‘A lifeline’: Plan launched to help Calgary’s homeless during extreme cold

Outreach volunteers offer help to the homeless on a -20C night in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

The Calgary Homeless Foundation, along with the City of Calgary and many partner organizations, will be launching its extreme weather response plan on Monday.

The initiative is designed to help individuals experiencing homelessness, who are especially vulnerable to extreme cold, by connecting them with essential services.

This is the fourth year that the Calgary Homeless Foundation is using the strategy.

“Thousands of times last winter, Calgarians relied on seasonal day spaces, shuttles to emergency shelters and outreach teams to make it through the cold,” said Bo Masterson, vice-president of stakeholder engagement at the Calgary Homeless Foundation, in a news release.

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Masterson says the plan fills a critical gap in the broader system of care for Calgary’s homeless population.

“All orders of government are committed to creating more housing, but it takes time. While permanent housing capacity increases, programs like extreme weather response remain an essential piece,” he said.

The plan went into effect on 20 days during the 2024-25 winter season when temperatures plunged below -20 C, which included three days below -28 C.

It supported more than 37,180 visits to seasonal day spaces, 2,227 overnight shuttle trips to emergency shelters and the distribution of more than 100,000 essential items, including hand warmers and emergency blankets.

“The extreme weather response is a lifeline,” said Kay Choi, the City of Calgary’s director of partnerships.

“In addition to shelter, it’s about safety, dignity, and connection. We’re proud to stand with our partners to make sure these services are available when they’re needed most.”

The emergency weather response will run from Dec. 1 to March 31, 2026, and will be supported through efforts by Alpha House, The Mustard Seed, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, the Salvation Army, Calgary Drop-In Centre, Wood’s Homes, Distress Centre Calgary and Journey Church.

Officials say there are more than 2,500 individuals on Calgary’s supportive housing wait list and many of those people spend regular nights in shelters.