The Fresh Routes Market at Manchester offers fresh food at prices that are 25 per cent lower than regular markets. The market also accepts Calgary Dollars for purchases. Prior to this program, many Manchester-area residents faced barriers to accessing grocery stores. The one walkable grocery store in the neighbourhood is a wholesaler that often sells food in too large a quantity for smaller households. The next nearest stores are two bus rides away.

Since opening in November of 2022, the market has been well received by local residents and has provided volunteer opportunities as well as access to affordable, high quality food. Volunteer Ryan McKenzie says “Volunteering has given me a renewed sense of purpose and identity: giving.  Mirroring my first answer about perpetual giving on both sides: It allows me to be a face in the community I live in.  It has allowed me to build and foster relationships in the community.”

The market celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday, February 22. Media were on site to document the launch, speak with representatives and chat with shoppers. Dozens of residents and community members stopped by to do their shopping.

An innovative aspect of the market is its acceptance of Calgary Dollars; an alternative, local currency. Calgary Dollars are typically earned through skill sharing, trading and volunteering. Residents at the Manchester property are also able to pay a portion of their rent with Calgary Dollars. Calgary Dollars Program Manager Jared Blustein says “Thanks to this partnership we are able to continue supporting economic resilience, community cohesion and food security across Calgary.”

CHC operates three buildings in Manchester, made up of 31 bachelor units, 179 one bedroom units, 10 accessible one bedroom units, and 117 two bedroom units.  At Manchester, CHC also partners with the Mustard Seed through their Neighbour Centre and the SHARP Foundation through their Community Pantry Project.

CHC is the largest landlord in Calgary providing homes and rental support for approximately 27,000 Calgarians. CHC operates affordable, low end of market, rent geared to income and social housing and administers Rent Assistance benefits on behalf of the Province of Alberta.

The post A Fresh Perspective to Fight Food Insecurity appeared first on Calgary Housing.

This December is forecast to be unseasonably cold. Some winter maintenance emergencies can be prevented with a little bit of advance work. This can save you time and money by preventing a burst pipe or slipping on an icy sidewalk.

Outside

• Shut off water at the source (hoses, sprinklers, etc). There will usually be a valve in the basement. Drain the line by leaving the outside tap turned on after the indoor one has been turned off.
• Remove any hoses or sprinklers from outside taps.
• Store any toys and outdoor furniture in one comer of the yard, potentially covered with a tarp.
• Store any winter toys such as sleds safety and away from walkways.

Patio Doors, Windows & Balconies

• Please keep any windows and patio doors closed during cold temperatures to prevent plumbing and heating fixtures from freezing. An open window can lead to a burst pipe when it is below 0 degrees outside.
• Please do not use your balcony for storage purposes, this includes summer tires.
• Do not use your balcony to dry clothes or hang items.

Sidewalks

• Sidewalks must be cleared of snow/ice within 24 hours of each snowfall. This includes the City sidewalks as well as any sidewalks or steps leading to your residence. Snow removal is managed by residents.
• If you see ice or snow on a common walking area in your property, please submit a maintenance request.

Furnaces

• Residents are responsible for changing the furnace filters in their residence. Furnace filters need to be changed every three months to allow the furnace to function properly and ensure your residence is heated efficiently.
• In winter, residents should set their furnace/thermostat to 20 degrees Celsius for even heating.

Apartment Hallways

• Please do not leave boot trays, boots, toys, garbage, recycling or anything else outside your apartment door or in apartment common areas.
• Please do not let your children play in the hallways.

Outside Parking Plugs

• Check your outdoor parking plug is working. If it isn’t working, please submit a maintenance request for repair. A hair dryer is a good way to test the plug.

Vehicles and Parking Areas

• All vehicles must have a valid license plate and be in running condition. Derelict or abandoned vehicles will be tagged and towed at the expense of the owner.
• Most buildings have one designated parking stall per unit. If you have more than one vehicle, please park the additional vehicles on the street. Visitor parking is reserved for visitors and other residents. Stalls are reserved for the residents of the indicated unit.
• Keep the area around your parking stall free of snow. Do not shovel snow and ice into neighboring stalls or obstruct other vehicles.
• Do not leave your vehicle running and unlocked with the keys inside even if it is for a short period of time.

Smoke Detectors

• Never shut off the breaker for your smoke detector for any reason. If your smoke detector is battery operated, do not remove the batteries. Removing or altering fire and safety equipment is a serious risk to you and your neighbours.
• Do not remove, cover, or alter your smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector.
• Test your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector every 30 days. If you find that one or both are not functioning properly, immediately contact Calgary Housing Company and submit a maintenance.

Pets

• If your residence permits pets, please keep your pet on a leash at all times when it is outside your unit or enclosed yard.
• Always clean up after your pet to prevent any contamination or odor. Even in the wintertime pet refuse needs to be removed from yards and residences.
• Never dump pet waste, wood shavings, pet food, or other pet materials in common areas. These items must be bagged and disposed of in garbage bins.
• If you are unsure if pets are allowed in your residence, please contact your Property Manager before acquiring the animal.

Holiday Safety

• Christmas trees and other decorations should be kept away from heat sources including registers, vents, lamps, candles, heaters and more.
• If you have a real Christmas tree, please water it regularly as a dry Christmas tree is a fire hazard.
• Christmas lights should be turned off when you are not home or asleep as they can pose a fire hazard.
• Candles are discouraged as they are a fire hazard. If you do use candles, please keep them away from flammable objects such as curtains, bedding, and Christmas trees.
• Poinsettias are harmful if ingested. Please take care when leaving the plants unattended around children and pets.

This list has been compiled with common winter concerns and questions in mind. Residents are also reminded if they haven’t yet purchased Resident Insurance to contact their agent today. Insurance protects you and your neighbours from loss and expense.

If you are experiencing a Maintenance Emergency, please call (587) 390-1200 and press Option 3. This service is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week including weekends and holidays.

CHC is excited to launch our new Resident Portal. If you have not done so already, be sure to register for your secure, online account where you can submit non-urgent maintenance requests, check the status of those requests, contact our staff and view details of your account with us. Access the Resident Portal here.

Thank you for doing your part to take care of your unit and property. We wish you an enjoyable winter and holiday season!

The post Tips to Prepare Your Residence for Winter appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Pride Calgary recently opened an office in Calgary Housing Company’s (CHC) East Village Place. CHC reached out to learn more about Pride Calgary and how organizations like CHC can be more inclusive and supportive.

Among the goals for the Pride Calgary office is a vision for a range of resources and an inclusive space with an open door policy including a rotating retail option to sell merchandise from local 2SLGBTQ+ business.

When asked about the importance of language — as there are variations in the acronyms used to refer to the 2SLGBTQ+ community— Pride Calgary put the 2S first to honour the two-spirited people of Turtle Island (an Indigenous name for North America). They also share that the acronym changes over time to reflect our increasing knowledge and understanding of gender.

Tying into that, Pride Calgary highlight the importance of using pronouns in emails. They share that misgendering of trans-gendered individuals can happen on a daily basis and the less that happens the better.

To learn more about Calgary’s 2SLGBTQ+ history, Pride Calgary recommends the local historian Kevin Allen. The Glenbow Museum has published a conversation with Kevin as a part of its Glenbow from Home collection. You can find that interview here.

Pride Calgary was founded in the late 1980s. The Calgary Pride Parade, scheduled for Sept 4 this year, boasted an attendance of over 100,000 people in 2019. You can find the Pride Calgary calendar of events here.

Some figures on 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and housing

2SLGBTQ+ Canadians account for an overrepresented number of people experiencing homelessness. One in three homeless youth identify as 2SLGBTQ+. Pride Calgary says many 2SLGBTQ+ youth may wait to come out until they leave home.

“For example, far too many 2SLGBTQIA+ youth are forced to leave home after ‘coming out’ to their families,” says a 2022 CMHC Report. “Once alone and on the streets, they face additional discrimination finding work, accessing education, and securing a safe place to live.”

