In a race against the clock, Cold Lake City Council convened a special meeting on April 29, to approve a letter of support for the Cold Lake John Howard Society (CLJHS), a critical requirement to secure provincial funding for the city's only homeless shelter under Alberta’s Homeless Supports & Housing Stability Program - Wildfire Grant.
“We understand that the government reached out just yesterday saying that funding is going to be approved for the Cold Lake John Howard Society, subject to some documents being submitted and the turnaround was basically less than 24 hours to be able to get that information in. You should see it was out [to them] by noon today,” said CAO Kevin Nagoya
The program supports operational costs for the John Howard Society shelter at 4716-40 Avenue in Cold Lake South, a city-owned facility operated under a license agreement renewed earlier this year.
Nagoya said one of the requirements needed from the City was a letter of support. The City secured an extension until the evening so council could review and approve the letter of support, which would then be submitted to the government the same day.
The wildfire grant funding supports seven-day-a-week shelter programming, including overnight and morning coverage, and is expected to run until October 31, 2025. The funding, made available through Alberta’s response to last year’s wildfire emergencies, is used to bolster social services like shelters that see increased demand during summer months, according to the City of Cold Lake.
Nagoya said the society received the same funding last year. The funding comes from the Wildfire Grant, which supports summer operations, while a separate winter funding component is submitted in the fall, he added.
Council unanimously approved the letter of support, allowing the City to send the document to the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services before the end-of-day deadline. This approval ensures CLJHS remains eligible for provincial operational support through the busy summer months.
