We recently joined The City of Calgary and the Calgary Fire Department to open the new Varsity Multi-Service Centre.

This community-focused hub includes strengthened emergency response, a public green space, new services, and new affordable housing options.

For Calgary Housing, the 48 new homes here are part of our ongoing work to deliver stable, affordable housing to Calgarians in every part of the city. Eleven homes at Varsity are fully accessible.

And some of the new homes at Varsity mark the start of the vision we’ve had for some time to combine multi-generational homes with our mixed-income model, creating stability for more families. This includes a mix of unit sizes and layouts, including adaptable studio units that can be joined to larger two- and three-bedroom homes to support multi-generational families.

“By including 48 mixed-income homes, with 11 accessible, for about 200 people in this new development, The City is taking a smart approach towards addressing housing needs. Residents will be part of a bigger community with services and other City uses on site — all integrated into an established community,” said Sarah Woodgate, President and CEO of Calgary Housing.

Read more on The City of Calgary’s Newsroom.

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Recognizing the past year’s accomplishments, Calgary Housing released its 2024 Impact Report, a digital-first publication telling the story of our work through the voices and experiences of the people we serve.

Every day, our programs support more than 25,000 Calgarians — people who are working, raising families, building new lives, or overcoming serious challenges. These are our neighbours, colleagues, and community members.

The Impact Report replaces a traditional annual report and focuses on stories that illustrate how housing helps build stability and connection. This new format allows us to share these stories in a way that’s more accessible and engaging to our partners, supporters, and fellow Calgarians.

Read the 2024 Impact Report

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Construction of a new affordable housing development is underway in Calgary’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, being led by Calgary Housing (CH). The first to break ground with CH as developer, this project is one of many housing developments being led by the CH team.

The 16-home mixed-income development on the former site of the St. Joseph School is expected to serve up to 45 residents.

Construction is anticipated to be completed in summer 2026, with residents moving in shortly after.

“I am proud of the Calgary Housing team for how quickly we are able to develop these 16 affordable homes in Mount Pleasant,” Calgary Housing President and CEO Sarah Woodgate said. “Six months after signing a funding agreement with The City of Calgary to develop this parcel, we had crews starting work here. And in a year’s time, up to 45 new residents will be moving in.

“This is an exciting chapter in our organization that will serve more Calgarians, using the perpetually sustainable mixed-income model that reduces reliance on government funding for operation and provides stability for residents through any changes in their circumstances.”

The mixed-income housing project is designed to visually fit into the neighbourhood and uses high quality materials that require less maintenance. The homes thoughtfully integrate sustainable design elements, including energy-saving measures that go beyond what’s required in building codes, as well as rooftop solar panels and cold climate air source heat pumps with natural gas back-ups.

Situated on vacant City-owned land, the homes are conveniently located beside an already-developed playground and an off-leash dog park, and are blocks away from schools as well as commercial corridors on 16 Avenue N.W. and Centre Street N.W.

“Calgary Housing’s Mount Pleasant affordable housing development is an important part of addressing the city’s housing crisis as part of Calgary’s Housing Strategy,” Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said. “Affordable housing makes sure no one is left behind in our great city, and the mixed-income model is a fiscally responsible way to operate that housing.”

The Mount Pleasant affordable housing project will use CH’s perpetually sustainable mixed-income model. Rents just below market rates help to cover more deeply affordable rents and fund maintenance costs, reducing or even eliminating the need for operating funding from governments.

This mix improves financial viability and sustainability of operations, while allowing tenants of varying financial means to live side-by-side as neighbours. Households are then better supported with stable housing as their situation changes.

“The Government of Canada is proud to partner with the City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta to support the Mount Pleasant Affordable Housing project,” Corey Hogan, Member of Parliament for Calgary Confederation said. “This collaboration will provide an estimated 45 Calgarians with a safe, affordable place to call home.

“Under our 10-year, $678-million bilateral agreement signed in 2019, Canada and Alberta are working together to protect, renew, and expand community and social housing across the province. The Government of Canada is using every tool available, including technology, innovation, and strong partnerships, to build homes at a scale and speed not seen since the Second World War.

“We remain committed to investing in Calgary’s future so that everyone has a place to call home.”

Calgary Housing signed a funding agreement to develop the parcel in September 2024, and crews began initial construction work the following March.

The $7.9 million construction budget includes $3.7 million in contributions from the Province of Alberta and $1.5 million from the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, a joint funding from the province and the Government of Canada.

“Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring Albertans with low income have access to safe, stable, affordable housing,” said Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services. “We’re pleased to partner with Calgary Housing on this project, and provide support though the Affordable Housing Partnership Program.

“With great partners like Calgary Housing we can continue to provide affordable housing solutions that work for Albertans.”

