On a cold Thursday afternoon, the community room in Temple fills with the sound of kids dropping backpacks, grabbing snacks and joking around as they browse through books brought in by the Calgary Public Library. What looks like an after-school snack break is something much bigger – a lifeline of support woven together by Calgary Housing and Women In Need Society (WINS), helping families steady themselves when life gets hard.

For 34 years, Women In Need Society (WINS) has been a reliable presence for women and families in Calgary, offering everything from food hampers to employment support. But at the heart of their work is something simpler – dignity, choice, and the knowledge that when women flourish, families prosper too.

“We believe that when a woman is thriving, their whole family is, and they’re the true head of household, and the glue to that family,” says Samantha Schmidt, program manager at WINS.

The organization helps women and their families in times of crisis, providing emergency food hampers, clothing and basic hygiene products like soap, shampoo and laundry detergent as well as diapers, formula and onesies for infants.  WINS runs thrift stores that help move donated goods back into the community.

WINS runs programs to help folks find jobs in retail and warehouses, helping them transition from crisis to stability. Other programs include ESL classes and digital literacy courses. What ties all of it together is a commitment to meeting people where they’re at, without judgement. Even when someone receives a voucher to shop at a WINS thrift store, Schmidt says the experience is designed so they blend in with everyday shoppers.

There are two WINS locations on Calgary Housing properties: one in Temple, and another in Erin Woods. These sites make support easy to access for residents who may be facing financial challenges, falling behind on rent, or navigating a crisis. Calgary Housing works closely with WINS to offer referrals and connect residents with the resources they need to stay housed.

One of the programs WINS runs in the community is Grab a Snack. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Kids can stop by after school for something to eat. But, Schmidt says, it has grown into something much more meaningful.

“Kids can come after school and literally grab a snack. But they are definitely invited into the space,” she says. “We do some group programming, and we really try to assess what the need is in the community.”

Every two weeks, the Calgary Public Library joins the program with its book bus, giving kids access to literacy and connection to Library resources.

Building community isn’t something that happens overnight, but Schmidt has seen this partnership’s impact firsthand. Last summer in Temple, residents came together to makeover their shared spaces. They painted murals, created community gardens, and transformed their shared space into a welcoming gathering place. WINS and Calgary Housing supported the project, but the vision, initiative, and energy came from the residents themselves.

“I think from that moment, we saw that everybody wants to connect,” Schmidt says. “They’re resolving conflict on their own, and they’re a very powerful community because they now have solid relationships.”

For WINS, client journeys often begins with basic needs: food, clothing, household essentials. But it doesn’t end there. As trust grows, so do the opportunities for stability, learning, wellness, and long-term support.

Calgary Housing and WINS share the same goal: helping individuals and families move from crisis to stability, with dignity leading the way.

The post Partner Profile – WINS supports women and their families with dignity leading the way. appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Calgary Housing is marking a milestone at the Mount Pleasant affordable housing development.

The buildings for the 16 homes are closed in and siding is being installed. This means internal works like plumbing, electrical, HVAC and finishing can continue, as part of meeting the summer 2026 completion target.

“We’re very excited to have the 16-home development closed-in from the elements,” said Bo Jiang, interim President and CEO of Calgary Housing. “The crews have made good time in getting to this stage in the construction, and it’s enticing for area residents to begin to see the vision we’ve had for these homes.”

When the building envelope work is completed, it will save 24 per cent more energy than the minimum building code by using triple-glazed windows, improved air tightness and better insulation practices, as part of carefully considered use of sustainable design elements.

Construction began in April 2025 after The City of Calgary signed over development management authority to Calgary Housing in September 2024.

The development, anticipated to serve 45 residents, features on-site parking and has an existing playground and off-leash dog park on the same block. The 16 homes are designed to visually fit into the existing neighbourhood and use high quality materials to help cut down on maintenance.

This development is a collaborative affordable housing effort supported by the Government of Alberta and City of Calgary, and will operate under the mixed-income housing model.

The mixed-income model is a sustainable form of housing that serves Calgarians living on lower- and middle-incomes by offering a wide range of rents in a perpetually sustainable funding model. Rents just below market rates help to fund more deeply affordable rents and fund maintenance costs, eliminating the need for operating funding from governments.

Calgary Housing is looking forward to completing the construction work and welcoming residents later this year.

The post Calgary Housing’s Mount Pleasant development one step closer to completion appeared first on Calgary Housing.

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Calgary, AB – January 21, 2026 – Calgary Housing announced a change in senior leadership, effective immediately.

The Board of Directors thanks Sarah Woodgate for her 11 years of leadership and service to Calgary Housing and Calgarians as chief executive at Calgary Housing.

The Board appointed Bo Jiang as Interim President and CEO. Mr. Jiang currently serves as Vice President, Asset Management & Development, and has previously held the role of interim CEO. The Board is confident in his ability to provide continuity and stable leadership.

Calgary Housing’s mission, strategic priorities, and day-to-day operations remain unchanged. The organization continues its focus on providing safe, affordable housing and supporting resident well-being across Calgary and increasing housing supply and choice for Calgarians.

Further updates regarding the permanent CEO recruitment process will be shared as soon as possible.

Media Contact for Calgary Housing’s Board of Directors:

Lori DeLuca
Email: lori.deluca@thechangemakers.com
Phone: (250) 217-5339

About Calgary Housing

Calgary Housing (CH) is the largest provider of safe and affordable housing solutions in Alberta, serving more than 25,000 Calgarians. Founded in 1977, CH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the City of Calgary that operates more than 6,700 homes owned by CH, The City of Calgary and the Province of Alberta, and administers nearly 3,000 private rent supplements.

For more information, visit Calgary-Housing.org.

The post Calgary Housing Announces Leadership Transition appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Tax Slip info for Rent Assistance Recipients

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This growth will represent a nine per cent increase in the number of Calgarians that Calgary Housing (CH) serves, and confirms CH’s place as the largest non-market housing provider in the city and province.

We would like to thank Mayor Farkas and every Councillor for their unanimous support and for their strong endorsement of the mixed-income housing model that is at the core of CH’s ongoing fiscal and housing successes.

The self-supported mortgage debt will go towards capital expenditures like land acquisition and construction of new homes.  When combined with the significant support pledged from the provincial and federal governments, these funds will help unlock construction on 700 homes. And under the mixed-income model, the operating costs of those homes will be self-sustaining, funded by rent revenues collected across the portfolio.

“Building on decades of serving thousands of Calgarians, we’re proud to be The City of Calgary’s developer of mixed-income housing,” CH President & CEO Sarah Woodgate said.

“Today’s decision will help get thousands of more Calgarians into housing they can afford, across the city.”

“Council’s decision helps Calgary Housing further our goal to buy, build, and partner to increase housing supply and choice for Calgarians.”

The post City Council green-lights Calgary Housing expansion plans appeared first on Calgary Housing.

“It was the greatest experience for us.”

Courtney Cathcart grew up in Calgary Housing. He, along with his mom and brother, lived in a townhouse complex in the west end of the city. The family was able to access Calgary Housing when Courtney was two years old, and they lived in the same location until he was 14.

The complex had a nearby field where all the children would gather. It meant that Cathcart had access to a community of neighbours growing up who all looked out for each other.

“I loved my experience at Calgary Housing. It really allowed my mom to reset a bit, do some schooling, advance in her career,” Cathcart said.

Cathcart’s mom worked two to three jobs at a time while living in Calgary Housing and was also able to focus on her education. She worked her way up at Safeway and Canada Post, taking different roles and was able to save to be able to buy a house.

Access to safe, affordable housing that was embedded in community allowed her to gain some flexibility in her family life, transition to a full-time job, and be a fully present parent to her children.

She passed on the value of a good work ethic and community.

“It created an environment for us to be able to succeed”

“It created an environment for us to be able to succeed,” Cathcart said.

Living in Calgary Housing broadened Cathcart’s perspective and it caused him to live his life differently.

“For me, volunteerism is a big part of it,” he says.

Cathcart serves as the board chair for Vivo for Healthier Generations, a charity focused on creating healthier communities and generations in Calgary and beyond. He also serves as Rogers Communications’ director of government relations for the prairies, where he advocated for improved access to internet services for people living on lower incomes.

Rogers Communications now has a partnership with The City of Calgary’s Fair Entry program.

“It’s my experience [in Calgary Housing] that has me contemplating how I make things better and more supportive for people that need a hand.”

“It’s my experience [in Calgary Housing] that has me contemplating how I make things better and more supportive for people that need a hand,” Cathcart says.

The number of people who need a hand in Calgary is significant.

As of 2025 year to date, the number of households waiting for affordable housing through Calgary Housing is 7,574. The waitlist is priority-based, not time-based. This means that all applications for subsidized housing are prioritized based on an applicant’s point score. This point score is calculated based on the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation, under the Alberta Housing Act.

This makes sure the people facing the greatest housing challenges are supported first, based on:

• Percentage of income paid in rent.
• Priority scoring based on factors such as rent burden and current living conditions.
• Household circumstances, such as whether a person is exiting domestic violence or experiencing homelessness.

Single parent families often shoulder caregiving duties for children and aging family members, increasing household expenses and placing significant pressure on them as the sole provider. According to Statistics Canada (2022), single parent households are four times more likely to live below the poverty line compared to households with two parents. Calgary Housing faces the challenge of providing housing to single parent households in matching available homes to individual family circumstances.

Although nearly 1,000 single parent families have been housed to date, more than 2,000 remain on the waiting list. Single parent families make up 32 per cent of total applicants on the waitlist but continue to face significant barriers to accessing subsidized housing.

Calgary Housing wants to support more people to transform their lives. Every child in Calgary deserves the chance to build a life of their own, much like Cathcart.

Candace Kay is a single parent. While growing up in Calgary, she got involved in the wrong crowd and was on and off the streets for over a decade, but everything changed for her as soon as she realized she was pregnant. She knew she needed to do things differently.

“I was tired of getting up every morning wondering how I was going to make money that day,” she said.

She recovered from severe addiction and prioritized finding stable housing to be able to provide for her child. She ended the relationship with her then partner because his actions didn’t fit that priority.

She applied for Income Support and Calgary Housing.

She was able to access Calgary Housing when her child was born. With a little bit of income and stable housing, Kay felt more hopeful about her life.

“I’ve been praying for something like that for so long and I’m doing the best I can being on income support.”

“I’ve been praying for something like that for so long and I’m doing the best I can being on income support,” she said.

There are still challenges ahead for Kay, including finding a full-time job, but she is confident that she can take that on because she has safe, affordable housing.

“[Housing] is all that matters to me. Honestly, that makes everything fine,” she says.

Kay’s story is not uncommon. Many Calgary Housing residents are able to rebuild and transform their lives after years of unstable housing caused by job loss, family breakdown, health issues, and financial struggles.

Single parents face extended average wait times for affordable housing, often exceeding two years for larger homes.

The average wait time for single parent applicants on the waitlist is 702 days (1.9 years) for housing and this number varies based on the size of the home available. The need for larger homes is a significant barrier in providing safe, stable housing for single parent families with larger family composition.

A Calgary Housing resident we’ll call Jane had worked in the food and beverage industry for years. She held various jobs including childcare for her sister. Her husband also held a series of jobs, including serving at a local restaurant, a barber at a local hair salon and being an Uber Eats driver. Jane and her husband were getting by until their lives were derailed by health issues. Jane experiences debilitating dizziness and ear pain while her husband struggles with diabetes. At this time, the couple applied for Calgary Housing.

Jane feels like if they weren’t slowed down by their health, they would have gone on to open a business in the hospitality industry.

As the affordability crisis began to take hold, Jane felt like they were sinking fast, with no steady source of income, expensive rent, and the inability to work full time.

She couldn’t find a job. She would send out applications to grocery stores and other retails locations but wouldn’t hear anything.

“All of a sudden, things are going up, and all the doors are closed.”

“All of a sudden, things are going up, and all the doors are closed,” she said.

After six years of waiting, Jane accessed Calgary Housing. She said that getting into safe, affordable housing “stopped the financial bleeding.”

Jane and her husband live in a bachelor apartment in the heart of downtown.

“We can survive now, at least we can breathe a little bit,” Jane says.

As many as 30 per cent of applicants to Calgary Housing who are waiting for affordable housing are employed. Like Courtney’s mother, applicants are working many jobs to piece together an income to support themselves.

For these families, getting into a home in Calgary Housing would allow them to free up resources to save for education, or pay off debt. They would be able to start building sustainability in their finances to be able to survive the next shock to their financial wellbeing, with the increased cost of living.

Another group of people who face extended wait times are the single adults (non-senior) in Calgary. Research by Enough for All, a poverty reduction strategy stewarded by Vibrant Communities Calgary, found that this group typically lives at 55 per cent of the poverty line. With 2,726 single adults still waiting for housing, Calgary Housing sees applicant wait times ranging from 521 days to 766 days. The shortage of bachelor and one-bedroom homes in Calgary Housing’s inventory continues to drive housing instability for this group.

The number of people applying for affordable housing through Calgary Housing has surged by 54 per cent compared to last year. With 271 people moving to Calgary every day, the demand for affordable housing continues to grow. To meet this need, Calgary Housing is focused on increasing non-market housing supply both on behalf of the City of Calgary and through its own initiatives. The organization aims to deliver at least 3,000 non-market homes over the next decade.

People seek affordable housing for many reasons. Safe, affordable housing offers stability and a foundation for rebuilding, progress, and sustainability. Whether it’s a single parent creating a safe place for their kids, someone rebuilding life after addiction, an individual coping with medical challenges, or a hardworking Calgarian who still can’t afford rent. Affordable housing acts as a catalyst for change. It’s more than shelter; it’s a foundation for transformation.

Encourage your elected officials to continue investing in building and acquiring non-market homes.

The post Affordable Housing: A Foundation for Change appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Kaylee, a Métis woman from Manitoba, moved to Calgary in 2018. With support from Calgary Housing and her community, she overcame significant challenges and is now able to chart her own path forward.

She was having a hard time, she hadn’t completed high school, she wasn’t in housing and was also struggling in an unhealthy relationship.

Eventually, Kaylee was able to rent a room in a house, but that living situation was inadequate. She found a Calgary Housing residence on RentFaster and moved in with her partner, but troubles in her relationship hit a high. Kaylee was pregnant and the violence from her partner was overwhelming. She decided to move back to Manitoba for family support.

“I was in a low spot when I was pregnant and it all changed,” Kaylee said.

She then got the call while in Manitoba that she was accepted into Calgary Housing, so she moved back to the city, but she made the decision to get back together with her ex. They tried to make it work for eight months, she got pregnant with her second child, but the relationship didn’t work out.

Living alone in Calgary Housing, with a toddler and a baby, Kaylee focused on her educational goals as she needed to provide for her children. She studied to get her high school diploma, supported by a Métis organization.

“If I didn’t have support from the Métis organization and Calgary Housing, I wouldn’t have been able to go back to school,” Kaylee says.

“[Stable housing] has helped me get ahead of my life a ton. It’s been great living in Calgary Housing, everyone who lives here is wonderful. It’s fun for the kids, there is a park here. I enjoy the property,” she adds.

Kaylee didn’t stop with her diploma. She got into the Health Care Aide program at Bow Valley College and was able to access childcare for her children to focus on her studies.

“It was hard [to parent and] focus on schooling, but I managed through it,” she said.

Kaylee was hired instantly after graduation and now works full time.

She has transformed her life, even over the course of the past four years. She wanted to create a better life for her children and now can even see her next career goal of becoming a nurse.

“I feel like a totally different person. Who I was before is not who I am now. I don’t even know that person anymore. I had my struggles, and I never thought I could make it this far, but I did, and I keep going.”

The post Inside Calgary Housing: Resident overcomes challenges to chart a path forward. appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Money and mental health are closely linked. People living on lower incomes face more stress and mental health challenges, and those challenges make it harder to stay financially secure. It’s a cycle that affects many Canadians.

Access to safe, affordable housing along with a range of supports is a stability measure that can help people in addressing their own mental health challenges and break the cycle of poverty.

Calgary Housing partners with several organization to help residents stay housed. Whether someone is facing financial hardship, falling behind on rent, or struggling to meet basic needs. Calgary Housing offers support, including referrals to external agencies. One of these partner organizations is Rise Calgary.

