During the 112 nights, 19 of those saw demand outweigh supply. It also operated for five nights of extreme cold, where the weather dropped at or below -40 Celsius. There were also 11 nights when the weather went at or below -20 C.
The nightly capacity was increased to eight this past season after demand increased in 2022-23.
HSBV received funding from the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services for 2023-24 and 2024-25. It also received funding from the Bow Valley Food Bank and support from Fire Mountain Foods.
The 2023-24 annual report had 85 per cent of costs going to staff, 12 per cent for rent and three per cent for cleaning and laundry. It found the nightly costs per bed were about $150 and monthly operating costs were about $36,000.
The society’s annual fundraiser Coldest Night of the Year had 161 walkers in 23 teams to raise $56,807 from 299 donors.
Klaric said when they open is largely reliant on funding, with a permanent home and long-term sustainable funding the two main goals.
“There aren’t many spaces that are available that have suitable needs like showers, laundry, cooking space, so Scout Hall is a great interim solution,” Klaric said. “We are actively looking at different solutions, whether that be an existing building or perhaps trying to implement a more innovative solution.”
An optional survey had 10 guests take part, with 90 per cent being male and 60 per cent between 36-55. Roughly 50 per cent were employed in the valley and had lived in the region for five or more years, while 80 per cent said they had been denied services.
In addition to daily and informal discussions, HSBV had three voluntary in-person feedback opportunities for guests. Each had at least five people, with the response being supportive of the service.
The feedback had people saying they would’ve slept outside, couch surfed or not known where they would’ve stayed without the winter shelter.
In 2022, HSBV became a non-profit and it created a community outreach program in 2023. The program gave a service to connect with the society via phone, email and social media until 7 p.m. It led to 199 uses and made referrals to local resources and supports.
“We all live here, we know how the weather gets really crazy and there’s times in October we’ve been surprised at how cold it is,” said Coun. Jeff Mah. “There’s been points I wonder if the shelter is open … I think expanding the hours and range makes sense.”
ANNUAL USAGE
- 2020-21 usage: 17 people and 104 occupied bed nights
- 2021-22 usage: 26 people and 296 occupied bed nights
- 2022-23 usage: 30 people and 263 occupied bed nights
- 2023-24 usage: 40 people and 640 occupied bed nights
