Calgary Homeless Foundation

History

The Calgary Homeless Foundation was conceived in 1998 by one of Calgary’s most distinguished businessmen, Mr. Art Smith. Upon hearing Major Reg Newbury of The Salvation Army speaking on a radio show about people being turned away from emergency shelters, Art Smith decided that something had to be done. With a plan in mind, he immediately contacted Premier Ralph Klein and found an enthusiastic supporter. Even with strong backing from the Premier, Art admits that the Foundation would likely never have come to fruition had it not been for the former Mayor Al Duerr, who has positioned homelessness near the top of the City’s agenda in terms of its infrastructure needs, and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Paul Dawson, who worked diligently to spearhead initiatives that would help the homeless. It didn’t take long to convince Calgary’s very active business community and the community at large to assist in the development of a plan to deal with homelessness. And so, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Calgary & Area both came on board as Foundation Sponsors.

Many agencies in Calgary are dedicated to addressing the problems of homelessness through the provision of housing and programs. The vision of the Calgary Homeless Foundation is that "All Calgarians will have access to housing where they feel safe and secure."

So how is the Calgary Homeless Foundation distinctive?

The answer is that using a partnership model, the Foundation provides capital funding for housing projects and has committed itself to providing the vehicle for community consultation on homelessness issues and community collaboration on solutions.

Calgary Homeless Foundation - Our Vision, Mission, and Values

Values
To preserve the dignity of an individual to have a place to call home, a place that is adequate, accessible, safe and affordable.
To foster respect for homelessness.
To work in collaboration within the Calgary community.
To advocate social responsibility to address homelessness issues.

Vision
Calgarians will have access to housing where they feel safe and secure.

Mission
To serve as a community partner in identifying the causes of and solutions to homelessness.
To develop plans, in conjunction with all aspects of the community, that will provide access to housing for the homeless in Calgary.
To provide leadership and focus to address homelessness issues in Calgary.
To raise such funds as may be necessary to achieve our mission.
Our Relationship to Other Agencies
It must be understood that we are not a substitute or duplication of the many care givers and agencies who have been dedicated to helping the homeless in Calgary for many years. We are committed to working with and assisting these agencies. Calgary Homeless Foundation web site www.calgayhomeless.com.