An Important Step Forward for Red Deer
Today marks an important milestone in Red Deer’s efforts to address homelessness.
The development permit for Project Nexus has been approved, allowing the project to move forward and bring our community one step closer to a more coordinated, long-term approach to housing and support services.
Project Nexus was developed from a simple but important understanding: homelessness is not a challenge that can be solved by any one organization, program or building. It is connected to housing, health care, mental health, addiction recovery, employment, social supports and broader economic realities. Meaningful progress requires these systems to work together.
The vision for Project Nexus is to create a centralized campus where individuals experiencing homelessness can more easily access the services, supports and connections they need as they work toward stability and permanent housing. By creating a space that improves coordination between services, reduces barriers and helps people navigate support systems more effectively, we can build stronger pathways toward stability and better outcomes for individuals and the broader community.
The approval of the development permit represents more than a regulatory milestone. It reflects years of research, planning, consultation and community engagement. Throughout this process, thousands of volunteer hours have been invested by community leaders, service providers, board members, partners and residents who shared their perspectives and helped strengthen the project. The feedback received from supporters, critics and those seeking more information has played an important role in shaping Project Nexus into what it is today.
Project Nexus is not intended to solve homelessness on its own. Rather, it is designed to serve as a platform for collaboration, bringing together organizations, health professionals, community partners, volunteers and government agencies to work more effectively together than they can apart. The success of Project Nexus will ultimately be measured not by the building itself, but by the outcomes it helps create and the collective commitment of our community to support those experiencing homelessness.
While today’s approval focuses on Phase 1, it marks the beginning of a larger vision. Future phases will continue to explore opportunities for housing navigation services, health care, mental health supports, addiction and recovery programming, employment services, life-skills development and other community-based resources that help individuals move from homelessness to stability.
A Community Effort: Thank You for Your Support
Project Nexus has always been about more than a building. It represents the collective efforts of individuals, organizations and community leaders who believe Red Deer can pursue a more coordinated and effective response to homelessness.
As we celebrate this milestone, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped bring us to this point.
Thank you to City Administration and City Council for their diligence, thoughtful analysis and willingness to explore a new pathway for shelter services and supports in our community. The review process was thorough, and we appreciate the time, effort and consideration that was given to evaluating this opportunity.
Thank you to the many residents, businesses, stakeholders and community members who shared their thoughts throughout both the zoning and development permit processes. While there has not been unanimity of opinion, every question, concern, suggestion and perspective contributed to a stronger and more comprehensive proposal. The project is better because of your engagement, and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in the conversation.
Thank you to the agencies, service providers and organizations working every day to address homelessness in Red Deer. Project Nexus has always been envisioned as “For the Community, By the Community.” Your expertise, experience and insights have helped shape this initiative, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside you as we work to unlock the full potential of Project Nexus.
Finally, thank you to our Board of Directors, the Project Nexus Steering Committee and the countless volunteers who have dedicated their time to this effort. More than 3,800 volunteer hours have been invested in researching, planning, listening, engaging and refining this vision. Your willingness to pursue new solutions, challenge assumptions and invest your time, treasure and talent represents a remarkable contribution to our community. Project Nexus would not exist without your commitment, and Red Deer is stronger because of your efforts.
Looking Ahead
We are grateful for the ongoing conversations, questions and engagement from community members throughout this process. Building understanding is an important part of building solutions, and the dialogue surrounding Project Nexus has helped create a stronger project and a stronger foundation for the work ahead.
This approval is an important step forward, but it is not the finish line. The work of addressing homelessness requires ongoing collaboration, commitment and community involvement. We remain focused on working with our partners to create better pathways to stability, stronger support systems and improved outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.
Today, we celebrate an important milestone. Tomorrow, the work continues.
Together, we can build a more coordinated, compassionate and effective response to homelessness in Red Deer.