Grande Prairie city council plans to advocate for an extended deadline following reduced provincial funding for emergency shelter resources at the Wapiti Community Support Association.
At a March 30 council meeting, the Wapiti Community Support Association (WCSA) told council it will lose about $1.45 million in annual provincial funding. Staff said they were given 30 days’ notice that nearly 33 per cent of emergency shelter resources would be cut.
Affected programs include the Foundations substance-free transitional housing program, Wapiti House, the Saint Lawrence Centre case management team (outreach), Wapiti House trauma counselling, shelter diversion and relocation activities, the emergency housing support fund, the ID program and partial Wapiti House security services.
WCSA said that over the past 12 months, the affected Wapiti House case management team assisted 87 individuals in finding housing and leaving the shelter, and supported 96 individuals in reconnecting with family, friends or their home communities and exiting the shelter.
WCSA said the programs are expected to shut down within 30 days, which will lead to 19 staff layoffs. The organization added that 10 residents will be displaced from sober living, 174 people will be removed from case management and 17 people will be dropped from trauma counselling.
Staff said that over the past year, emergency shelter programs ran above capacity throughout the year, averaging 113 per cent. With the reduction in services, staff warn the changes could extend shelter stays and increase public disorder, and peak shelter capacity will drop to 95 clients from 135.
Executive director Kathy Lambert of the Wapiti Community Support Association said the programs helped people build on their recovery.
“We were a little bit shocked. I definitely think it’s going to put a strain on emergency services. We are serving a very large population, and I think there is going to be clientele that we will not be able to accommodate their needs.”
WCSA said it is exploring alternative funding options and is approaching local MLAs to advocate on its behalf.
Mayor Jackie Clayton said council is preparing a letter to the province requesting a delay to the funding changes.
“Council has made direction to attain more information to have a better understanding of the province’s decision, but also to ask for an extension.”
