Introducing Project Nexus–a Proposed Campus for Red Deer
We’re excited to introduce Project Nexus—a community-led initiative designed to bring together social, health, and housing services under one roof for the benefit of everyone in Red Deer.
What is Project Nexus?
Project Nexus is a vision of the Red Deer Homelessness Foundation to create a unified campus where emergency shelter, health and mental health care, recovery-focused supports, housing intake and navigation, Indigenous-led and culturally informed services, employment and life-skills supports, will be available, and in addition, access to basic needs like food, showers, laundry, and secure storage. By bringing these services together, we can reduce barriers, prevent crisis and provide clearer pathways to stable housing. This means safer neighbourhoods, a stronger downtown and better outcomes for all.
Project Nexus follows a familiar social service model where government funds services, the community owns the asset, and philanthropy helps make it possible, just as it does for trusted community organizations like the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, Red Deer Hospice Society, Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, Red Deer Polytechnic and so many more. The benefits stay right here in Red Deer.
Why This Matters
Our social service system operates like a maze. While supports such as shelter, health care, mental health services, food assistance and housing exist, they are separated by long corridors created by waiting, transportation barriers, paperwork, geographic distance and coordination gaps.
These corridors consume time and energy, keeping people moving between services instead of moving toward housing. It is also within these corridors (not at the service locations themselves) where frustration can escalate and where law enforcement is most often called to respond. A single, integrated Campus will reduce delay and confusion, help people access the right supports faster, get people housed sooner, ease pressure on emergency services and create better outcomes for the entire community.
The Site
Project Nexus will be located on a 12-acre property located at 7740 40 Avenue, which features a 200,000 sq. ft. facility adaptable to the needs of multiple agencies. The site offers established infrastructure, parking, strong transit access and nearby natural spaces, making it uniquely ready to serve.
Project Nexus aligns with the City’s Community Housing and Homelessness Integrated Plan as well. By repurposing an existing structure, the project avoids the cost of new construction and delivers exceptional value for money. While renovations will be required to meet trauma-informed and residential codes, these investments are offset by substantial long-term savings and operational efficiencies.
The Red Deer Homeless Foundation is engaging the community, including service providers, service groups, Indigenous groups, business associations, and others to help explore suitability and design with the intention of developing the site for the community.
Proven Success
The campus model has shown success in other cities, including Edmonton and several locations in the US, with reductions in homelessness, significant public cost savings, and revitalized downtowns.
Next Steps
A committed group of local philanthropists has stepped forward to secure an option to purchase the site, recognizing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create lasting change. In the spirit of Red Deer’s most transformative community projects, the Project Nexus Campus will be gifted to, and permanently owned and operated by, the Red Deer Homeless Foundation—ensuring this asset remains for the community, by the community and focused on impact for generations to come.
On January 7, 2026, we submitted a rezoning application to The City of Red Deer to enable the services envisioned at Project Nexus. City Council will consider the application at first reading on February 3, followed by a public hearing on February 25. Our objective is to secure zoning approval by February 27 (did I see February 28 somewhere else?), allowing us to move confidently into detailed planning while continuing to engage community stakeholders throughout the process.
Get Involved
Full details about Project Nexus can be found at www.homelessnessreddeer.com/nexus. We welcome public engagement and meaningful conversation as this initiative moves forward, and we invite questions, comments, ideas and feedback from the community.
You can share your input at any time by emailing nexus@homelessnessreddeer.com. We look forward to hearing from you as we work together to build a caring, compassionate and comprehensive approach to supporting our most vulnerable neighbours.
Project Nexus—for the community, by the community.