Resilient and Inclusive Task Force Update
Mustard Seed Allowance Avenue location March 22 2025 - Kelly Allard
The Mustard Seed’s daytime shelter closed on February 28 2025. The search has been on for a new location for a 24/7 shelter scene then with very little in updates since.
Tucked away in the Consent Agenda of Monday’s Council Meeting were the latest minutes of the Resilient and Inclusive Task Force. This Task Force came out of a perceived need to address social disorder and was included in the City’s Strategic Plan. This was sponsored by City Manager Ann Mitchell and can be found on page 98 of the October 21 2024 Agenda Packet. It states -
Priority #2 Build a Resilient and Inclusive Community
Lead a provincial/municipal/community urgent response to social disorder
The task force was to consist of the following people
City Council – Mayor
City Council – Public Services Committee Chair
City of Medicine Hat executive member
MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat
MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat
MP for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner
Medicine Hat Community Housing Society
The Mustard Seed
Miywasin Friendship Centre
Medicine Hat Police Service
Alberta Health Services
Chamber of Commerce
Two (2) public members
The Terms of Reference says a quorum is to be a simple majority of members.
March 11 2025 Inaugural meeting - 14 people were reported to be in attendance, 5 more were marked absent for a total of 19.
The scope of the work was to be as follows in this excerpt.
Desire to see Mustard Seed shelter solution reached quickly to help mitigate impact on community.
Community safety: not specifically individuals or businesses, but all encompassing.
Inclusion of positive things that are being done, and clarification of what Recovery Alberta does or does not do.
Importance of not letting the circumstance in Medicine Hat reach the level of criticality as observed in other municipalities.
Mental health and health are not separate issues. Assistance from the province should be expected from a legislative and funding perspective.
Keeping downtown clean (streets swept, gravel/snow maintained) encourages residents to frequent downtown, and in turn discourages undesirable behavior.
Storage and privacy for unhoused people would provide a set location and may discourage traversing with personal items.
Income vs. cost of living is a significant challenge.
Shelters should be a last resort; while they are necessary, the goal is to get people housed.
March 19 2025 The City put out a call to the community for applications to join the task force with a deadline of just one week for submissions.
April 1 2025 Second meeting - Once again, 14 people were in attendance, 5 more were marked absent. It was decided to add representatives from SafeLink Alberta, Alberta Health Services, and the Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub.
Excerpt - Considerable discussion occurred related to the following:
Provincial jurisdiction vs municipal jurisdiction, including funding
advocacy vs task force
homeless people are not necessarily addicts
it is essential to have community involvement and common goals
need to be mindful that congregation areas shift depending on where resources are located
the Province has had a great deal of success with Navigation Centres and this should be explored as an option for our community – these centres provide points of triage
May 2 2025 Third Meeting - 17 people in attendance with 8 more marked absent. The decision was made to add 3 public members to the task force. The offer was made to three applicants; one declined.
Considerable discussion occurred related to the closing of the Mustard Seed:
Undesirable activities have not increased; rather, they have migrated.
Daytime drop-ins at SafeLink Alberta have doubled.
The fundamental issue is that there aren’t enough day services.
Drop-in spaces are most effective when they are used to access ‘wrap around services’ rather than simply as a place to socialize.
Other items of discussion included
Progress report from the 4 Homeless and Housing Summits held in 2023-2024 and what’s been done since then.
Police Chief Alan Murphy will make a case for more CCTV and accelerating funds for a public safety camera as well as the Compassionate Care Act and what Edmonton is doing to address to social disorder at the LRT station.
Mr Hutter will see if upgraded additional lighting for Downtown is in the budget plans.
Coralee Rahn, Director – Recovery Alberta will also provide Info on the Compassionate Care Act
Task Force members will be polled as to meetings dates and times
Latest Update From Managing Director of Public Services Joseph Hutter
After reviewing all of the minutes, the Owl asked Joseph Hutter, Managing Director of Public Services, the following questions - Hutter’s responses are in red.
Question Who is the chair of the task force?: Mayor Clark has served as the Chair. At the most recent meeting on June 24th, Mayor Clark expressed a desire to appoint a non-Council member as Chair to ensure continuity. A new Chair is expected to be appointed at the next meeting, which is scheduled for July 15th.
Question How many people are part of this task force? Do they all have voting privileges? There are currently 18 members. While decisions are generally made by consensus, they can be determined by majority vote when necessary. Each member holds voting privileges.
Question Are there any updates on the new location for the overnight shelter such as - has a location been selected yet, when does the Mustard Seed take possession? City staff are working diligently with the Mustard Seed and the Province to identify a suitable location for a 24-hour, consolidated emergency shelter. In this relationship, the Province typically provides capital and operational funding, the City assists in identifying potential sites, and the Mustard Seed is responsible for operating the facility. All parties involved recognize the urgency and importance of this initiative and are committed to finding a solution that supports both vulnerable individuals and the broader community.
Question When does the task force anticipate that the new shelter location will be up and running? A timeline will be established once a site has been selected and supported by all three parties involved.
Question Has the Task Force been able to nail down meeting dates? Yes, the newly adopted Terms of Reference schedule meetings every 3 weeks.
Question When are we getting a Navigation Centre and where will it be located? At this time, there is no confirmed timeline or location for a Navigation Centre.
June 24 Task Force Minutes should be available after the next Council meeting on July 21 2025.
