Funding for housing, sobering centre

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This article was published 04/08/2023 (867 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Funding for a sobering centre, transitional housing and affordable housing in Brandon were all part of a pre-election blackout announcement blitz from the provincial government on Thursday.

The largest share of the announced funding was $4.3 million for a 48-unit affordable housing project at the former site of Fleming School.

In January, the Sun reported that the project was on indefinite hold. A report issued by City of Brandon staff stated it “has been tendered for construction but has not commenced due to a funding gap that emerged due to rising construction and financing costs and increases in the cost of goods.”

The project was first announced in 2011, with both the city and the province previously contributing $1.56 million each toward it. The city also offered a tax offsetting grant over a period of 20 years for the development.

In a media release put out by the province, Families Minister Rochelle Squires stated the new funding is intended to keep the project viable in light of industry-wide cost increases and supply chain issues.

The Sun was unable to reach developer Kirk Brugger for comment.

However, Brandon community housing and wellness co-ordinator Shannon Saltarelli said Thursday that some work on the property has already started and the developer has received the necessary permits.

“They have the construction fences up, they have been doing work,” Saltarelli said. “Once the developer knew that they were able going to be getting additional money from their lender and the confirmation from the province, they were able to pull their permit.”

The province is also contributing $4 million toward the 24-unit transitional housing project being jointly developed by the John Howard Society of Brandon and Westman Youth for Christ.

In March, Brandon sold a property on the 300 block of 16th Street North to the John Howard Society for just $1 on the condition that full funding could be obtained for the project.

Then, in late May, the federal government delivered a $5-million contribution to the project through its Rapid Housing Initiative.

With Thursday’s announcement, John Howard Society of Brandon executive director Ross Robinson said 90 per cent of the needed $10 million in funding has now been secured.

To gather that last million dollars, Robinson said a charity fundraiser called “Crossing the Line” has been scheduled for Nov. 16.

It will bring together local dignitaries, including Mayor Jeff Fawcett, to get roasted by a selection of comedians. To cool off after the roasts, some of the participants will also sit in a dunk tank.

The fundraiser will allow members of the community as well as businesses to get personally involved with the project, Robinson said.

“Now we’ve just got what we hope is going to be the easiest 10 per cent to raise,” Robinson said. “This is a community project, so the community is needed to make this happen. We’ll lead it, but we need everybody to get behind it.”

More information, including on how people can sponsor the event, can be found at crossingtheline.ca

The final component of the province’s announcement was a repeat of a promise made in July 2021 to provide $2 million for the establishment of a sobering centre in Brandon.

The new aspect is that the province is committing to provide $1.5 million in annual funding to operate the centre once it is open.

Robinson, who has been involved with the effort to establish the sobering centre in his role as co-chair of the Community Wellness Collaborative, said the organization is excited to see more support for the effort.

The other co-chair of the collaborative, Antoinette Gravel-Ouelette, said she was glad the effort has been made to do research and consult with people in Brandon to make sure the sobering centre will meet the community’s needs once it opens.

“The $1.5-million annual operating funding is huge, because that means it will be sustainable in our community,” Gravel-Ouelette said. “It’s a way for people to be treated kindly and with dignity. That was one of the things we talked about, making sure that takes place.”

Reached by phone, Fawcett said some final details still need to be hammered out like the location of the centre and what organization will operate it, but expressed hope that construction could start as early as this fall after a couple of related items come before Brandon City Council.

It won’t be the John Howard Society running the sobering centre, Robinson said.

“This has been a lot of work on a lot of people’s ends,” Fawcett said of the announcements. “What I love most about it is it’s the province, the City of Brandon working with them, but it is our community members and organizations (as well). It is a full partnership that pushed this stuff over the line and I’m really, really happy about that.”

Regarding the roast, the mayor said he has a thick skin and is happy to participate in raising funds for an important community project.

“I don’t know how to swim very well, but I think I could get around in a dunk tank,” Fawcett quipped. “There will be a lineup to throw the ball.”

In a statement, Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said the funding would improve safety.

“The establishment of the sobering centre and transitional housing project in Brandon marks a significant step forward in our efforts to promote restorative justice principles and create a safer community,” Goertzen said. “By working together with the John Howard Society and other partners, we are addressing the underlying factors contributing to crime and providing much-needed support to vulnerable individuals in our society.”

Reached by phone, Brandon East NDP candidate Glen Simard said the period of time between the initial announcement and Thursday’s announcement shows the Progressive Conservative government can’t get the sobering centre project done.

“They promised the sobering centre two years ago and they failed,” Simard said. “Now they’re re-announcing it on the last day before the blackout period and it’s clear people in Brandon can’t trust Heather Stefanson to take action.”

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