What is Project Nexus?
Project Nexus is a vision from the Red Deer Homelessness Foundation to create a campus where housing, health, mental health, addiction, recovery, and social supports are coordinated. 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
While supports such as shelter, healthcare, 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.
Take a Look
Before forming an opinion, take a moment to see the opportunity. This is more than a site, it’s an opportunity! This video shows the scale, setting, and potential of the site—and invites you to imagine what’s possible when a community comes together to help people move from homelessness to home. Big challenges require clear eyes, shared ideas, and the courage to build something better.
See the space. Imagine the impact. Help people move from homelessness to home.
Next Steps
We’re working with service providers, community leaders and groups, and the City of Red Deer and other funding partners to finalize approvals and begin detailed planning. Our hope is to have all approvals in place in by the end of February and occupancy in April 2026.We Have A lot to Share
Meetings and outreach are ongoing to engage the community and build mutual awareness about the potential benefits of developing this Campus to meet the community’s needs. We invite everyone to learn more and join us in building a stronger, more supportive Red Deer.- Printable Project Nexus Fact Sheet
- Detailed Project Nexus Concept Paper.
- The Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Homelessness Recommendations
- Detailed Red Deer Chamber of Commerce Taskforce Report: What we Heard
- 2018 Point in Time Count
- 2022 Point in Time Count
- 2024 Point in Time Count
Your Voice is Important – We Want to Hear From You
Through meetings and outreach, we continue to engage the community and build mutual awareness about the potential benefits and challenges of developing this Campus to meet the needs of our community. We want to build relationships, listen and explore how collaboration, alignment and shared learning can support stronger outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness and for the community as a whole. We invite you to engage, learn more and share your thoughts, concerns and ideas about this initiative. Send us a message at: nexus@homelessnessreddeer.comand be sure to signup for our Newsletter to receive important updates.Let’s Talk about Project Nexus
Project Nexus represents a generational opportunity for our community to take a more holistic approach to supporting people experiencing homelessness while strengthening the health of our city as a whole. Red Deer has a long history of coming together to address complex challenges, and we are strongest when we do this work collectively. These Open Houses are an opportunity to learn more about the concept, ask questions, and take part in an open conversation about how a coordinated, community-led approach can create better outcomes for people and neighbourhoods alike. Project Nexus is “For the community, By the community” and we want to engage with you about it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Big ideas deserve clear answers.
Project Nexus brings together housing, health, and social supports in a new way, and it’s natural for people to have questions. This section shares straightforward information about how the project works, why it matters, and how it will benefit the whole community.
We believe strong solutions are built through openness and listening. These answers will continue to evolve as the project moves forward.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Project Nexus just a new shelter? | No. While shelter is one component, Project Nexus is about building an integrated system, not simply relocating a shelter, which is simply Phase 1. It brings together multiple services under one coordinated model so people can access the right supports at the right time. |
| How will this make things better for people experiencing homelessness? | Project Nexus reduces barriers by bringing services together. People won’t have to navigate multiple locations or retell their story repeatedly to get help. |
| Is housing still the goal? | Yes. Housing remains the ultimate objective. Project Nexus is about creating better pathways to get there and stay there. |
| Is Project Nexus replacing existing agencies? | No. Project Nexus is designed to create an environment where agencies can thrive, not to replace or duplicate their work. Existing organizations remain essential to service delivery. |
| What’s the one thing people misunderstand most about Project Nexus? | That it’s about a building. It’s not. It’s about building a stronger system for a healthier community. |