Rise Calgary was created out of a partnership between BowWest Community Resource Centre and Sunrise Community Link. The non-profit provides programs designed to support families and individuals living on lower incomes, including access to basic needs services, advocacy services, financial empowerment opportunities, and skill-building programs in parenting, employment, and everyday life.

Rise has two locations in Calgary Housing properties, providing services that are easily accessible for residents. The organization is located in Ranchlands and in Ogden.

“At Rise, we like to be where people are,” said Salimah Kassam, Executive Director of Rise Calgary.

Rise also helps folks find temporary housing while waiting for entry into Calgary Housing or another form of stable housing.

“In those instances, we’ll often provide the basic needs fund to keep the relationship going while working with the person to try and ensure that they’re building some sustainability into their budget so that this doesn’t happen again,” Kassam said.

Rise focuses on supporting residents who face immediate issues, be it income insecurity, housing insecurity, or food insecurity.

“We’ll start working with people on all three of those areas of life: income, food, and housing. We try to create some sustainability and some security for folks,” Kassam stated.

Rise’s priority with clients is to address their immediate need by accessing a number of interventions, including the Basic Needs Fund, filing taxes to access government benefits, and working with Alberta Works and income support. Anyone can start their stabilization journey with Rise.

A non-profit’s stabilization work usually only happens after you’ve engaged in a structured program. With Rise, that happens once you walk through the doors.

Stephanie, a Calgary Housing resident can attest to the value of Rise’s stabilization work. Her son has specialized needs, and Stephanie is a full-time care giver. She went to Rise for support.

“Everything kind of got on top of me. Everything just piled up and I went back [to RISE] and I can’t even explain in words how good they are. I went in, kind of in a puddle, and they just said, ‘let’s get you back on your feet.’ They are so good,” Stephanie said.

“We acknowledge that poverty is a really hard job, and it involves a lot of steps to get out of, and it’s a long journey. We’re there in a way that allows for that. We try and bring that compassion and that acknowledgement so that people can feel hope and can feel like there’s a path forward and a way out,” Kassam said.

The post Partner Profile: Rise Calgary – Providing Help for Today and Hope for Tomorrow appeared first on Calgary Housing.

In Calgary’s Forest Lawn neighbourhood, Indigenous families gather over shared meals, weaving together connection, culture and teachings help unravel the threads of intergenerational trauma.

Braiding the Sweetgrass is a program offered by Hull Services that supports urban Indigenous families to experience community and connect with their shared identities. The only requirement to join the program is that someone in the family must be enrolled in any grade in school, from kindergarten to Grade 12.

Peter Daniels is the program coordinator of Braiding the Sweetgrass. One of his goals is supporting these families in regaining cultural acceptance, to be proud of who they are and where they are from. The program allows families to overcome stigma and come back to their roots.

“It gives them the opportunity to be part of the community — a community of other Indigenous people that are searching for the same thing.” Daniels said.

The four-month program takes place in Hull Services’ Forest Lawn location and runs twice a year. There are eight different sessions led by Elders. The sessions include dinner on weeknights and lunch on weekends. The program kicks off with a pipe ceremony and a feast that engages families in the program right away.

“I heard an elder actually call it kind of an Indigenous contract, in a way,” Daniels said with a laugh.

The program includes age-appropriate lessons so families can learn teachings on the same topic.

Daniels recalls a Calgary Housing resident who was a single mom who was able to recognize the pattern of harm that she experienced as a child in herself. She was subconsciously repeating the pattern and, through the program, was able to recognize that and build a deeper connection with her daughters.

Families that graduate from the program or take a pause on their attendance have the option to take the program a second time to build more knowledge and to allow flexibility for changing life circumstances.

There is also a continuing community for graduated families so they can maintain their connections. Seventy families are now a part of the continuing community.

“Families come back with more resilience. They’re advocating for themselves more. For us staff, we get to watch the impact and that’s the big rewarding part,” Daniels said.

Daniels shared a story that highlights the program’s influence. A young mother, participating with her eight-year-old and one-year-old, had a realization during the sessions: she had stopped showing affection to her older child at a certain age, mirroring a pattern from her own upbringing. Encouraged by the lead Elder, she decided to break that cycle.

“Especially with the parents, when they’re in those groups, you see a lot of ‘aha’ moments,” Daniels said.

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