Mountain View Seniors' Housing (MVSH) officials have been denied a grant it applied for in February to build a new facility in Sundre.
The organization applied for Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) funding, which is available for developing projects in areas with the need for affordable supportive living accommodations.
The $3.2-million grant was awarded to Rocky Mountain House on Wednesday, among 10 other towns receiving ASLI grants totalling $68.3 million to develop 920 supportive living spaces across the province.
Town of Sundre council, the Sundre Seniors Housing and Care Committee and Mountain View County supported the organization's application for the grant, said Sundre mayor Annette Clews.
“We received notification of all grants awarded; Sundre's project was not one of them. This has been a devastating blow to our community,” said Clews.
The proposed facility would consist of 103 units, including 40 level 4 and 4D supportive living units.
As well, 45 replacement beds would be moved from Foothills Lodge over to the new building, as level 1 and 2 lodge units.
The remaining 18 are independent living “life lease” units, similar to a project in Olds.
Three different housing options for seniors were proposed for inclusion in the new building, providing an all-in-one campus.
MVSH submitted an application for the competitive bid on Feb. 22 and was told it would find out on March 29, but didn't until last week.
“The needs assessment done by MVSH showed Sundre is in desperate need of all components of seniors' housing,” said Clews.
“Council is committed to finding a solution to the housing needs of our seniors and will continue to work hard to achieve this,” she said.
During a council meeting in February, council supported securing 11 acres of land through acquisition or a public-private partnership to lease to MVSH. Council also voted to financially support any future operating deficit and debt servicing that would result from the construction of the new facility.
“Council, the Sundre Seniors Housing and Care Committee and MVSH will continue to explore all avenues to reach our vision of a campus living that will keep our seniors in our community,” she said.
“I encourage our community to contact Minister Horne (health), his associate minister VanderBurg (seniors) and our MLA Anglin to express the need for seniors housing and care in our community.”
