SOCIETY PLANS ADDITION TO ITS DETOX FACILITY

A local homeless shelter specializing in clients with addiction
issues is planning a major expansion of its facility and services.

The Calgary Alpha House Society will begin construction this fall to
add on to its location, at 203 15th Ave. S.E.

In a news release, the society said the redevelopment will allow it
to accommodate 120 individuals requiring "detox, specialized shelter
and drop-in services."

According to the Alpha House website, the facility can provide
overnight shelter for 55 people under the influence of alcohol or
drugs and has space for 16 men and four women for its non-medical
detoxification services.

Ald. Madeleine King said she supported Alpha House's application for
a development permit, which was submitted during the summer.

"There's certainly enthusiasm for the proposal from sister agencies
and the police service," said King. "Given the population explosion,
not only will this be beneficial, it's essential they expand their services."

Last May, a count of the city's homeless population showed a jump of
more than 30 per cent in the past two years, with 3,436 people
estimated to be homeless on any given night.

Dermot Baldwin, executive director of the Calgary Drop-In Centre, has
projected that his shelter could be turning away 200 to 300 people a
night once the temperatures drop in November.

Inn from the Cold has launched a $3-million campaign to find a
permanent facility to house the more than 30 families -- about 100
people -- the volunteer program now struggles to find shelter for each night.

More than a dozen people were waiting outside Alpha House by late
afternoon Sunday, once it had reached capacity -- including
daytime-only services.

"We have to wait for someone to leave before the next person can go
in," said Sean Fraser. "If we don't get in, we'll be sleeping outside tonight."

Fraser said he is originally from Calgary, but just arrived back from
Whitehorse with his wife about three weeks ago. The couple works
regularly, doing temporary warehouse jobs, but can't find an
affordable apartment.

"On warm nights we'll sleep on the street, but when it's rainy and
cold, we want to sleep inside," said Fraser, noting the couple had
gone to hotels a few times, a luxury they can ill afford.

"When we sleep outside, it means we go to work on maybe an
hour-and-a-half of sleep."

Fraser said the services offered at Alpha House are helpful in
supporting him in his struggle to stay sober. He says he hasn't been
drunk for three years, but admits to the odd beer.

"There's a lot people a lot worse off than me," he said.

King said she attended a public open house on the Alpha expansion
earlier this year and heard mostly positive comments, with some
opposition from local residents and businesses.

"We have to make sure we work closely together to ensure concerns are
addressed," said King.

"Some neighbours were very vocal, but I believe they are in a minority."

One woman who lives in a nearby condominium complex who regularly
walks past the Alpha House to get to the Victoria Park C-Train
station said she would like to see more security accompany any expansion plans.

"I don't feel safe walking past there at night. They shout at you,"
said Zini Moore, who is not opposed to the re-development.

"I understand that homelessness is serious issue. I'd just like to
feel more secure."

Another resident who lives about a block away from the shelter said
he gets frustrated with impaired homeless people searching for
bottles in his yard, but he still thinks the expansion is a good idea.

"It has to be somewhere," said the man, who did not want to identify himself.

"What's the option? Move it by the drop-in centre and make that area
even worse than it already is? To be honest, every time there's a
Flames game, I get drunk Flames fans (urinating) on my house. And
it's not as bad as all the drugs and prostitution going on a block over."