Homelessness In Calgary
How must it feel to have no place to call "home?"
Homelessness touches every segment of our society.
No matter the cause – one disastrous decision, one brush with ill health, one family crisis – those afflicted find themselves trapped in an ongoing cycle of despair and hopelessness.
To illustrate the level of crisis facing so many Calgarians:
- The Calgary Homeless Foundation estimates the number of homeless Calgarians grew from 4,060 (per City of Calgary homeless count, May 2008) to 4,500 in just one year.
- Over the past fifteen years, the number of homeless persons observed has grown by more than 1,000% (from 461 to 4,500).
- If this trend continues, Calgary will see more than 15,000 individuals on our streets by 2016.
- This explosive growth in homelessness would cost Alberta taxpayers $3.6 Billion in the next ten years.
- Of those forced to seek emergency or transition housing, close to half have a job, usually earning minimum wage.
- Mental health issues impact more than one quarter of those without a home. More than half suffer from some form of addiction.
- More than 58,000 Calgary households are one crisis, or one paycheque, away from homelessness…
Calgary's Committee to End Homelessness has proposed a plan to end homelessness in the next ten years.
The Mustard Seed's Affordable Housing Initiative represents an important element toward achieving that goal.
