Strathmore in support of overnight shelter opening 24 hours a day
The Town of Strathmore council voted to authorize the mayor to sign a letter of support for the Strathmore Overnight Shelter to remain open to clients 24 hours a day.
Discussion surrounding the letter took place during the Sept. 18 regular meeting of council. Coun. Brent Wiley voiced a concern about the letter, regarding the Overnight Shelter potentially expanding the number of beds available to clients.
Wiley expressed concern that by expanding the number of beds at the Overnight Shelter, the facility would be serving clients not resident to Strathmore.
“If we continue to expand this, I am afraid that it is going to cost our citizens more than I think the 20 beds which do serve Strathmore residents,” he said.
The letter, which was ultimately authorized by council, though supportive of the expansion of the shelter, did not specify how many beds may be added to the facility.
Elizabeth Karp, executive director of the Strathmore Overnight Shelter, addressed Wiley’s concern, stating the Overnight Shelter puts a direct emphasis on screening clients to be residents of Strathmore as often as possible.
“I quite often do get calls from Calgary, Edmonton, and other areas because the shelters are full there. We are not in the business of bringing homeless populations into Strathmore … when the social workers or other people call us from other cities, we actually turn them down,” she said. “We typically do not let them into the shelter, we turn them away before they even get there – but there are situations where the RCMP picked somebody up on the street, the hospital is releasing somebody, and so we do take them in in those situations.”
Karp added the Overnight Shelter requested support in expanding their operation in order to qualify for additional grant opportunities to finance the shelter more adequately.
“It does not necessarily mean we are going to bring a bunch more people into Strathmore,” said Karp. “As a matter of fact, in the last quarter, we have had a huge success rate of placing people in homes.”
The Strathmore Overnight Shelter also maintains a policy that clients utilizing the service have a maximum stay length of three months.
Karp explained that period may be extended on a case-by-case basis if the client is working towards a housing goal or is similarly oriented.
Coun. Richard Wegener motioned for council to authorize signing the letter. Support for the letter to the Overnight Shelter from council was passed in a vote of 5-1 in favour following the discussion period.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Harris and Trump make a furious final push before U.S. election day
A campaign that has careened through a felony trial, incumbent being pushed off the ticket and assassination attempts comes down to Election Day on Tuesday.
Communication issues, double standard for Lebanese-Canadians trying to escape war, says lawyer
Some Lebanese-Canadians are pressuring the federal government to implement emergency measures that would allow Lebanese nationals' family members a less restrictive gateway to Canada, citing more 'flexible' policies for Ukrainians.
Peel police officer suspended after video appeared to show him at protest while off duty
Peel police say four people were arrested and an officer was injured following several protests in Mississauga and Brampton Sunday afternoon, including one at a Hindu temple that turned violent.
Musk PAC tells Philadelphia judge the US$1M sweepstakes winners are not chosen by chance
A lawyer for Elon Musk 's political action committee told a judge in Philadelphia on Monday that so-called 'winners' of his US$1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes in swing states are not chosen by chance but are instead chosen to be paid 'spokespeople' for the group.
B.C. port employers to launch lockout at terminals as labour disruption begins
Employers at British Columbia ports say they are going ahead with locking out more than 700 foremen across the province after strike activities from union members began.
3 arrested as protesters clash outside Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C.
Three people were arrested after duelling protests erupted into violence outside a Hindu temple in Surrey, B.C., over the weekend, according to the RCMP.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Hugh Grant spent half his career in rom-coms. Now he plays monsters, and he's never been happier
After decades in romantic comedies, Hugh Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career.
'The best that we can be': Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy.