Calgary Homeless Foundation

About Calgary Homeless Foundation:

Founded in 1988, Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) creates a unified front to reduce homelessness in Calgary. The foundation funds agencies that support the homeless, conducts research on homelessness to inform program funding, advocates for policies that reduce poverty, and engages the community in the cause. In 2008, the Calgary Committee to End Homelessness selected CHF to implement Calgary's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, which concluded in F2018. The plan focuses on the Housing First model, which quickly moves people experiencing homelessness into appropriate housing where they can work on the issues that contributed to homelessness.

In F2018, CHF funded 23 agencies operating 57 programs that address homelessness. Programs funded by the foundation provided 2,092 supportive housing spaces to people in need. This year the foundation helped 820 new residents. Of these new residents, 178 were families, 69 were youth, and 573 were singles.

Calgary Homeless Foundation conducts research on homelessness that informs programming and policy. In 2008, CHF created the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to track metrics that provide insights on the status of homelessness in Calgary. When a person is admitted into a shelter or home in any participating agency, their age, health status, employment status and housing status are entered into the system. In F2018, 30 agencies and 90 programs were sharing data on HMIS, and the charity reports that the system is now regarded as one of the best of its kind internationally.

Results and Impact:

Ci highlights the following results and impact from Calgary Homeless Foundation’s work. Since the start of Calgary's 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness in 2008, over 8,000 people have been provided permanent housing with supports since 2008, reflecting a 15% decrease in homelessness in Calgary per 100,000 population. In addition, the foundation reports positive outcomes for the vulnerable Albertans it has served, with 90% of those housed achieving sustainability. An analysis of one-year of housing for 72 individuals with complex needs showed annual cost savings of approximately $2.5 million.

CHF conducts nationally and internationally recognized research to guide resource allocation for the highest impact. Thanks to data from the HMIS, Dr. Ali Jadidzadeh noticed that although CHF was housing more people, chronic homelessness numbers remained stagnant. This led to reallocation of 50% of housing spaces to chronic shelter users, and in F2018, 109 people who had been chronically homeless in Calgary’s three biggest shelters were housed.

Financial Review:

Calgary Homeless Foundation is a Major 100 charity, receiving $21.9m in donations in F2018. The charity also received $40.4m in government funding. Administrative costs are 9% of revenues (excluding investment income) and fundraising costs are 4% of donations. For every dollar donated, 88 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. CHF has funding reserves of $21.5m, which can cover program costs for 5 months.

This report is an update that was sent to Calgary Homeless Foundation for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated May 29, 2019 by Caroline McKenna.