Wetaskiwin is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. The city is located 70 kilometres south of the provincial capital of Edmonton.
The City of Wetaskiwin needed a new temporary Homeless Shelter to keep those experiencing homelessness warm, safe and secure during the cold winter months.
After closing its only emergency shelter in 2021, Wetaskiwin’s homeless population built an encampment of tarps, tents and a tipi, leading community members to express their concerns over behaviours commonly associated with those experiencing homelessness. With the cold Alberta winter quickly approaching, the City of Wetaskiwin needed a solution that could be deployed almost immediately.
Quick Facts
Client: City of Wetaskiwin Location: Wetaskiwin, AB Building Use: Temporary housing Size of Project: 2,160 sq. ft. Completion time: 7 days
This temporary homeless shelter is a unique project to BOXX Modular, marking the business’ first foray into the accommodations setting. BOXX Modular worked with City Managers and Alberta Health Services to deliver a solution that would address concerns of broader community and provide a safe and comfortable environment for those in need of shelter. BOXX Modular provided a three-unit complex, typically used as a temporary office building, complete with living space and washrooms, to the city to house approximately 20 people through the winter. The city installed dividers to provide people with privacy.
Since the building is set up at the end of a street on an empty lot owned by the city, BOXX was able to quickly install the temporary shelter without any delay or additional construction. If the city decides to go in another direction next year, they can remove the building just as quickly.