This press release first appeared in the City of Calgary Newsroom.

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Stephanie greets each child by name and asks them how their week has been. There is a heater in the book truck and some of the children stay to warm up before heading back out to play. The children are curious and engaged, some of them browse through the books, picking out one or two to borrow for the week. Stephanie says that each week she has about a dozen children that visit regularly.

Calgary Public has been visiting Applewood since 2009, and Stephanie has been running the book truck program here since 2019. The programming usually focuses on free play, allowing children to come and go, but occasionally Stephanie has storytimes and structured activities. In the summer she had a reading challenge that saw the kids read over/almost 300 books!

“The book truck is a mobile library so kids whose families don’t have vehicles or whose parents are too busy (usually with work) to take them can access a library in their own communities.” Stephanie shares. “Libraries are different everywhere and we offer things now that we never have before so not everyone is familiar. Some of our more mobile families end up becoming regulars at the branches and enroll in programs there.”

Stephanie says she has seen literacy improve in Applewood as a result of the book trucks visits.

“We’ve had lots of reluctant readers become reading enthusiasts,” she says, “and we’ve seen lots of kids who already enjoy reading grow to become very avid readers – taking home bigger and bigger stacks of books each week because they have easy access.”

“We have one family whose three kids told me they watch out the window for the truck when it comes so they can run out and be the first ones at the program.”

Susanna, the Housing Support Specialist for the property, is very enthusiastic about the program.

“I know the children really love it when the story truck comes to the complex,” she says. “They are excited, and I often see them walking to the truck cradling their books in their arms – it’s so cute!”

The book truck is a mobile public library. It is stocked with books for both children and adults. Families can check out and return books to the book truck. It visits Applewood every week and can also be requested to attend community events.

Calgary Housing is proud of its partnership with the Calgary Public Library, and to be able to offer this program to residents at Applewood. To learn more about the book truck visit calgarylibrary.ca.

Stephanie has been helping run the book truck program at Applewood since 2019, her favourite author is Terry Pratchett.

The post Library Book Truck Brings Books and Activities to Calgary Housing Properties appeared first on Calgary Housing.

• Please remember to keep your doors and windows shut. An open window can cause frozen pipes and or radiators.
• Please make sure your heat is working and call Calgary Housing immediately if it isn’t. All no heat calls should be reported as Urgent. Call 587 390-1200 press 3. Please also be advised that an indoor temperature of 20 C is normal and not a sign of no heat.
• Please make sure that all shared doors are fully shut as you enter and leave the property.
• If you do drive, please brush off your car completely before heading out on the road.
• If you have a property with a sidewalk and or parking stall, please do not pile snow on your neighbours property or parking stall.
• Please remove all snow and ice from your sidewalks within 24 hours of the snowfall. City of Calgary bylaws require Calgarians to remove snow within 24 hours. 

For all maintenance emergencies please call Calgary Housing at 587 390-1200 and press 3.

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• December 23: 9:30am – 4:00pm (normal operating hours)
• December 24: 9:30am – 11:30am (closed for remainder of day)
• December 25: Closed
• December 26: Closed
• December 27: 9:30am – 4:00pm (normal operating hours)
• January 1: Closed
• January 2: Normal operating hours

If you do have any questions, visit our Contact Us page here.

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Now that we’re suddenly in a snowy deepfreeze, we thought it would be great to look back at warmer sunnier times earlier in the year. Summer is always a busy time at Calgary Housing. Much of the community development work happens over these few months, as the weather is favourable and people have more time to help with projects. Many properties are busy with programming over the summer, this story focuses on the work to build community at one property in Northeast Calgary.

The residents of Calgary Housing’s Temple property have transformed their outdoor living spaces over the summer. The property is now bursting with colour and residents are making use of newly installed gathering spaces. Once-gray concrete is now adorned with planters that recently overflowed with flowers, while dry patches of dirt were replaced by green grass. Gathering spaces, both practical and beautiful, were installed, giving neighbors places to meet.

The changes at Temple did not happen all at once. Throughout the summer new projects popped up and were completed. And residents had a number of ways to be involved, from storing materials in their yards to jumping in and helping build the fixtures.

Things began after residents said they were tired of staring at the cracked and worn paint on the parking lot fence. A group got together and repainted the fence. Inspired by the results, they expanded the project, painting more fences and brainstorming other improvements.

Susanna is the Housing Support Specialist at Temple. She is a thoughtful leader that empowers residents to be and do their best. Dropping by a planning meeting, Susanna checks in with the residents on how a grant application is going and asks for updates, offering help and support where needed, but focusing on helping the residents do it themselves rather than by doing it herself. She loves residents navigate the grant system and organize the projects as they come up.

