Medicine Hat city council approves $1.85M grant for women’s shelter

The shelter started the upgrades in November 2023 through a low-interest loan and the work is expected to be completed by the end of June. The shelter society says the construction is critical to continue protecting the community’s most vulnerable women and girls.

Since the women’s shelter came forward to council with its request in November 2024, it received a $1-million grant from the Alberta government’s community facility enhancement program.

Coun. Ramona Robins said, because of the provincial grant, she proposed the cheaper option an associated 0.09 per cent tax rate increase.

“The measure of society is how it treats its most vulnerable,” Robins said.

Coun. Alison Van Dyke, speaking in support of the grant, said the shelter does difficult but essential work that is needed more and more.

“I wish that we as a society could figure out a way to reduce that need but, in the meantime, we have to rise to the occasion to provide the services in the community,” Van Dyke told council.

She argued the Alberta government should have contributed more to the shelter project as it falls within its jurisdiction.

“I’m disappointed that they haven’t seen fit to provide additional one-time funding for this project, particularly as housing, shelters and social services are the responsonsility of the provincial government,” Van Dyke added.

The shelter’s funding request was the first made through the city’s community grant process. But because that initiative doesn’t have specific funds set aside, the request was fulfilled through a budget amendment.

Hirsch pointed out there almost appears to be a “blank cheque” with the program.

Chief administrator Ann Mitchell agreed the city needs to fill that gap in the process.

“That’s something we really should look at so we have a set fund amount,” Mitchell said.

Clark, like others around the horseshoe, was concerned about the precedent that could be set by the decision council makes.

“There might be situations where money is the difference between the non-profit closing and the non-profit existing,” Clark said. Staff confirmed that if council did not provide the grant, the women’s shelter would not close but come under financial stress.

The 44-year-old shelter organization has contributed $2 million from its reserve funds to the renovation project and acquired $1.1 million through fundraising efforts.

The non-profit has received $1.4 million through grants, including the $1-million provincial facilities grant.

The remaining $4 million in project costs are being financed through a loan from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. The shelter will be able to use the grant from the city to pay off almost half of the loan.

Natasha Carvalho, executive director of the shelter society, said she was pleased with council’s decision.

“This is amazing news,” Carvalho told reporters.

“That’s going to make a big, huge, huge difference in how we go forward.”

by Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat city council approves $1.85M grant for women’s shelter

Our Community