Project Updates

• March 31, 2022

  Applications are now open to join the Coordinated Care Campus Community Advisory Committee.

  The purpose of the committee is to provide a connection between the Coordinated Care Campus and the community, with members providing advice and feedback on matters related to the facility.

  Its mandate aims to:

  • provide advice and recommendations pertaining to community education, integration and engagement;
  • provide advice and recommendations on identified matters of concern brought forward through the Good Neighbour Grievance process; and
  • provide feedback in the ongoing evaluation and planning for the Coordinated Care Campus and its programs.
  • Currently, seven public member positions are available.

  The Committee is seeking:

  • four community members/ business owners
  • one member from the Community Advisory Board on Housing and Homelessness
  • one Indigenous representative
  • one member from the health care field

  Two members from City Administration will also sit on the committee, with potential for more members to be added based on qualifications and expertise on an ad-hoc basis.

  Applications are open from now until May 13 and can be completed here.

  The City thanks all interested applicants and looks forward to advancing the committee to build a stronger, connected and supportive community for all.

• November 5, 2021

  Phase One renovations and operations are now well underway at the Coordinated Care Campus (CCC)

  

  Funding Updates:

  • ​​​​CMHC Co-Investment- In September, the City was successful in obtaining a $150k seed funding grant from CMHC. The seed funding is the first half or the two step Co-Investment application. We are now awaiting decision on the larger $2.6m grant. The project has scored high and our probabilities are good. 
  • Health Canada- Northreach Society successfully obtained funding from Health Canada to support the delivery of healthcare at the Coordinated Care Campus. The funding will support a team that includes one (1) nurse practitioner (FTE), three (3) registered nurses (FTE) and two (2) researchers (FTE) and one (1) addictions and mental health social worker (FTE).  The team will work directly with the residents to form relationships and work with the housing support workers.
  • Outreach and Support Services Initiative (OSSI) funding from the Province of Alberta- Funding support in the amount of $1.83m is allocated to support Phase 1 and Phase 2 staffing related to providing security and housing support workers.   

  Licensing and Inspection:

  • Supportive Licensing- The Coordinate Care Campus received Provincial licensing as a Supportive Living Facility on November 3, 2021. This involved thorough review of both the physical facility and the operational practice and standards.
  • Inspections- Fire, Building and Health Inspections have all recently occurred and occupancy for the Phase 1 – Residential Element (floor 1) has been authorized.

  Facility:

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Deep Clean
  • Window Tinting
  • Fire Sprinklers design complete
  • Security Cameras
  • Fencing
  • Renovations in commercial area is expected to start in the next 1-2 weeks and scheduled for 5 day

  Operations:

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Operational Policies and Procedures developed
  • Maintenance Position hired
  • Northreach Team as service provider is now operational on site 24/7 including security staffing

  Community:

  • Community Advisory Committee- The Terms of Reference for the Committee have been developed. These will be presented to the Protective & Social Services Committee on November 23, 2021.
• September 28, 2021

  Community:

  • Several tours for community partners over the past month including for Northreach Society, the Friendship Centre and the Community Kitchen.
  • Smudging of the entire building was completed on September 3.
  • 25 residents will be moving in to the CCC this winter and have been identified, assessed, and participated in a well-received tour.
  • A Resident Committee has been elected and is currently working on rules and guidelines for residents.

  Operations & Programming: 

  • The property sale is officially complete.
  • Building contacts/operations have moved over to the City, and a licensing application has been submitted to AHS.
  • Finalizing of agreements with Northreach Society in regard to process flow and client care is underway.
  • Successful recruitment of a Property Manager and Facility Worker has concluded. They are scheduled to move into the building along with the Landlord Tenant Advisor mid-October.
  • A consultation meeting with Ambrose Place and Bridge Housing (City of Edmonton) was held on September 24th to connect regarding programming and future sharing, support and consultation.
  • A Cultural Support Committee is working on programming.

  Finance:

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The City has been approved for $150,000 Seed Funding through Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). In addition, the City has further provided notice of intent to the CMHC that an application will be submitted for Co-Investment Funding.
  • Northreach Society is pursuing Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP) Grant funding for addictions and health supports, through Health Canada.  This funding will be conducive to the Coordinated Care Campus’ recovery-oriented system of care. (It is not safe supply project)

  Renovation:

  • ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​PL Hospitality GP Ltd has been assigned as the General Contractor for renovations in accordance with the Purchase Agreement. This condition was proposed by the seller as a means to address a financial gap that existed between what the City was willing to pay and what the seller was agreeable to accepting.
  • The negotiating team consulted with both our legal advisor and procurement regarding the ask. It was confirmed that the three Trade Agreements that govern City procurement allowed for such agreement and that the proposed fee was considered good value for the project scale. Additional benefits included speed of procurement, current/historical knowledge of the building and organizational experience. The negotiating team accepted the condition.
  • Following acceptance, a standard CCDC5B (Construction Management Contract for Services and Construction) was completed, reviewed by legal and executed between the parties. The CCDC5B makes the General Contractor responsible for procurement activities based on thresholds. A combination of direct award, quotes and tenders will be required to complete the work on budget and time.
  • The renovation activities will occur in phases over the next 12 months, starting with accessibility upgrades in rooms, security enhancements, exterior fencing and fire protection enhancements to be completed this fall.
  • To ensure recommendations and programming requirements are met, renovations which are critical to safety standards are a priority.  No further delays are expected to impact the resident’s move in date of November 1, 2021.

  The Coordinated Care Campus is committed to further community engagement through: 

  • Neighbourhood Safety Grant

  • Project Updates

  • Good Neighbour Plan

• Project Background

  Project planning and community engagement for rezoning began in 2021 including:

  • Completion of a Needs Assessment and Business Case Analysis

  • Collaboration with Indigenous and First Nation groups

  • Presentation to the Academic Social Services community, and Municipal Policing Advisory Committee

  • Establishment of carecampus@cityofgp.com for community and neighbourhood feedback

  • Online public engagement sessions

  • Engagement sessions with lived experience and social service providers

  • Notices and signage

  • Various updates to the community via media releases, media interviews, website updates, and social media 

• FAQs

  1. Who lives in supportive housing?
  Supportive housing is for people who have experienced homelessness and need help to maintain housing and require 24-7 support. Individuals in supportive housing report improvements in access to employment, income, education, addiction issues, mental health, and life-skills.

  Everyone’s path into homelessness is different. For some people, it’s a change in life circumstance like job loss or illness. Others may have mental or physical health challenges, sometimes compounded by trauma and addictions, that make maintaining independent living a challenge. Others may have aged out of the child welfare system with nowhere to go.

  For many people who have experienced homelessness, housing is not a destination but a route to regaining a sense of purpose and connection.

  2. How are tenants selected?

  Tenants are referred to a supportive housing site based on their support requirements and what the specific site offers in terms of supports and programming. Tenant choice is also a determining factor in their housing placement.

  The referral process is a collaborative placement process with the HUB Table which consists of service providers, shelters and outreach teams. Three assessment tools used to assess tenant eligibility include a Service Prioritization Decision Assessment Tool, Biopsychosocial Assessment and a Risk Assessment. This process ensures that the supports on-site match the needs of the tenants.

  3. What support services will be provided?

  Programs and supportive services such as:

  • 24/7 crisis services
  • Independent living skills
  • Medication assistance
  • Mental health services
  • Medical services, including home care services, continuing care, disability services
  • Cultural, ceremonial, and spiritual practices
  • Psycho-social, recreation or support group activities
  • Financial goal planning

  All programs and support services are based on individual case plan.

  4. Why does Grande Prairie need supportive housing?

  Grande Prairie is making progress toward ending chronic homelessness but there are still around 210 people with no permanent home. This does not include the new faces identified by street outreach teams that are sleeping rough or new to the City.

  Individuals will face different kind of challenges that lead to housing instability, but ending chronic homelessness is possible. It simply means that any experience of homelessness is rare, brief and doesn't repeat. The City and its community partners are working to create a homeless-serving system and a supply of appropriate housing that allows us to quickly connect people with the support and housing they need.

  5. Is this a safe consumption site?

  No. A safe consumption site is typically available to the general public and is a service that is located near Wapiti House Shelter. The Coordinated Care Campus will not be providing support of this nature to the general public. However, a recovery oriented system of care and addiction management supports will be provided to tenants.

  6. What was the decision-making process for the Coordinated Care Campus?

  The Coordinated Care Campus is a Community Supportive Housing Project which is a critical type of housing outlined in The Grande Prairie Five Year Plan to End Homelessness (2015-2019), Affordable Housing Action Plan (2021-2022), and Homelessness Strategy (2021-2023).

  Discussion and decision-making on the Coordinated Care Campus project occurred at the Council and Committee meetings. Please click this link to access the agenda, minutes, and webcast recording page.

  A Request for Expression of Interest was issued March 26, 2021 with a submission deadline of April 12, 2021, resulting in 0 submissions

  The Rezoning process was initiated May 14, 2021 and concluded June 28.

  Please note, Interim Mayor Jackie Clayton voluntarily recused herself from all Council discussion, deliberation and decision-making on the Coordinated Care Campus Project due to a perceived conflict of interest.