Checking in with the Lethbridge shelter as Blood Tribe settles in as operator – Lethbridge | 24CA News
It’s been roughly three-and-a-half months for the reason that Blood Tribe Department of Health (BTDH) assumed operations on the Lethbridge Wellness Shelter and Stabilization Centre.
Previously operated by Alpha House Society, the shelter is positioned at 802 2 Avenue North in Lethbridge.
The BTDH goals to supply helps which are “culturally appropriate”, with a excessive variety of Indigenous shoppers accessing their companies.
“We basically hit the ground running as an operation,” stated shelter coordinator Tim Heavy Shields. “We started from a handful of staff, limited resources. So within that short time we’ve come to establish our shelter operations.”
They welcomed dignitaries and different officers for excursions of the ability and a meal final week.
“The (BTDH) is pleased to be working with the province of Alberta and the city of Lethbridge to help the vulnerable,” stated BTDH CEO Derrick Fox. “During the transition, we are appreciative of the assistance of Streets Alive, the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen and others. We (also) thank Alpha House for all their work.”
Now, they’re working with round 85 full-time, part-time, and informal workers and are engaged on strengthening partnerships with different native organizations, police and emergency companies.
According to Heavy Shields, as an emergency shelter the constructing is open 24/7. They’ve included wellness programming that emboldens shoppers to stay round all through the daytime.
“We don’t ask our guests to leave, we actually encourage them to participate in those daily activities,” he defined.
William Potter-Ewen, a visitor on the shelter and stabilization centre, got here from White Court, Alta., to strive getting sober. Although nervous at first, he stated the expertise has been glorious and appreciates the adjoining soup kitchen and roof over his head every evening.
He’s felt much less alone in his journey after having the ability to share his objectives and aspirations with others round him.
“They really changed my life and turned my life around for the better,” Potter-Ewen stated. “This place has offered so much opportunity to be able to stay sober and I’m just about a month sober so I’m going to be taking this clean time and moving into the treatment centres.”
The shelter’s capability is roughly 110 folks, however they don’t flip anybody away.
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