Elders' caring shelter soon open for business

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"This project has re-defined the word partnership," said Melodie Wilton, project manager of the Elders' Caring Shelter which was built by Metis Local 1990 in Grande Prairie. Wilton spoke to a crowd of about 50 dignitaries and invited guests on June 28 at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new shelter.

"This is a dream come true. The road from concept to reality has been long, but we never wavered," said Angie Crerar, president of the board of Metis Local 1990. "With the help of the board, dedicated staff and many contributing partners, we are ready to play a part in alleviating the plight of the homeless and at-risk individuals as part of the Grande Prairie global homelessness initiative."

The dream and planning for this project began in the winter of 2001 when Crerar and her husband, Doug, found an elderly homeless man shivering at the side of the road in downtown Grande Prairie.

Soon after, the Aboriginal Social Housing Community Needs Assessment was submitted by the Grande Prairie Friendship Centre. It stated, in part: "A communal house to meet the needs of individuals over the age of 55 is required. The number of Aboriginal seniors is expected to grow rapidly in the next several decades."

"The Elder's shelter will provide culturally appropriate emergency and transitional shelter for men and women over the age of 55," Wilton said.

"The main floor of the building is wheelchair accessible. At maximum capacity, the shelter will house 19 people. The home is safe, secure, accessible, suitable, affordable, sustainable, culturally harmonious, flexible and adaptable in meeting the emergency and transitional housing needs of people over the age of 55 whose lifestyle puts them at risk."

In Grande Prairie and surrounding area there are many Aboriginal seniors who are homeless. Some of them move from one relative to another until they wear out their welcome. Others live in substandard accommodation, and others reside in stressful environments that are overcrowded, often leaving them open to abuse.

Some of the residents of the new shelter are now living in hotel rooms, basements, tar paper shacks, or in the park, year round.

Sylvia Johnson, president of Region 6 of the Metis Nation of Alberta, was present at the ceremony. Johnson said that one of the rooms in the shelter was furnished by the regional council in memory of Flora Laglace, an Aboriginal senior who died of hypothermia last winter in a Grande Prairie park.

While there are senior's homes in Grande Prairie, they are not culturally sensitive to the needs of Aboriginal seniors; their lifestyle, nutritional and cultural needs are not taken into consideration. As a result, few Aboriginal seniors reside in these facilities.

How important is cultural sensitivity?

"I myself struggle with many things in the community," Crerar said. "What about those who have nothing?" Support services in a communal home for Elders could include assistance with cooking and meal preparation, housekeeping, banking, life skills assistance, medical care, counselling service and drop-in programs.

The City of Grande Prairie is one of the partners in the project. They donated the land, which is situated downtown. "We congratulate the board and members of Metis Local 1990 for their vision and dedication to providing safe, quality housing for those in need," said Mayor Wayne Ayling.

Other contributors of money or gifts in kind include Canada's Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative, Urban Aboriginal Strategy, the Province of Alberta's Homelessness Funding, Nesokmahtan Enterprises Inc., Weyerhaeuser, the Community Foundation of Grande Prairie, the David and Susan Ainsworth Fund and the Wild Rose Foundation.

Now the community is being asked to donate household items that are in good condition so the shelter will be ready when residents move in in August.

While only 19 people can be housed in the shelter, there have already been more than 50 applications. Many are "addres unknown" and those who are on the streets will be accepted first.

Crerar said they will not turn anyone away.

"We will do what needs to be done. If there are people in emergency situations, we will put air mattresses on the floor downstairs."

Residents at the shelter will pay a maximum of $800 per month, but there are provisions for flexibility. Someone might pay much less and have a bed in a shared room, one meal per day, and contribute 10 hours a week volunteering at the shelter-cleaning, doing dishes or yard work.

"It took a lot of prayer and a lot of people," Crerar said. "It was one step forward and three back. Melodie Wilton was the guiding light throughout the project."

Audrey Poitras, president of the Metis Nation of Alberta, was a guest at the ceremony. Poitras praised Crerar and her colleagues and Sylvia Johnson.

"Partnership is a commonplace word, but we don't often see partnership in action," Poitras said. "Here we see the results of partnership in a tangible form. We witness partnership in action. Thanks to Metis Local 1990, nation building continues, one project at a time."