AB Gov Vetoes Federal Funding For City Homeless Support Services

Coun. Bill Cocks responding to questions on Monday regarding the provincial rejection of federal funds for a vulnerable person drop-in centre. (Photo Alex McCuaig)

The provincial government is blocking federal funding to an organization providing daytime services to city homeless, a city councillor revealed Monday.

“We can expect to see more of that (homeless) population shuttering and shivering over hot air register vents on the city’s streets,” Coun. Bill Cocks said to council during Monday’s meeting.

The $300,000 application for the federal Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) applied for by the city in partnership with SafeLink Alberta’s Medicine Hat operations was denied last month, council heard.

Those services provided by SafeLink included a daytime drop-in centre which provided peer support for drug users, safe substance use, basic food and hygiene supplies along with housing and treatment application support among others.

Those services are expected to end imminently, council heard on Monday.

The only Alberta organizations which have been successful in receiving ETF grants are First Nation organizations not subject to Alberta’s Provincial Priorities Act. That legislation requires provincial approval of funds provided to Alberta municipalities by the federal government. Only municipalities and First Nation organizations were eligible for ETF grants.

The ETF application process noted, “the primary priority will be ‘urgency,’ defined as the need for swift action in relation to the overdose crisis, as applied to an individual community's context.”

Cocks stated the reasons for the denial of the federal funds by the province was due to a “misalignment with Alberta’s mental health, addiction and recovery priorities.”

In response to questions by the Owl, Cocks asked, “where do these people go?”

He added, “this daytime respite centre was very much needed, is very much needed and I hope we can find a way to make this happen.

“The federal government came up with the money to support it and were prepared to fund it but the provincial government said that this service provider is not approved by us.”

When asked by the Owl if the province will be providing funding in lieu of the federal government, Cocks stated, “they haven’t stepped up to the plate for that.”

The Owl has requested comment from Medicine Hat MLAs Premier Danielle Smith and Justin Wright, the Ministry of Mental  Health and Addiction as well as SafeLink.