Calgary officials are trying to make the city safer testing the idea of small shelters for homeless people in the suburbs.
For Kim Richards, that approach was exactly what I needed.
The former owner of small businesses says that she was deeply trapped in pain and drug addiction, attracted to a negative crowd in the center and constantly fearful while wandering the streets at night.
Then he heard about a one -day shelter at the end of the northwest line of Ctrain and decided to try. What he found was a surprise.
“The atmosphere is much more positive and different from the city center. People, as they leave the Ctrain, are happier,” he said, standing on the outskirts of Journey Church, where the foundation of homeless people of Calgary and the city of Calgary are now financing a daytime space throughout the year.
Six months after his first visit, Richards says he now has a view for a new scheduled apartment and is ready to move on.
“I was in a difficult place. I was practically at the end of my ingenuity, the end of my rope. But [staff and volunteers here] They are like sponsors and have helped me in many ways, “he said.
“They helped me with the duel … I am excited to start my cleaning business again. I am very happy to return to normal life, because I know there is a normal life. [possible] now.”
Improving Calgary’s refuge system is a key part of the city’s security strategy. Last year, it is Center’s security leadership table It was found that people do not feel safe in the center due to aggressive behavior and vandalism, which are often associated with homeless people, despite the fact that most of these people are more likely to be victims than criminals.
A study of Vibrant communities of Calgary, last year, found that the number of people fighting addiction and lack of housing also reject possible public transport cyclists.
But a key reason why stable non -housing people are in train stations is because they have no other welcome places. Calgary’s shelters are often closed during the day, or people avoid them for fear of being attacked or stolen inside.
Expanding the winter shelter to operate throughout the year
The Journey Church shelter is a pioneer. He is next to the Tuscan train station and has been operating as a winter warming shelter for three years. With its new financing, the shelter can now operate all year from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
The shelter offers food, sleeping mats, clean clothes, a television to see and access volunteers and personnel with several service agencies to help people get out of the street.
It was quite quiet when a CBC News team recently passed. Around a dozen people were sitting at the tables, classifying clothes or sleeping in gym racks.
Jacob Schenker, manager of the Coordinated Input Program of the Socorro Center, says that Journey Church’s suburban location receives around 45 visitors per day.
“We are in a transition phase, but we are excited that we can continue to operate,” said Schenker. “After people have settled, we like to interact with them, see where they are in terms of what they may need for resources: when was the last time they were housed, where are they sleeping?
“It is a resource center without appointment where we have several different resources available, all with an approach to the house.”
Calgary residents do not have to be homeless to stop. If someone has an eviction letter or a similar housing concern, they can meet with a team in the shelter and, hopefully, never end on the street.
The neighbors who raise concerns about the increase in the random camp and the robbery is a common problem that shelter services can face in suburban or residential areas, and the space of the travel church was not different. In Rocky Ridge, the neighbors contacted the city with complaints when the refuge service began and packed a town hall to express their concerns.
Since then, Schenker said they have added a staff member to stay for half an hour after closing and walking through the streets around the building to ensure that everyone is respectful.
The financing of the shelter will allow the partners to operate throughout the year for two years, said Bo Masterson, vice president of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.
“The idea is that we learn and grow during those two years and look at what else is needed … Where else in the city is needed?” Said Masterson.
‘It’s something that the city needs’
In the shelter, CBC News asked each person who was awake if he would like to share his thoughts about space.
Kevin Arthur took off his shoes and put his feet on a plastic chair. He has been in Calgary 25 years and had his first brush with Homelessness 10 years ago when the mustard seed and the delivery center were the only options. But the Church church shelter has always felt more cozy, he said.
“I’ve never experienced this in the city,” said Arthur. “You come and you can only be yourself without all this shit, and it’s great. It’s something that the city needs.”
Michelle Auger picked up something to drink, then ordered a clothes shelf. He is in a relapse period in his drug addiction and said he comes to sleep here because he is terrified of closing his eyes anywhere else at night.
“You don’t know if they steal you, or someone is coming and starting to kick you in their heads,” said Auger.
Auger said she is a five -year -old mother, grandmother and someone who has achieved her dreams.
While looking for treatment in 2020, he was inspired by one of the directors, a man who had been an alcoholic and was now helping others to recover.
“I finished the program and fortunately I could find my superior power. I was sober for three and a half years and returned to University. I got a diploma in community addictions and services, then I got a job as a first -line crisis worker in the refuge for homeless people in Peace River,” said August.
“That was the goal, becoming one of those people who helped others and I did,” Augusto continued. “I feel that even people who have no addiction cannot say that they achieved their life goal.”
Auger is on the street after a relapse, but cling to that history of hope.
“There is so much relapse,” he said. “It’s part of that and unfortunately, it’s a necessary part, you know? But I still don’t like it. Because when I relapted it for a long time.”
Building the Calgary refuge system
Another job is also underway to improve the Calgary refuge system.
The Drop-in center recently opened a smaller and quieter shelter space for couples and all genres next to its existing shelter in the city center. President Sandra Clarkson said that people who use that space have access to double storage lockers for their belongings, in an attempt to address theft.
The mustard seed recently received two -year operating funds to execute a daytime shelter similar to the journey church trip, but in the center. Plan to renew both the main floor and the second floor to create space for showers, laundry and programs with other agencies to offer activities.
“As we know the new people who could be arriving, we will design programming. We want it to be a cozy place,” said Mustard Seed CEO James Gardiner.
But renovations are not yet fully financed. The mustard seed has half of the budget of $ 2.8 million covered with a subsidy of the province, the federal government and donations. Gardiner said they will launch a new fundraising campaign soon to cover the rest.
Kay Choi, the corporate leader of the city of Calgary for security, said that the city has more work to do to ensure that residents feel safe in the center and transit.
Traffic safety and Wrinkled in Merodeo. The new movement to create welcoming day shelters is the other piece of the puzzle, he said, to improve the well -being of people fighting and give them cozy alternatives.
In turn, Choi believes that he should improve the feeling of general public security in public spaces.
“We have seen such an increase when it comes to mental health and addictions,” Choi said. “And an interaction is needed with someone who is not right, which makes us feel uncomfortable and has an impact on security perceptions.”
“There is one step closer to a safer Calgary. And with all honesty, it’s the right thing.”
