St. Albert city council took a first step toward the creation of a youth transitional housing facility, as it directed administration to develop a bylaw removing the municipal reserve designation on a potential building site.
Council heard the update during its June 10 standing committee of the whole meeting. The update comes from a feasibility study by social housing coordinator Vlad Ruben and Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) senior manager Connie Smigelski.
In 2024, a request for information (RFI) found there were nine interested organizations, with two applications submitted. Although three land options were identified as being suitable, only one was prioritized and will be moving forward with the potential removal of the municipal designation.
The preferred site, 16 Winston Churchill Avenue, was identified because of its proximity to downtown, transit and support services. It was also noted the parcel of land was one council was looking at disposing of. It previously housed Fire Hall No. 1.
The St. Albert Mayor's Task Force to End Homelessness report from 2020, found some form of transitional home is the best housing option for youth stuck in the "in between" stage of development with no access to supports.
Its feasibility study for transitional housing focused on youth aged 14 to 24 years old, the norm for these types of facilities in Alberta and other places in Canada, such as British Columbia.
"Data identified between less than a dozen to more than 30 youth in need of housing. It is difficult to get an exact number, as youth often couch-surf with friends, acquaintances, or family when in need of housing support," Smigielski told the Gazette in an email.
Coun. Sheena Hughes said she likes the location because it isn't directly in the middle of the neighbourhood, although hopes public awareness or communication between the neighbourhood and the city for the use of the land would take place as this moves forward. Administration said it is likely too early for that.
Administration called this type of facility a significant need for the city. It said of the hundreds of youth surveyed, 259 youth and 50 young adults identified housing as one of the top five issues they're facing.
Coun. Ken MacKay said this is a first big step.
"We've identified this is a significant need in our community," MacKay said. "This is going to meet a need if this actually does come to fruition and I'm actually quite excited about it."
He also added that the issues that arise from these facilities are mitigated quite successfully.
"I've had years of experience working with group homes and group home agencies in Edmonton," he said. "And certainly a lot of the concerns that have been raised by councillors are real. But a lot of them are mitigated quite successfully and really become one offs rather than the norm."
