Thanks to funding from the Government of Alberta, vulnerable people on Edmonton’s south side now have access to expanded services that will support them in making the journey out of poverty and homelessness.
The grant, received through the Community Facilities Enhancement Program (CFEP) and provided by the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women. has allowed us to complete much-needed expansions and renovations to our Strathcona Shelter. This grant aims to foster healthy, vibrant communities, and through this funding we are now able to offer more services to support the community at large.
The original shelter space includes 45 beds, a kitchen serving three meals a day for guests, lunch for drop-in guests accessing services, and 24/7 on-site support.
Now, with the expansions to our shelter, the services available to the community include:
- On-site nurse
- Laundry
- Shower facilities
- Housing navigation
People who are not staying at our shelter can now access the space for support. Whether it is to wash their clothes, take a shower, or find support with housing, our staff are happy to help anyone who comes through our doors.
“We cannot express how much we appreciate this support from the Government of Alberta as we continue to work towards our goal of eliminating homelessness in the communities where we serve,” says James Gardiner, The Mustard Seed CEO.
So far in 2024, our staff have made 69 housing referrals to help guests move out of the shelter and into more permanent housing. The photo below shows the housing wall, where a sticker of a house is added to the wall every time someone moves out of the shelter and into housing. There are 100 houses on that wall, representing 100 people who are no longer homeless!
On-site supports for guests staying at our shelter include:
- System navigation: the process of identifying the services that someone requires upon entering our shelter. This process allows us to help each guest the best way we can.
- Access to technology
- Mental health and addictions support
- Financial literacy
- Employment supports
- Food security
- Opportunities to engage in programs that can increase life skills and create positive relationships with other guests through Coffee Connect at a nearby church
“Alberta’s government is proud to support non-profits across the province through the community grants program. The Mustard Seed provides invaluable services to Albertans, and I am glad to support their ongoing efforts to provide shelter and services to Albertans in need,” says Minister Fir, Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women.
Thank you to the Government of Alberta for your support. For more information about our programming, head to our website, or if you would like to support our organization you can donate or check out our urgently needed items for a list of items to donate.
