The Blood Tribe Department of Health (BTHD) hosted an open house at the Lethbridge Shelter and Stabilization Centre on April 12 for the first time since taking over management of the facility in January.

The shelter runs 24/7 and has a capacity of 110 people, but won't turn anyone one away who may need a helping hand, according to staff.

Tim Heavy Shields, shelter coordinator at the Lethbridge Shelter and Stabilization Centre, spoke about the open house and what it featured, saying that they opened their doors to "community partners that we presently work with, and look forward to working with in the future."

The centre has nine different zones, according to Heavy Shields. The open house tours hit all zones and "highlighted some of the practices and protocols in regard to housing our clients."

Since the takeover of the centre, Heavy Shields said that "with our case management piece on site, they've really connected to many of our individuals, and some of our long-term folks."

He also mentioned that they've managed to "divert a number of our folks back out into the greater community."

The operation is almost four months in and has around 85 staff members in total. Heavy Shields says that he and the BTDH are looking forward to "expanding our working relations with many other resources in the community" and helping their clients move themselves forward in their lives.

More information on the BTHD can be found on their website.

Listen to the full CFWE interview below with Tim Heavy Shields: