Bill Nixon of The Mustard Seed talks to city council about operating a homeless shelter in downtown Prince Albert. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

City Hall

Council asks Mustard Seed to consider different location for shelter

Jul 19, 2022 | 3:00 PM

City council was not opposed to Calgary-based The Mustard Seed operating a shelter for homeless people, they just don’t want it on Central Avenue.

Bill Nixon of The Mustard Seed told council on Monday that they work to house people, not just provide emergency help.

“The focus on anything we do when it comes to homelessness is focused on helping people get homes. Always homes. It’s not just about providing people with basic shelter,” said Nixon.

Nixon said they work hard to be a good neighbour wherever they operate.

Here, the Mustard Seed hopes to provide meals, access to shelters and public toilets, clothing, and work to remove people from the street into homes.

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The organization was hoping to use 1306 Central Avenue for a location but council nixed that idea, opting instead to have staff find a location that is not right on the main street of the downtown.

Councillor Blake Edwards made the motion to deny the request, based on the location in the shopping area.

“I’ve heard too many concerns about the main shopping street on Central Avenue. I think we can work with planning and find a more suitable location downtown,” he said.

In their plan for their original choice, Nixon said they could have 30 cots and had room to add 30 more if needed. They hoped to have the shelter open this November.

The City of Prince Albert has a growing homeless population with numbers doubling in one year. (Susan McNeil/paNOW Staff)

They are looking to work with other organizations and governments — and have already contacted many — that provide services geared to homeless people.

Nixon said they won’t duplicate service that are already being offered elsewhere.

He clarified that the shelter has rules, which means that not every homeless person wants to use it. No using of alcohol or drugs inside is allowed, all tools are removed from the people staying and no violence is tolerated.

In their other locations, and because it is a faith-based effort, The Mustard Seed gets 50 per cent of its operating funding from donations and governments donate the other half.

Council did deny the proposal as it stood but made a condition on the motion that the planning department continue to pursue options for a different location.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow