High demand for housing support continues to put pressure on Calgary’s homelessness response system, with Indigenous people remaining disproportionately affected.
The Calgary Homeless Foundation says rising rents, low vacancy rates and population growth have increased strain on housing and support services in recent years.
Indigenous people remain overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness.
Data from the 2024 Point-in-Time Count shows Indigenous individuals make up 25 per cent of the population experiencing homelessness in Calgary, despite representing a smaller share of the overall population.
How the system works
The Calgary Homeless Foundation oversees the city’s centralized process that connects individuals with housing supports.
The system is designed to match people with appropriate services based on their needs through a structured process that includes intake, assessment, prioritization and placement.
Wait times for housing can vary depending on individual circumstances and available resources, as the system prioritizes those with the greatest need.
Barriers to accessing housing
But access to housing is still affected by challenges such as a shortage of affordable and supportive housing.
The Calgary Homeless Foundation says factors such as a complex system, unstable income, gaps in health services, and rising rents make it harder for people to find and keep housing.
Efforts to improve the system
To address these challenges, the organization is working to improve how individuals are assessed within the system.
A new tool is being developed to make the process more consistent and easier for individuals seeking support.
The updated tool aims to better understand people’s needs and reduce the frequency with which they have to repeat personal information.
The Calgary Homeless Foundation says it is working with Indigenous partners to make the system more culturally responsive, including supporting Indigenous-led programs.
These efforts aim to improve coordination and expand access to housing supports in Calgary.
However, demand still exceeds available resources, showing the ongoing need for more housing solutions that meet different community needs.
