A new purpose-built, affordable and supported home for 30 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians
Calgary, Alberta – Stepping Stone Manor, a 30-unit assisted-living apartment is the first new construction project to be completed through the RESOLVE Campaign for the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) with on-site supports provided by the Calgary John Howard Society (CJHS). The building is funded by generous donors, grants committed by the provincial government, and built by Cedarglen Living Inc. as part of a Visionary gift to the RESOLVE Campaign.
“This building has set the momentum for the RESOLVE Campaign thanks to the generous commitment of the Government of Alberta and Cedarglen Living” said Alan Norris, President and CEO of Brookfield Residential Properties and Chair of the RESOLVE Campaign. “Stepping Stone Manor is another example of the home builders commitment to supporting the community it helped build.”
The building, conveniently located in Calgary’s Beltline (222 – 15 Avenue S.W.), will offer 30 future tenants stability, security and a place to call home. Staged move-ins will help to provide a solid foundation for the residents. The move-ins are tentatively scheduled to begin in July.
“Since this project’s inception, we have felt extremely welcomed by the Beltline community,” said Diana Krecsy, President and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation. “We look forward to giving people a safe and affordable place to call home, where they can work towards living more stable, healthy and vibrant lives.”
All tenants of the building are evaluated and referred through Coordinated Access and Assessment. CJHS will provide integrative supports to everyone who will call Stepping Stone Manor home. “Stepping Stone Manor will be home for 30 individuals currently experiencing chronic homelessness. Providing affordable housing with on-site support will improve quality of life and community inclusion,” said Gord Sand, Executive Director of the Calgary John Howard Society.
Constructing purpose-built housing for the homeless sector is complex. The building must be functionally appropriate and provide opportunities for the tenants to build community while gaining self-sufficiency and leaving their homeless identity behind. Stepping Stone Manor has been designed to increase tenant integration through common rooms, shared dining rooms and meeting rooms.
“No one born into this world chooses to be homeless, and it is societal issues that we have created and face today, that have resulted in homelessness. In many instances, it is simply that an individual’s life has been met with misfortune and they just need a helping hand and a safe place to put their lives back together,” Said Scott Haggins, CEO of Cedarglen Living Inc. “I believe that Stepping Stone Manor will provide these individuals with the ‘stepping stone’ sanctuary to turn their life around, providing an opportunity to have a normal life once again.” Cedarglen Living Inc. was happy to join this group of home builders and be the first project leader to kick off the Campaign providing knowledge for our other building partners to continue to make this initiative successful. At the end of the day, this was our opportunity to give back to Calgary, a city that has given all of us the opportunity to manage successful businesses.”
The issue of homelessness in Calgary is intensified by a critical shortage of affordable and supported housing. Each of RESOLVE’s nine Partners meets a particular need within the community. Together, they are magnifying their collective impact by creating and sharing the knowledge and best practices learned from decades of service to a broad range of vulnerable populations, and following the Housing First philosophy. RESOLVE Partners are: Accessible Housing; Bishop O’Byrne Housing Association; Calgary Alpha House Society; Calgary Homeless Foundation; Calgary John Howard Society; Horizon Housing Society; Silvera for Seniors; The Mustard Seed; and Trinity Place Foundation of Alberta.
About CHF
The Calgary Homeless Foundation is a catalyst and enabler for Systems and Service Agencies to optimize client success. As the System Planner for Calgary’s Homeless-Serving System of Care, CHF focuses on research and development, mobilization of knowledge and best practices to support and expand community responses to ending homelessness, funding (outcomes & impact) and increasing public and political awareness and will to take collective action on ending homelessness. CHF is committed to moving forward in partnership with the many homeless-serving agencies, the private sector, government partners, the faith community, other foundations and all Calgarians to end homelessness in Calgary. For more information, visit calgaryhomeless.com
About CJHS
For the past 67 years, the Calgary John Howard Society has operated as community-based charitable organization dedicated to reducing the incidence of crime and increasing community safety through preventative and restorative justice practices. For more information on our programs and services offered to men, women and youth please visit www.cjhs.ca
About RESOLVE
RESOLVE is a tangible and measurable step in helping to end homelessness – and the affordable housing crisis – in Calgary. RESOLVE’s mission is to raise $120 million to build affordable, sustainable housing for 3,000 homeless and vulnerable Calgarians. Nine respected and established Calgary social agencies have partnered with government, business and community leaders, all resolving to make Calgary a better home for everyone. Visit resolvecampaign.com for more information.