Breaking - Medicine Hat’s Homeless to Be Left in The Cold

Jan 5

CORRECTION - The funding application was NOT for more beds but for a daytime space.

At tonight’s council meeting we heard that the province had denied additional funding for a daytime space this winter. This means that unless the City does something, more of our people will be shivering in the cold.

The City’s current protocol for opening up warming shelters is to wait for an Extreme Cold Warning.

“In Alberta, an extreme cold warning is issued when temperatures or the wind chill index reach minus 40°C or colder. Being exposed even for short periods in these conditions can be dangerous.” (source Gov’t of Alberta)

By contrast, Edmonton opens up warming spaces when the temperature hits -20C for a specific period. Their protocol is active right now, expected to end Jan 6 at noon. They have an entire webpage dedicated to their Extreme Weather Response for Winter. They offer bus rides to shelters all winter long regardless of temperature long other services.

Meanwhile, here in Medicine Hat, we have heard that our police officers have used their vehicles to keep people warm.

Homeless people often do not have proper clothing - even when they get it , they are often victims of theft. This reality frames the city’s inaction in a damning context. Occupational health and safety regulations would not permit workers to remain outdoors for extended periods in such conditions, where frostbite can occur on exposed skin in as little as 10 to 30 minutes. These would be people with proper warm clothing. Public outrage would rightly follow if a pet were left tethered outside in similar cold.

HIstory

The Mustard Seed applied to create a 24/7 shelter at 2055 Saamis Drive. This location was selected behind closed doors and there was a large outcry when the location was announced. The Mustard Seed withdrew their application, it was cancelled before it even went in front of Council.

There is currently no daytime shelter in Medicine Hat, we are the only city of our size that has no 24/7 shelter. There are only 30 beds at the overnight shelter on 8th St but it is estimated that there are over 100 people sleeping rough in Medicine Hat. Reports of people being bussed here from other communities are false. The only people being transported here are those whose last address was in Medicine Hat before they went away for reasons such as medical treatment, incarceration, etc.

The Mustard Seed used to operate a daytime shelter on Allowance Avenue but it was shut down.

In July 2022, Council directed administration to find a location for a 24/7 shelter. We are no closer now than we were over 3-1/2 years ago.