Funding being sought to run warming shelter for another winter
Clearwater County council expressed its support for a warming shelter in Rocky Mountain House but said the province should fund it.
The emergency shelter was a new initiative last winter designed to be a refuge for homeless people when temperatures plummeted below -20 C. The shelter opened in January and ran for 101 days until Easter. In that time, 55 people made 593 overnight stays.
It cost $41,334 to run the shelter last winter. The province provided $20,000, Clearwater County $17,000, Town of Rocky Mountain House $7,200 and there was a $1,000 donation.
This year, the budget to run the shelter from October through the winter is $115,300. The Emergency Winter Warming Shelter Working Committee is negotiating with the province for funding but there has been no word yet on a commitment.
Clearwater County Reeve Michelle Swanson said the shelter is needed but it should be a provincial responsibility.
Coun. Barbara Gordon agreed, noting the province's $20,000 did not cover the cost of running the shelter.
"They need to step up to the plate instead of offloading to municipalities."
Coun. Genny Mehlhaff said the county needs to lobby the province and local MLA and Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon to fund the shelter.
In the meantime, the county should consider putting money aside to help out if needed.
"The reality is I have no intention of being the council that said, 'No, we're not supporting the warming shelter.' I do not want to do that.
"That's not a phone call that I want, that somebody froze to death because we chose to do nothing."
A representative for local doctors wrote a letter pointing to the success of the shelter last winter in reducing emergency room visits, frostbite injuries and the demands on local health professionals while improving the quality of life for those who found a place to stay.
"We will wholeheartedly support the continued activity of the warming shelter during the winter periods as it has a direct improvement on both health care and quality of life," said Dr. Tyren Ludewig, of Rocky Medical Clinic.
Council voted in favour of a motion to have the warming shelter representatives make a presentation to council. Future funding options could be considered as part of 2026 budget deliberations.