A Leduc homeless and support centre which locals refer to as "the Hub" has announced plans to close.

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The timeline has been released for a phased closure of a facility that's been providing services to Leduc's homeless community for the past 15 years.

In a letter to the Leduc mayor and council Tuesday, officials with the Leduc Hub Association detailed plans for the closure of the homeless support centre called "the Hub."

The looming closure comes after the facility announced earlier this year its permit and lease were expiring, and it hadn't found a new location for the Hub. The current space no longer meets the Hub's needs and officials have been searching for a new location for months, but have been unsuccessful.

The Hub's executive director and acting board chair said in its letter to council that the closure comes after the facility was unable to secure a new location aligned with municipal development permit requirements, a condition to renew its grant funding with the province.

Video: City of Leduc passes motion to save ‘the Hub’ homeless shelter, but new home still needed

On March 28, the Hub will end all daytime programming. This means washrooms, showers, food, clothing, laundry services, medical and optometry services, addiction treatment services, phone and internet access, financial assistance services, AHS ID card services and outdoor survival supplies will no longer be offered.

On April 1, the Hub will be open for overnight shelter intake from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The doors will be locked at 10:30 p.m. Overnight shelter hours end at 8:30 a.m.

As of May 1, the Hub will be closed to public entirely.

Officials with the Hub say they remain committed to searching for a suitable location over the next few months in hopes of resuming shelter operations in time for the 2024-2025 winter season.

"The negative impact of shelter closure in our city cannot be overstated," read a joint letter from Leduc Hub Association executive director Susan Johnson and acting board chair Jill Mitchell.

"Leduc has a growing need for overnight shelter spaces, crisis diversion and community outreach services, access to transitional and supportive housing and affordable homes.

"The loss is especially regrettable considering city council’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted shelter services, recent Hub funding from the city’s Family and Community Support Services grant, and conditional pre-approval by the government of Alberta for grant funding of $526,000 for full-year shelter operations."

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Petition started to save Leduc Hub Association Duration 2:03  View on Watch

The Hub's current location on 47th Street has 10 emergency shelter beds.

Earlier this year, Leduc City Council passed a motion to support the Hub in its community, but details on what that support was remained unclear.

In a statement Wednesday, Leduc Mayor Bob Young acknowledged the gap the closure could create for the city's vulnerable citizens.

"Leduc is fortunate to have a network of dedicated community groups, in addition to Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) and a community navigator who work tirelessly to connect clients to the services they need," Young said.

The letter from Johnson and Mitchell said the Hub's board will continue to work with city council on a number of items to support year-round shelter operations, including facilitating a feasibility and cost study, implementing homelessness task force recommendations and informing the city's new housing strategy.

The Hub executives said city council can further support the Hub by reaching out to the provincial government for support for year-round emergency shelter services in Leduc. They're also asking council to reach out to the federal government to discuss the possibility of the sale or donation of publicly owned lands of facilities for the development of housing infrastructure.

"Collaboration is important in finding sustainable strategies to address the complex issue of houselessness," Young said.

"Leduc City Council is committed to working with the ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services to find a response that best suits our community, while city administration investigates overnight shelter options for the winter months and in extreme weather, as well as crisis diversion and community outreach services."