A 2016 study by the Homeless Hub found that 75 per cent of homeless youth had experienced multiple episodes of homelessness, putting 2SLGBTQ+ youth at particular risk of chronic homelessness.

A 2017 report by the Calgary Homeless Foundation indicated that one of the barriers to 2SLGBTQ+ individuals accessing housing is location, as there is not enough centrally located affordable housing offering connections to supports and to the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

In a June, 2022 post, CMHC recommends housing providers choose safe and welcoming neighbourhoods when developing 2SLGBTQ+ housing. The federal housing agency also recommends a focus on creating communities, rather than isolated buildings, with access to support services. It also advocates for the involvement of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals throughout the development process.

The post A Conversation with Pride Calgary appeared first on Calgary Housing.

LAMDA is a mental health and housing support agency. They’ve partnered with Calgary Housing Company for over 30 years and work as community advocates for those experiencing mental illnesses.

LAMDA was founded by Dr. Mary Dumka. Dr. Dumka is a psychiatrist who was overseeing care for several clients in the same building in SW Calgary. She saw the need for supportive living for her clients and so began the LAMDA society. The organization opened its first building in 1990 with funding from the Alberta Heritage Fund. Several residents at the building have lived there since it opened. LAMDA operate out of two Calgary Housing Company apartment buildings, providing valuable community supports and psychiatric supports to those residents.

CHC recently reached out to LAMDA to discuss the last 30 years of partnership and the work they’ve been doing with residents.

Could you talk about the importance of community supports for someone living with a mental illness?

Community supports are fundamental to happy and successful independent living for those with mental illness. Any marginalized group needs community support to live a healthy independent lifestyle and those with mental disabilities are no different. Having a home is basic to stability, leading to wellness and resilience. However, the idea of having a home is often not possible for people who experience mental illness, because most of the specialized housing is transitional, attached to residential treatment programs, and often segregated. At LAMDA, having a home in the community often results in a feeling of having family. Friendships are formed and care is freely given and received among the tenants.

What are some of the barriers someone with a mental illness faces when navigating service providers and how do your support workers help with that?

Communication and technical issues to begin with. Organizing schedules and appointments and accessing transportation to get to the services and service providers can be a challenge. Our staff helps tenants with organization, transportation, and communication with service providers. Once trust, respect and a relationship are built, our staff assesses and supports tenants. Staff also can communicate with the service providers to share concerns and insights.

What are some facts about Schizophrenia that people may not know?

Many people do not know the prevalence of the illness and that it can be managed successfully with proper supports and usually medication.

About 1 in 100 Canadians have schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is not an IQ issue. In many cases schizophrenia can be managed with medication. There is a full spectrum of symptoms and treatments. It is a disease that requires regular and ongoing assessment and management. When supports are offered in a timely fashion, our tenants can continue to lead meaningful and productive lives.

What are some common misconceptions or stigmas people might have about Schizophrenia?

It is not curable, but is manageable with support, consistency, medication adherence, and stable housing.

There is a common belief that many with schizophrenia are violent and “crazy” and will never lead “normal” lives. These types of things hit the news and are such a misconception. Many people with schizophrenia go on to getting married and having families, have paid employment or volunteer, and have a sense of purpose and great quality of life. In fact, according to recent research, persons with schizophrenia are more likely to be the victims of violence than to perpetuate violence.

Do you offer skill development to residents? If so, what kinds of programming do you offer?

We have just been approved for a Home Improvement Program that will offer computer classes for our tenants. In house computers will be available for residents to access.

Staff also assist residents with activities of daily living if needed.

Staff assess when a resident needs extra assistance but the goal is to allow for as much independent living as possible. Skills such as cooking, shopping, socializing, exercise, hobbies, and banking are fostered.

LAMDA staff supports include liaison with tenants’ individual mental health service providers, but do not involve treatments or interventions. First and foremost, LAMDA is a home.

