We have a new vision. We use the “Housing First” principle based on new advanced research, to help people overcome poverty, trauma, and homelessness. We have had visitors from Portland Oregon, London England, Harvard University and New York. We have won several awards for our involvement with housing and poverty. Some 12 years ago Dermot Baldwin from the Drop-in Centre challenged us (KAIROS Calgary) to stop talking and do something about being homeless. Within three days I had a call from CUPS (Calgary Urban Project Society) as our church already worked with them. A wealthy landlord had experienced a life-changing experience: he had accidentally found a homeless family crammed in a car on a freezing winter night. He now offered 17 apartments for one year at no charge. The emergency housing was completed in three days, and all but one family had remarkable results by the end of the year. KAIROS Calgary then formed a partnership with the CHF (Calgary Homeless Foundation), CUPS to provide volunteers to support residents at a non-profit residence and fundraise to help pay down the mortgage and coordinate agency programming within the buildings. The purchase of Acadia Place, the first of four apartments, with 56 units began using the “Housing First Model.” KAIROS Calgary, supported by a local church, paid for the first five months of rent on an apartment and installed a Resource Person which became the major factor in the success of the new housing initiative. CUPS now has an agreement with HomeSpace Society, a charitable real estate developer, and property manager for CHF, which now includes Claire House (41 units), Bankview (56), and Longbow (26) to provide tenant support services and community building at all four buildings which are collectively known as A Place to Call Home (APCH). What does our Working Group do? Presently, there is inclusive planning with CUPS, the community at large and the residents. These include Interfaith partners, community connections with local police, medical clinics, libraries, City Hubs, Community Associations as required, etc. Together we continue to integrate communities empowering residents to become self-sufficient. Some events were friendship and healing circles, cultural crafts, smudging, movies, Christmas events, showers, TRC events, and building “coffee times and conversation”. When the district of Bowness residents complained about the “type of apartment” residents that applied for a grant and were supported by us, we produced a free “Yes, In MY Backyard BBQ” event. We did a workshop on Bridges Out of Poverty in Learning United Church. Regularly playing cards, driving for appointments, packing, and delivering bread, selling the residents’ art productions, Bowness train rides and BBQs has kept everyone busy. The mortgage at Acadia place has been completely paid, some by doing The Coldest Night of the Year Walks. The Bankview mortgage is next. This is important because the buildings are non-profit, and a portion of the residents are subsidized. 3500 new residents had supported housing over the past 12 years with a Band-Aid group from a local church. Many of the new “move-ins” require additional visits to help with computers, more household items, support with cribs or strollers etc. Most of them receive new or used beds and bedding, dressers, chairs and tables, kitchen, and bathroom supplies and so on. If you are looking for a meaningful opportunity to help with poverty and housing, we would love to talk about the skills and gifts you may have to offer. You may note that the variety is endless. Contact us at: larry.pierce@shawlink.ca, deharri@telus.net or doreen.michael@telus.net. Photo from Calgary Homeless Foundation’s 2022 Annual Report |
