Council approves four social development funding allocations

The City of Lethbridge’s Community Social Development (CSD) team is responsible for the administration and monitoring of provincial and federal funds to prevent and address social issues and needs in our municipality.

CSD works closely with community stakeholders to identify service needs, initiate, and evaluate procurement processes, seek funding recommendations from the Community Wellbeing and Safety Strategy (CWSS) Advisory Committee and approval by City Council, then execute and monitor service delivery agreements.

Lethbridge City Council Tuesday voted in favour of several funding allocations, based on recommendations from the June 21 Economic Standing Policy Committee meeting. No City of Lethbridge tax funding is being solicited to meet these allocation requests.

City Council will adopt the following recommendations of the CWSS Advisory Committee regarding funding from the federal Reaching Home (RH) funding portfolio:

• Approve up to $200,000 of federal Reaching Home funding, as a one-time cost, to be allocated for the procurement of a consultant to complete a needs assessment and strategic updates to the Community Wellbeing and Safety Strategy and Municipal Housing Strategy
• Approve up to $170,000 of federal Reaching Home funding, as a one-time cost, to be allocated to the Canadian Mental Health Association for the purchase of two vehicles in support of the Diversion Outreach Team (DOT) program operations
• Approve up to $90,000 annually to be allocated from the federal Reaching Home funding portfolio over a four-year term to be allocated to the Blood Tribe Department of Health to deliver the Lethbridge Wellness Shelter and Stabilization Unit Population Support Navigator (PSN) project
• Approve up to $20,000 of federal Reaching Home funding, as a one-time cost, to be allocated for the facilitation of a community-wide Integrated Coordinated Access Engagement Service Fair

“These funding allocations represent ongoing efforts for community-derived solutions to Lethbridge’s social landscape,” says Mayor Blaine Hyggen. “Our City Council will continue to advocate to the other orders of government for the services we need in Lethbridge.”

“The Federal Reaching Home funds have a significant importance for our community,” says Takara Motz, CSD Operations Manager. “These programs enhance our understanding of local homelessness issues and the provision of appropriate services centered on the integrated coordinated access system.”

As part of Tuesday’s approvals, the City Manager and City Clerk will be authorized to sign the appropriate amended funding agreements, which are also subject to continuous administrative review and optional renewal at the discretion of the City of Lethbridge pending available funding from the Government of Canada.