Calgarians are united in ensuring everyone has a place to call home

Eighteen of 21 Resolve buildings complete or well on the way, writes

A home provides us with a sense of pride, purpose and dignity, and is something most of us take for granted.

More than 3,000 Calgarians live each day without a place to call home. Calgary has more than 60 per cent of the province’s homeless population, a situation intensified by the city’s critical shortage of affordable rental housing.

The Resolve Campaign, a firstof-its-kind collaboration of nine partner agencies, is working to address this critical issue. Our goal is to raise the capital needed to create affordable rental housing with support services for up to 3,000 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians.

The government of Alberta has made significant commitments to many of the Resolve partners’ projects, totalling more than $120 million. Donors to the campaign have provided more than $73 million to date to leverage the government funding — enough to provide 1,825 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians with a key to an affordable, supported rental home.

This campaign is an example of a truly effective partnership between public and private sectors.

The collaborative spirit of the campaign has inspired many to come together for a common goal. Our gratitude is extended to David and Leslie Bissett, the campaign’s largest individual donors, for their transformational $8.9-million gift.

Our largest corporate donor, Canadian Natural, contributed $2 million, and the home building industry has collectively donated more than $27 million. Many others have contributed significant philanthropic dollars to support affordable housing in our city.

I extend deep gratitude to the Resolve Campaign cabinet, steering committee, the partners, the staff, and the many donors and stakeholders who have made Resolve a reality.

I am proud to witness how the government, business and community have come together to support our city’s most vulnerable citizens. We’ve celebrated great successes, including opening five new buildings, purchasing one new building, retiring two mortgages, starting construction on four buildings, bringing eight projects to shovel-ready stage with funding in place to break ground, and bringing three projects to shovel-ready stage with a need for additional funding or financing to break ground.

We are optimistic that with your support, we will complete all 21 Resolve buildings as planned. Eighteen projects are complete or well on the way; we just need additional funds to get the last three buildings over the finish line.

The buildings in the Resolve Campaign are more than just bricks and mortar, they mark the start of a new life for tenants — what was once a dream, is now a reality.

What sets Resolve homes apart is the support tenants receive, which can be anything from mental health assistance, to employment programs, or help with life skills. The housing-first model provides people with a home, first, and then the support they need to improve their health and well-being. It’s proven that the various programs our community funds cannot be as successful without the stability of a home.

A Calgary Homeless Foundation study concluded that, when a person experiencing homelessness is provided with appropriate shelter with supports, costs to taxpayer-funded services are reduced by $34,000 per person. Not only does housing first make sense economically, it’s the right thing to do.

While the campaign will officially conclude today, Resolve will retain a small staff for one year to assist the nine partner agencies and support the legacy of the campaign. Staff and volunteers will continue to wrap up a number of outstanding philanthropic requests that will ensure all 21 Resolve projects are completed.

The Resolve partners will continue their good work, to help provide safety and stability for our city’s most vulnerable, and a place where they can begin to rebuild their lives — starting at home.

The success of this campaign would not be possible without our community’s can-do spirit. Thank you to all who have supported this campaign. It’s because of you that we can now say to more than 1,800 Calgarians: “Welcome home!”