Affordable housing project gives vulnerable Calgarians a ‘safe home’

Affordable, wheelchair-accessible housing for 25 formerly homeless Calgarians was opened Thursday, a vastly-appreciated but tiny dent in the wealth of supports still needed for vulnerable communities, officials say.

The Calgary Homeless Foundation, Calgary Alpha House and the Resolve Campaign to End Homelessness unveiled Aurora on the Park in the city’s northwest, providing permanent, rental housing and access to a series of critical supports including deep subsidies, financial support along with mental health and addictions counselling.

“Some of these people are so vulnerable. They’ve all been on the street, or in a shelter. But all of them have a right to housing, so they can actually deal with all of their issues,” said Diana Krecsy, CEO with the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

“When you’re living on the street it’s so difficult to do that, you’re always on the move, trying to find where you’ll sleep the next night, it takes a huge physical toll on the body.

“But if you’re actually in a safe home, you can start to turn things around.”

In order to ensure continued supports, the Calgary Alpha House Society will provide round-theclock support services on site, including 24-hour double-staffing, controlled entry, recreation therapy and any other help tenants may need.

“We are so grateful at Calgary Alpha House Society to provide the support that Aurora on the Park tenants need to be able to heal and reclaim their potential,” said Kathy Christiansen, Executive Director of Calgary Alpha House Society.

The foundation, along with several other agencies that help the vulnerable, has housed about 8,000 homeless people since 2008.