What is the value of a human life?
That was a question discussed and debated by Leduc city council as members chose to rescind a previous motion that pledged support for an emergency winter shelter for Leduc’s homeless community members.
Members of the public who came to speak left council chambers outraged as the motion to rescind, put forward by Coun. Glen Finstad, was carried 4-3 on Monday evening.
The Leduc Hub Association, the city’s only homeless shelter, closed May 1.
Shannon Dalke, board chair for the Hub, told council that since the shelter closed 10 people have died.
“Two more Hub clients have died outdoors. We cannot say for sure if any of these deaths may have been prevented, if a homeless shelter was still operating,” Dalke said.
“But we can say these deaths, 10 in the past two months, are greater in number than those in our community who passed away in the entire year prior.”
Dalke previously told CBC that the Hub has been trying to help community members through a community outreach being hosted by a local church.
The team has helped about 80 people since having to transition to an outreach model that provides snacks, water and toiletries.
‘Assigning dollar values on people’s lives’
Debate to rescind the motion was contentious.
“One thing I’d like to caution members of council here in the discussion is, it’s getting really close to assigning dollar values on people’s lives,” said Coun. Lars Hansen, who voted against rescinding the previous motion.
“This is a life saving option, this emergency shelter.”
Mayor Bob Young, who was in favour of rescinding the June motion, noted issues with funding a seasonal service.
Young said it would be better to direct funds to hiring social workers or navigators who can guide people to resources.
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As the Leduc Hub Association faces impending closure, people with the organization and those who rely on it say the fight must continue to ensure the shelter stays open to meet growing demand.
Young has been a strong proponent of leaning on Edmonton’s navigation centre to help community members in Leduc experiencing homelessness.
CBC previously requested comment from the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services in late June.
Minister Jason Nixon’s press secretary, Alexandru Cioban, said anyone, regardless of where they are from, can access the navigation centre in Edmonton.
“However, the navigation centre is intended to serve Edmonton and is typically operating near capacity, seeing between 45 and 50 people daily,” Cioban said in a statement.
“We are not encouraging organizations outside of Edmonton to bring clients to the centre as this would create additional challenges, including getting them back to Leduc or their home communities.”
Cioban said the province is looking at “developing a rural approach.”
Previous motion to support shelter services
At a June 24 council meeting, Coun. Ryan Pollard put forward a motion calling for city administration to initiate planning and facility requirements to provide overnight emergency shelter services that would operate during severe weather between Nov. 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025.
His motion previously passed in a 4-3 vote.
The services would include modular accommodation units located behind the Protective Services building, which houses the Leduc RCMP detachment and a fire hall.
The funding was also to cover custodial and security services, and some staffing costs.
It was not determined whether the Hub would have run the initiative looked at on June 24.
Administration was directed to look for a contract service provider to operate the program at a cost of up to $308,000. The money would come from the city’s operating reserve fund.