WINS has been another great partner in the planning process at Temple. They have a community hub at the property where the residents meet and work on their planning. WINS team members also helped as volunteers on the projects and provided water and snacks to residents on hot summer days.

Longtime residents like Lisa and Aaron worked hard to make the changes happen, and new residents like Mohamed, brought a fresh perspective to the projects.

 Lisa has lived with Calgary Housing for close to 30 years and shares that, prior to this summer, people would often gather on her lawn because she has a table and chairs. One of the summer projects was installing picnic tables and benches with flower boxes. These new picnic tables offer parents a better vantage point of where their kids are playing and riding their bikes.

Aaron has lived with Calgary Housing for over 20 years and was an active volunteer over the summer. He lives at Temple with his daughter and their cat. He enjoys living with Calgary Housing because it’s quiet. When he hears kids playing outside it reminds him of his childhood in Cardston. In his job, he works on HVAC systems and much of the construction at Temple this past summer was his handywork. He shared his tools with his neighbours and was quick to help with the bigger projects like building the flower boxes.

The construction of the flower box benches was one of the highlights of the summer. These sturdy benches provide a place for families to watch their kids play and provide space for more greenery and flowers at the property. “The more plants the better” Aaron says.

Mohamed has lived at Temple for about a year. His involvement started after he called The City and asked them to fix the park by his house. His calls didn’t lead anywhere so he decided to start doing work himself. He tracked down some sod and chopped up protruding tree roots in the park. He hopes those changes will create a safer space for the kids to play and have a nicer lawn.

Mohamed was an active help throughout the summer “whenever they needed me, I was out there” he says. “My neighbours are very friendly” he adds. He likes the community as well, as it is close to his children’s school and there are many multicultural stores where he can find foods from back home.

When he asks what makes a good neighbour, he shares “someone who is friendly, nice, quiet, listens to me, and is there to help. Friendly with kids is good too. Aaron is a good neighbour!” The two became good friends throughout the summer, painting fences together, building flower boxes, and helping kids fix their bikes. Maybe mending fences makes great neighbours too!

Midway through the summer Lisa shared that what kept her going is when the little kids see her and the others working and then start asking questions. She’s passionate about improving the property not just for herself, but for her neighbours as well.

This summer there was also a strong emphasis on creating spaces for children to play. Youth En Route provided children with free bikes and safety gear like helmets and did basic bike safety training. WINS helped organize the event, and, with Susanna, helped families sign up for the free bikes ahead of time.

Toward the end of the summer, residents decorated tires to create vibrant flower planters (which will be used next year, as the water restrictions made planting new flower tricky). They also created colourful sidewalk games using spray paint and stencils.

As the summer ended, residents gathered to celebrate their hard work. Calgary Housing staff grilled burgers, WINS provided snacks, and everyone took a well-deserved break to admire the results. The property now features vibrant fences, colorful planters, green grass, picnic tables, and lively sidewalk games. Kids zipped around on their new bikes, and the community became closer than ever.

Looking forward to next summer, the residents of Temple are excited to enjoy the fruits of their labour and continue making their property a beautiful place to call home and to continue building a thriving community of neighbours supporting neighbours.

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October 16, 2024

Today, Calgary Housing, along with the federal government, and The City of Calgary announced a significant funding initiative aimed at repairing and renewing over 1,000 affordable homes across the city. The event, held at the Calgary Housing Falconridge 3 affordable housing property, highlighted this joint investment, which will improve essential housing stock and ensure safe, affordable homes for Calgarians well into the future.

The federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), has committed $10.04 million to this initiative, with $5 million allocated to The City of Calgary and $5.04 million to Calgary Housing. This funding will be combined with $11.66 million from The City and $11.76 million from Calgary Housing to carry out much-needed repairs across a range of affordable housing properties.

The improvements will include upgrades to building envelopes, energy efficiency enhancements, and accessibility modifications at various Calgary Housing-managed locations. While some of the work is already underway, the full range of projects will be completed between 2025 and 2027, with the funding required to be utilized within three years.

The announcement featured remarks from George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview, who represented the federal government, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, and Sarah Woodgate, President and CEO of Calgary Housing. Jeff Chase, Chief Housing Officer for The City, served as the emcee for the event.

Sarah Woodgate stated, “With this funding contribution from our partners at CMHC, along with investment by The City of Calgary and Calgary Housing, we are renewing homes that have provided security and dignity to thousands of Calgarians over the years. These efforts will ensure these homes continue to offer safe, secure, and affordable living for families and individuals—now and for decades to come.”

This initiative is a crucial part of Calgary Housing’s commitment to maintaining high-quality, sustainable housing for residents and ensuring that affordable housing remains accessible to those who need it most.

For further details on today’s announcement, you can download the federal government’s news release here.

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