Homeless shelter to close for street widening

The search has begun for a replacement for the emergency homeless shelter in Calgary, which isclosing to make way for a street widening.

The shelter, which hashoused up to 300 people a night in a former Brickfurniture storeon 16th Avenue North since December, is set to close at the end of the month.

The city's director of disaster services, Chris Branch, said he already has the go-ahead to find a new site for the homeless shelter run by the Mustard Seed andfunded by the city and the province.

"We have been given permission by city council to pursue finding an alternative site for next winter."

Alderman Madeleine King said more permanent solutions are also being explored.

"Sheltering people in emergency shelters is not the best way for people to get back on their feet. Different forms of housing are definitely better opportunities. That's the sort of thing that we're working on and hope to come up with a plan soon for that."