Lethbridge Minute: Childcare Survey, Supportive Housing, and Federal Funding Denied

Lethbridge Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Lethbridge politics

This Week In Lethbridge:

• On Tuesday, there will be a City Council meeting at 12:30 pm. The meeting begins with a closed session before opening up to the public at 1:30 pm. Councillor Dodic will bring forward an Official Business Motion to cease planning and construction of any and all bicycle paths and lanes that have not yet been built, and receive an estimate from Administration regarding the costs of removing all bicycle paths and lanes in the downtown business area. Once that estimate is received, the matter would be opened up for public input before determining how to proceed. Councillor Dodic will bring forward a second Official Business Motion to require a monthly operating report from the Lethbridge & District Exhibition detailing revenues and expenses.
  
  
• The Downtown Lawlessness Reduction Task Force will meet on Thursday at 7:30 am. The majority of this meeting will be held in camera (in secret) to discuss “Downtown Insights” and “Strategic Planning.”
  
  
• Also on Thursday, at 1:30 pm, there will be a meeting of the Economic Standing Policy Committee. The Committee will discuss the 2024 budget for the Downtown Business Revitalization Zone, as well as renewal of the lease agreement with the Lethbridge Soccer Association for the Servus Sport Centre (Soccer Centre) for 2024-28, with the opportunity to extend the lease for two additional 5-year terms.

Last Week In Lethbridge:

• The City of Lethbridge has initiated a Childcare Needs Assessment survey to look at the challenges faced by families in accessing childcare as well as those faced by service providers in maintaining and increasing their current capacity. Research done last summer showed there was a 600-space gap in childcare in the city, based on provincial data from 2021 and 2022. Recommendations based on the assessment will be presented to Council in June. The survey is open until April 2nd and can be filled out online.
  
  
• Ground has been broken on a new permanent supportive housing facility in Lethbridge, with the Province investing $10.2 million in the project. The 30-unit complex, set to begin construction in spring, aims to provide safe and stable housing for adults experiencing homelessness and living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen said the project was a significant step in addressing homelessness.
  
  
• The City of Lethbridge has been denied funding from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund program. Jason Nixon, Alberta’s Minister of Seniors, Community, and Social Services, expressed disappointment, emphasizing the federal government's disproportionate funding for housing in other provinces. The City has been debriefed on its application and plans to incorporate learnings into future grant opportunities, with a continued focus on advancing housing options through an updated Municipal Housing Strategy expected later this spring.

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