WHMB consistently has an exhaustive wait list of eligible seniors. There are currently 40 seniors waiting for affordable, safe housing at Wheatland Lodge. That demand is expected to climb with each passing year.
We believe that seniors in our community deserve to experience affordable aging in place, and Seniors Lodges provide a holistic approach to well-being through addressing physical, social, and emotional needs. WHMB remains committed to responsible planning and transparency, meeting the growing needs of Strathmore’s senior population.
Wheatland Lodge is a non-profit organization that provides supportive independent living. We provide subsidized housing for seniors and fall under affordable housing with the provincial government.
Shasta is a Long-Term Care (LTC) facility and falls under Health Care with the provincial government.
This makes them two distinct, and equally needed facilities.
In Alberta, Long-Term Care is now called ‘Continuing Care Type A’. An example of this type of housing is Shasta. It offers around-the-clock nursing care for seniors with complex health needs. To apply to live in a Type A facility, a formal AHS assessment is required. These facilities feel more ‘clinical’ or ‘hospital-like’. They are similar to a nursing home.
Seniors’ Lodges provide supportive, independent living for seniors who are mostly independent. They provide apartment-style units, meals and housekeeping, as well as social activities and a sense of community. They are designed for lower-income seniors needing minimal support. Lodges allow seniors to age in their community, with a home-like feel.
For more information, please visit the Government of Alberta website.
The project cost is currently $76.7 million. This is a $5.2 million increase. The primary reason for the increase is inflation, and increased construction materials costs. There is also a large, 18-month contingency of $12.5 million.
Construction and operating costs will only continue to rise. If communities do not plan and act now, future seniors may have fewer affordable and safe housing options close to home.
Some discussions we have seen lately center around the ‘cost per door.’ This is a number arrived at by taking the total cost of the building and dividing by the number of individual units.
This is a misleading number, since the building is much more than individual units. In addition to common areas, kitchen and dining space, the building includes mandatory requirements such as wider hallways and accessibility standards, firewalls and enhanced fire safety systems, and specific accommodations for seniors – features that are non-negotiable for the safety and dignity of our residents.
After the New Build is completed, Wheatland Lodge will still be part of the Alberta Seniors Lodge program. This program will ensure eligible seniors are left with at least $373/month in disposable income after rent. Rent is based on your previous year’s tax assessment.
Rent that the residents pay will be put toward paying the mortgage of the new building.
There is a common misconception that the New Build will be a significant burden on the community. In fact, the New Build will have a very minimal impact on Wheatland County Residents. The estimated impact on taxpayers for the average Wheatland County resident is less than $10 per year.
Wheatland Housing Management Body (WHMB) is continually seeking funding opportunities for the New Build.
The Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP) was re-opened by the Government of Alberta (GOA), allocating $200 million dollars toward affordable housing. The WHMB Board of Directors re-submitted the AHPP application, together with and Wheatland and Area Hospice Society (WAHS).
In addition, the Government of Canada has opened a new program, Build Canada Homes, which will replace the CMHC Affordable Housing Fund. This program has allocated one billion dollars toward affordable housing in 2026.
The Wheatland Housing Management Body (WHMB) has received an update from the Government of Alberta regarding our funding application for the New Build Project.
Conditional approval letters have been issued under the Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP). While WHMB did not receive an approval letter on our 2nd AHPP application submission, the Province explained that our submission is now being evaluated under the Seniors Lodge Modernization Program (SLMP) instead.
The Province has clarified that the SLMP has its own set of criteria, and they are taking additional time to review our proposal specifically against those requirements.
At this stage, the project remains under active evaluation. The Government of Alberta has indicated that further updates will be available in the coming months.
WHMB remains committed to keeping residents, families, and community partners informed as new information becomes available. Updates will continue to be shared through our website and social media channels.
There are two kinds of budgets used for applying for funding; Class A and Class B budget.
Class B budgets provide a detailed design budget, prepared at 70-90% of design completion, with a contingency of up to 15%. Class B budgets are sufficient for WHMB’s application to the provincial 2026 Affordable Housing Partnership Program (AHPP).
A Class A budget is more precise, based on complete drawings, and has a very narrow contingency of 5-10%. The Government of Canada’s new Build Canada Homes (BCH) program, which will replace the CMHC Affordable Housing Fund requires a Class A budget. This is because the BCH program is designed for ‘build-ready’ projects.
The approximate cost for a Class A budget for the New Build, which includes all construction documents, would be about $1.3 million.
WHMB and WAHS are two independent organizations. Following community engagement and an assessment of needs of both independent bodies, a joint Wheatland Lodge and Hospice Schematic Design Report was issued in 2021.
WAHS is now in partnership with WHMB New Lodge to efficiently utilize common services. Hospice will be contributing its portion of the Capital on a square footage basis.
