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
Project Nexus continues to move forward at a steady, progressive, and encouraging pace as we advance one of the most significant community-led infrastructure initiatives focused on homelessness, housing stability, health, and social wellbeing in Central Alberta. Over the past several months, important milestones have continued to come together through the collective efforts of community partners, government, service providers, and volunteers who remain committed to building a stronger, more coordinated response for Red Deer and the surrounding region.
Our Development Permit application has now been formally submitted to the City of Red Deer and is expected to be reviewed by City Council in June 2026. This represents another significant milestone as we continue working through the municipal approval process and refining the operational and community integration plans that will guide the campus moving forward.
At the same time, we are excited to be working closely with Hope Mission to finalize plans for the transition of emergency shelter operations from Cannery Row to Project Nexus later this year. Together, our organizations are focused on building a coordinated, purpose-built environment that improves pathways to housing and stability while strengthening outcomes for the entire community.
We have also been encouraged by the many positive and promising conversations taking place with organizations, service providers, and community partners who see value in being part of Project Nexus. Interest continues to grow from potential occupants and aligned partners who share the vision of creating an integrated, community-led response to homelessness, housing stability, health, wellness, and recovery. These discussions reinforce the belief that Project Nexus can become more than a single program or facility — it can become a shared community asset where organizations work alongside one another in support of a common purpose. Consistent with our guiding principle of “for the community, by the community,” we remain focused on building a campus that reflects the strengths, expertise, and compassion already present across Red Deer and Central Alberta.
Project Nexus remains rooted in a simple belief: meaningful solutions happen when communities work together. We are grateful for the continued support, feedback, and collaboration from residents, businesses, service providers, governments, and community partners as we move into this next phase.
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.
- The Case for Project Nexus
- 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 sign up for our Newsletter to receive important updates.
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. |