One of the reasons for LAMDA’s exceptional success is that it is a safe and permanent home, not a temporary residential treatment facility. The role of a person in the support of housing is one of a “tenant” not a “client”, and the tenant “carries the keys” and is in power to make decisions about his or her own lifestyle.

What resources should someone access to learn more about schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, Calgary Chapter and the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The post Community Based Mental Health Supports appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Calgary Housing Company (CHC) manages over 7,000 affordable homes, serving nearly 25,000 Calgarians, including almost 10,000 children.

CHC regularly conducts a Resident Satisfaction Survey to provide residents with an opportunity to give feedback on CHC’s service delivery and share information about their well-being. The results are used by CHC to continually improve service delivery and better support resident and community well-being. The most recent survey was conducted via telephone and online from May 31 to June 17, 2021. A total of 600 residents completed the survey. You can read the full results here and view the summary here.

• The overall satisfaction with services provided by CHC remains high at 74%. Overall satisfaction with CHC has remained relatively stable and was 73% in 2019 and 77% in 2017.
• 84% of respondents were satisfied with being listened to and treated with respect, and 78% were comfortable raising concerns or speaking their mind with CHC. The majority of residents agreed that CHC supports diversity and inclusion (78%).
• Residents were very satisfied with the application process (82%).
• Residents were very satisfied with the move-in process (83%) and agreed that the staff who did the move-in inspection were professional and thorough (89%). 85% of residents did not have any major problems when moving in (e.g., parking, elevator access).
• CHC will continue supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion through ongoing employee education and training and the development of an anti-racism strategy.
• Residents were aware of the efforts by CHC to limit the spread of COVID-19 (92%) and believed CHC’s response was quick (89%) and helpful (88%).
• Overall, 68% of residents were satisfied with their level of safety and security in their building and home. This is a significant increase of 8% since 2019.
• CHC will continue to strengthen safety and security through the prioritization of safety-related repairs, and security improvements, and by maintaining an open and responsive relationship with our residents so that safety-related concerns can be voiced and addressed.
• 64% of residents said they were satisfied with the condition of their property, 59% were satisfied with the condition of their building and 69% were satisfied with condition of the home.
• Nearly one third of recent repairs were initiated by CHC, which reflects our efforts to become more proactive.

The post Resident Satisfaction Survey Results appeared first on Calgary Housing.

The post Review of Affordable Housing Funding in Alberta Budget 2022 appeared first on Calgary Housing.

On November 1, the Government of Alberta released Stronger Foundations: Alberta’s 10-year strategy to improve and expand affordable housing.

Key highlights of the announcement from the government that may be of interest to residents:

Over the next 10 years, the province will take bold action to build an affordable housing system that is flexible and adaptable to local needs, fair, inclusive and sustainable, and provide more affordable housing options that meet the needs of Albertans with low income. The strategy outlines how the province has set a target to serve 82,000 households – an increase of more than 40 per cent over 10 years – through five key action areas:

• • Support Albertans most in need,
  • Improve access,
  • Increase governance and planning,
  • Enhance sustainability and efficiency, and
  • Enable growth and investment.

Of special note for residents, actions under the strategy intend to make it simpler for residents to access and navigate housing supports, and make sure there are more options and more flexibility in how residents meet their individual needs. This includes helping residents improve their personal situations as they work toward housing independence where possible.

Initiatives that may be of interest to residents include:

• • The Government of Alberta will make it easier for Albertans to find housing options, understand the eligibility criteria, and connect with a housing provider. This includes continued investment in the Find Housing online tool and making the eligibility rules more fair for everyone.
  • The government will work with housing providers to provide local housing solutions to meet a range of needs – from the most vulnerable households to those with more moderate needs.
  • Mixed-income housing approaches will be the focus in planning for new developments. Mixed-income housing lets residents pay rent at a price that makes sense for their individual situations. Instead of moving if their finances change, they can simply pay an adjusted price.
  • The government plans to expand its redesigned Rent Supplement Program. Through that program, tenants can use the benefit to afford market units if they choose, so they aren’t limited to designated affordable housing units.

