Three Things You May Not Know About The Calgary Drop-in Centre
Earlier this week, Team Ward 9 was invited to visit the Calgary Drop-In Centre (DI) to learn more about their programs, services, and future goals. It was an eye-opening and informative visit, highlighting the incredible work being done to support some of Calgary’s most vulnerable residents.
Providing services to adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness, the DI works collaboratively with community partners to offer a broad spectrum of care, including emergency shelter, health programs, and housing options—all designed to help people find their way home. From providing immediate relief to those in crisis to facilitating long-term housing stability, the DI’s comprehensive approach ensures that individuals receive the personalized support they need at every stage of their journey.
Here are three things you may not know about the DI:
A Housing-Focused Shelter
Long known as the “largest shelter in North America,” the DI began its transformation to being a housing-focused emergency shelter in 2017. Rather than creating a long-term “home” for people in shelter, the agency invested in new programs and trained housing specialists to help people exit homelessness. By thinking of shelter as a temporary point in time and by working one-on-one with people to address their unique barriers to housing, The DI has become devoted to ending homelessness.
Today, the DI owns and operates several supportive and transitional housing sites across Calgary, integrating community tenants with individuals transitioning out of homelessness. These mixed-market buildings foster meaningful community connections, helping residents build new relationships and thrive.
In addition to supportive housing, the DI offers an early intervention diversion program designed to shorten shelter stays for those newly entering homelessness by quickly reconnecting them with sustainable housing solutions. The program also assists with rental searches, subsidized housing applications, and referrals to ensure individuals secure safe, affordable, and long-term homes. Finally, through a partnership with the Calgary Homeless Foundation, the DI provides subsidized rent for independent housing throughout the city, further expanding access to stable housing options.
Between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024 the DI helps house 394 people, while 244 people avoided homelessness with early intervention. Since 2017, the DI has had more than 2,300 housing outcomes.
Free Goods Program & Donation Centre
The DI operated the Calgary Free Goods Program, providing low and no-income Calgarians with the essential items they need to make a house a home, all at zero cost. Generous Calgarians are able to donate household goods, allowing the DI to provide free furniture, kitchenware, computers, mobile phones, small appliances, books, and more to clients as they transition out of homelessness.
If you have household items you are looking to donate, drop-offs can be made a the DI Donation Centre (not at the emergency shelter location downtown.) They also accept clothing, hygiene products, and gift cards for distribution at their emergency shelter. Calgary Drop-in also always accepts monetary donations.
DI Free Goods Donation Centre: 3640 11a Street NE, Calgary AB
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9am. – 5:00pm. Closed for statutory holidays.
Addiction Recovery Support + On-Site Access to Health Care
Addictions recovery is a new area of focus for the DI that provides opportunities to connect vulnerable Calgarians to supports directly within the shelter.
They currently have 15 withdrawal management beds and 20 recovery transition beds - providing a safe space for people to withdraw from alcohol, drugs, or other substances in a medically supported environment. Recovery transition beds offer a safe place to stay while clients wait for a treatment centre space to become available. A multidisciplinary team works with clients to refer them to housing supports, treatment centres, or other recovery-oriented services as part of discharge planning. The Addiction Recovery Support Program has the potential to support upwards of 1,000 people a year.
The DI also operates an in-house medical clinic, staffed by over 40 health professionals who, in addition to wound care, respond to drug poisonings, treat opioid addiction, help clients manage their medications, and connect them to health supports in the community as needed. This expansion of in-house services has allowed for better and more timely continuity of care for clients, as well as reduced dependency on external healthcare supports such as calls to EMS and visits to the ER and urgent care.
You can learn more about Calgary Drop-in and the deeply important work they are doing to support Calgarians by visiting calgarydropin.ca. Donations are always needed and accepted - calgarydropin.ca/donate.
