A permanent emergency homeless shelter in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, has been put on hold after the city council voted to rescind the development permit for the project. The decision came despite the fact that the project had already received land and funding from the provincial government.
The project has been contentious in the community, with some residents expressing concerns about its location and size. Council had previously been warned by administration that once the permit was approved, there was little they could do to stop the project.
The decision to rescind the permit has left advocates for the shelter disappointed and uncertain about what comes next. They argue that the shelter is needed to address the growing problem of homelessness in Wetaskiwin.
The mayor of Wetaskiwin, Tyler Gandam, has said that the city remains committed to addressing the issue of homelessness, but he did not provide any specific details on how that would be done.
The decision on the shelter comes at a time when homelessness is a growing problem in many Canadian cities. According to the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, there are over 235,000 people experiencing homelessness in Canada on any given night. The number of people experiencing homelessness has been increasing steadily in recent years, due to factors such as rising housing costs, poverty, and mental health issues.
The decision on the shelter in Wetaskiwin is a reminder of the challenges that cities face in addressing the issue of homelessness. There is often no easy solution, and any attempt to build a shelter or provide other services for the homeless is likely to face opposition from some residents.
However, it is important to remember that homelessness is a complex issue with no easy solutions. It is important to engage with the community and work together to find a solution that meets the needs of everyone involved.
