The City of Medicine Hat says it still has no new emergency shelter site, even as another winter draws near.
In a Wednesday statement to the News, the city said there was “nothing new and noteworthy to report” on the search for a location to replace the Mustard Seed emergency shelter at 737 8 St SE.
The city says it continues to support the Province of Alberta and the Mustard Seed in finding and reviewing sites.
The statement says shelters help people “regain stability and move closer to long-term housing solutions,” but that finding a spot that balances the needs of everyone affected is hard.
Search continues
The Calgary-based charity runs the current shelter, which has room for up to 30 adults each night.
It is the last part of the Mustard Seed’s local operation after the group’s day-use Community Impact Centre in the North Flats closed in February 2025. The closure followed the city’s planning commission denying a permit to add overnight beds after complaints from nearby residents.
The push for a single all-hours location has gone on since 2024. It includes the city, the province, the Mustard Seed and the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society.
Last year, the city and the charity agreed to look at a city-owned property at 2055 Saamis Drive.
But the Mustard Seed pulled its rezoning application in September 2025 after concerns were raised about the non-central location, and no new site has come forward since.
Shelter capacity drops
The shelter’s size changes with the seasons. Last winter, a $250,000 provincial grant paid for 20 extra beds, raising capacity to 50 from 30. That funding ended April 1, and the shelter dropped back to 30 beds.
Under the current plan, the province funds shelter services, the city handles zoning, and the Mustard Seed runs the site.
In April, Mayor Linnsie Clark and several councillors travelled to Edmonton to meet provincial ministers. Justin Wright, the Cypress/Medicine Hat MLA, has said the province is waiting for the city to zone and secure a location before more can happen.
The city said it looks forward to sharing updates “as they become available.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2026