WESTLOCK – Finding out when Alberta Supports offices provincewide will reopen to walk-in traffic remains a mystery, even for the local MLA.
Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock MLA Glenn van Dijken said July 27 that he’s contacted the Ministry of Community and Social Services, but has yet to hear back from them when the branches will again cater to walk-in traffic. Town of Westlock councillors passed a motion at their June 28 meeting to seek an audience van Dijken looking for clarification on when the offices would reopen.
“We’re still working on that. The request has been put forward, but I haven’t received any information back from the ministry on how they’re going to bring people back into the office.
“I’ve been in conversations with mayor Ralph (Leriger) about it,” said van Dijken. “And then what does their schedule look like? There are offices that are one day, or two days a week. So, it’s going to be scheduling thing.”
Councillor and Family and Community Support Services advisory board chair Murtaza Jamaly told council in June it was his understanding the offices will continue to provide services, but only over the phone or online — Alberta Supports offices have been shuttered to walk-in traffic throughout the pandemic. At the time Leriger, who along with the rest of council voted unanimously to ask for the meeting with van Dijken, said the possible elimination of walk-in service was “very concerning” for the community.
At the beginning of July Community and Social Services press secretary Rob Williams said that the pandemic forced the government to temporarily close Alberta Supports centres to in-person visits, but with Stage 3 of Alberta’s Open For Summer plan in place, “we are developing a plan to resume in-person services.”
Alberta Supports is meant to help people access programs related to disabilities, employment, homelessness, financial assistance, abuse, and family violence prevention. During the closure to walk-ins, both Jamaly and Coun. David Truckey noted other organizations like FCSS and even the library, have been helping people who normally would have accessed Alberta Supports in person.
“There’s a segment of the population that Alberta Works serves that need the person-to-person access. So, we’re waiting from the information from the department on what we can expect moving forward,” van Dijken concluded.
