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.
