Edmonton council backs plan to shrink two Chinatown shelters and build smaller facilities across the city, aiming for improved homeless services.
Edmonton to downsize Chinatown shelters, expand citywide
Council moves to reshape shelter strategy
Edmonton city council has approved a motion to reduce the size of two large homeless shelters in Chinatown while relocating beds to new facilities across the city. The decision, passed Tuesday with 11 councillors in favour and two opposed, is intended to align with best practice guidelines and ease pressure on the downtown core.
Details of the proposal
The motion, introduced by Coun. Anne Stevenson, directs the city to send a formal letter to Alberta’s Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon. The letter seeks provincial collaboration on decreasing occupancy at the Bruce Reith Centre and Herb Jamieson Centre, both operated by Hope Mission. Combined, the two shelters currently house more than 700 people, far above the city’s recommended limit of 125 per facility.
Rationale behind the change
Stevenson argued that smaller, distributed shelters can provide more dignified care and serve specific demographics, such as women or Indigenous residents. She said the shift is not about reducing overall capacity but about redistributing spaces more evenly across Edmonton. “It’s better for the communities that they’re serving,” she noted, adding that the existing shelters were built without modern standards in mind.
Debate at council
Not all councillors agreed with the move. Tim Cartmell, who is running for mayor, questioned whether another letter would meaningfully advance shelter reform. “We know the shelters are too big. We know we need less spaces in Chinatown. Do we need yet another instruction for another letter?” he asked. Karen Principe also opposed the motion, while supporters argued that a written record helps ensure accountability between municipal and provincial governments.
Challenges in implementation
Hope Mission, which operates the two facilities, acknowledged the benefits of smaller shelters but warned of practical hurdles. Tim Pasma, the organization’s program director, said resources, funding, and zoning restrictions make it difficult to develop additional sites. Downsizing legacy shelters, he added, could complicate permits and strain nearby facilities. “It also puts our other sites downtown into non-compliance,” he said.
Impact on communities
Advocates note that large shelters often lack daytime programming, pushing people onto the streets and straining nearby businesses and residents in Chinatown. Stevenson said scaling down shelters and distributing services is part of addressing these pressures. Over the coming months, the city, province, and Hope Mission are expected to work together on a long-term strategy.
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