CANMORE – A regional winter shelter is requesting additional free rent for a longer period after it had its highest usage this past season.
The Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley (HSBV) made the ask after it had its beds used 640 times by an average of 5.9 people per night.
The shelter, which ran from Dec. 11, 2023, to April 1, 2024, had a nightly capacity of eight beds, meaning it saw about three-quarters use each of the 112 nights it was operational. There were 40 people who used the space.
“Our team has really referred to this last operating season as a year of unprecedented use … in comparison to other operating years,” said Jessica Klaric, HSBV’s executive director, at council’s Tuesday (June 4) meeting.
“We provide those in the community that are unhoused and housing insecure with a warm and safe space to rest.”
Additionally, HSBV is asking to use Scout Hall in Banff between Oct. 1 to May 1 each year, depending on funding availability and whether a new location is found. The aim is to achieve “security and certainty” for a space until a long-term solution is found.
It’s also asking for council to allow its hourly free rent to be expanded from 12-6 a.m. to 10 p.m. to 9 a.m. The society highlighted it cost $16,517 to use for the season with a nightly fee of $140 when being charged between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. and 6-10 a.m.
The society stated it would save $100 a night and $15,100 for the length of its operations, with the money going towards future programming.
Council will discuss the potential funding request at its July meeting.
“This request will ultimately provide HSBV the certainty and security in having a space to operate the program while we simultaneously look for longer term solutions,” Klaric said.
The service is continuing to search for a long-term shelter solution, annual outreach, maintain emergency winter shelter operations to start Nov. 1, 2024, more long-term sustainable funding and move to a charitable designation.
Klaric said before the start of operations, HSBV staff consult neighbours in the area of Scout Hall and provide contact information for the service.
Its 2023-24 annual report outlined a redeveloped strategic plan would be created for 2024-25.
During the 112 nights, 19 of those saw demand outweigh supply. It also operated for five nights of extreme cold, where the weather dropped at or below -40 Celsius. There were also 11 nights when the weather went at or below -20 C.
The nightly capacity was increased to eight this past season after demand increased in 2022-23.
“We need to have more sustainable diverse funding in order to be able to work towards our longer term goals and develop our programming based on needs as opposed to what funding is actually available,” Klaric said.
In addition to the Town, the service also gained funding from the province’s Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services, which it will also get for 2024-25. Klaric noted they also had grant funding from Bow Valley Food Bank and had support from Fire Mountain Foods for a hot meal for each person.
The 2023-24 annual report had 85 per cent of costs going to staff, 12 per cent for rent and three per cent for cleaning and laundry. It found the nightly costs per bed were about $150 and monthly operating costs were about $36,000.
The society’s annual fundraiser, Coldest Night of the Year, had 161 walkers in 23 teams to raise $56,807 from 299 donors.
An optional survey had 10 guests take part, with 90 per cent being male and 60 per cent between 36-55. Roughly 50 per cent were employed in the valley and had lived in the region for five or more years, while 80 per cent said they had been denied services.
In addition to daily and informal discussions, HSBV had three voluntary in-person feedback opportunities for guests. Each had at least five people, with the response being supportive of the service.
The feedback had people saying they would’ve slept outside, couch surfed or not know where they would’ve stayed without the winter shelter.
The society became a non-profit in 2022 and finished its fourth year of operations.
A community outreach program was established in 2023 and ran daily during 2024. It provided people a chance to connect with the society via phone, email and social media up until 7 p.m.
It had 199 uses in addition to making referrals to local resources and supports, according to the submission to council. There were seven emergency taxi rides provided and 46 nights where commercial rooms were provided on an emergency basis.
“Through the outreach program, unhoused and housing insecure individuals can seek support with basic system navigation, program referrals, and, on a case-by-case basis, emergency support services (contingent on budget and availability),” stated its report to council.
ANNUAL USAGE
- 2020-21 usage: 17 people and 104 occupied bed nights
- 2021-22 usage: 26 people and 296 occupied bed nights
- 2022-23 usage: 30 people and 263 occupied bed nights
- 2023-24 usage: 40 people and 640 occupied bed nights