The Government of Alberta stated they “will proceed thoughtfully and carefully and will continue to protect the most vulnerable to ensure they are not left behind”.

You can learn more about the strategy online at: alberta.ca/stronger-foundations-affordable-housing-strategy.aspx.

The post Province Provides Highlights of Affordable Housing Strategy for Residents appeared first on Calgary Housing.

The post Government of Alberta Releases “Stronger Foundations” Affordable Housing Strategy appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Calgary Housing Company strives to provide the best service possible to our residents. In support of this, CHC has commissioned Leger Research, an independent consulting firm, to conduct our bi-annual Tenant Satisfaction Survey.

Representatives from Leger will phone a random selection of 500 tenants between now and June 20 to ask about their needs, expectations and level of satisfaction in relation to the home, as well as their overall quality of life.

Call display will appear as (587) 209-4801. An online option is also available.

Participation is voluntary and the survey interview could take up to 20 minutes to complete. If it is not a convenient time, the representative will arrange a better time to call back. Participants will be given the option to complete the survey online if preferred over telephone.

Individual answers will not be shared with anyone.  No names will be used and no personal information will be collected.  Answers will be compiled together before being shared with Calgary Housing Company to ensure anonymity.

For questions about this survey, please contact: research@calgary.ca or (587) 209-4801

The post Leger Research will be conducting a tenant satisfaction survey on behalf of CHC appeared first on Calgary Housing.

Construction at the Village Commons has wrapped up and CHC’s partner carya has moved in – exciting developments that bring us one step closer to realizing the vision of a new community hub at Calgary Housing Company’s East Village Place.

Village Commons is a new hub located in the heart of the rapidly developing East Village. It will be home to a wide range of programs in flexible spaces for community meetings, wellness classes, financial planning, empowerment, and more. Exciting and innovative features include a new art studio, family counselling centre, and an industrial-sized state of the art community kitchen. The space is also equipped with video and streaming capabilities to ensure programs and events continue to be accessible online.

With construction completed, carya has moved their operations on-site and is continuing to offer virtual programming – but the grand opening and community use of Village Commons will have to wait until public health and safety rules allow us to gather together.

Village Commons is the result of significant consultation and cooperation. In 2016 CHC purchased the property to preserve more than 160 affordable homes. Work began immediately to explore options for redeveloping the former Golden Age Club site to offer a space that would serve the residents of East Village Place and the broader community. In 2017, carya came on board as the partner with which this vision would be developed.

“Partnering with carya was the ideal solution,” says CHC President Sarah Woodgate. “This is an agency that has been supporting Calgarians for over 100 years and has both a history in this community and a vision for how to deliver that support for the future.”

“Our vision for Village Commons has always been a space where all Calgarians can come together and feel like they belong,” says Theresa Watson, CEO of carya. “While we can’t gather in this space just yet, we are thrilled it is now complete and ready for us to come together when it is safe to do so.”

To complete the partnership, CMLC was signed on as the project manager to lead the construction. As a driving force behind the overall East Village Master Plan, CMLC brought the expertise and vision to help realize this important community-focused project. In just 11 months and during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team completed the design and construction of the project under budget which allowed the team to open the scope to additional add-ons.

“East Village is the place where Calgary’s future continues to unfold and we see that with opening of Village Commons which invites current residents and supports the evolving needs of the neighborhood,” says Kate Thompson, CMLC President and CEO.

Completion of construction at Village Commons is not the only development at East Village Place. Whitebox construction is nearing completion on commercial space on the ground floor of the building and CHC is actively exploring leasing opportunities with potential commercial tenants.

More information about the programs and services that will be offered at the Village Commons can be found at:  https://caryacalgary.ca/about-carya/village-commons/

You can learn more about CMLC and its work in East Village at: https://www.calgarymlc.ca/east-village-projects-page#projects-area-featured

The post Milestone Brings Village Commons One Step Closer appeared first on Calgary Housing.