Most of us have come face to face with the homeless at least once in our lives. Many of us have given when possible and recognize the need for more help to actually make change. The Calgary Homeless Foundation aims to make that change reality. We connected with VP of Stakeholder Engagement Bodil (Bo) Masterson to learn more.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
At Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), our purpose is to guide the fight against homelessness. We allocate resources for highest impact and outcomes for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. In partnership with all levels of government, agencies and community leaders, we use data and research to advise on how best to leverage resources and programs in a unified fight against homelessness, so that all Calgarians have the supports they need to thrive.
What problem does it aim to solve?
At CHF we are committed to fighting homelessness from all angles, with a focus on prevention, intervention and long-term solutions. We have long understood that no one is “just homeless, but otherwise fine.” Invariably, there are other factors complicating a person’s experience of homelessness—including trauma, addiction, mental health, racism, and loss of employment—and it is only by tackling these associated underlying issues that we, in partnership with community and government, can produce a lasting, life-changing outcome for people experiencing homelessness. Together, we can envision a day where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring—perhaps an episode in someone’s life, but never a condition that defines it.
When did you start/join it?
I have been working in the Calgary social serving sector for over 10 years now. However, I joined CHF recently, in February of 2024.
What made you want to get involved?
During my time in a previous position at the Women’s Centre, I came face-to-face with the impacts of homelessness on those who face it and the community at large. I have become a passionate advocate for this work’s importance from a prevention and intervention perspective and recognize the intersectionality at play. I feel grateful to be able to continue pursuing this passion deeper at CHF and dedicate my skills to guiding the fight against homelessness.
What was the situation like when you started?
Every two years there is a Point-In-Time (PiT) Count conducted, which provides a snapshot of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Calgary on a single, particular night. While I was not with CHF at the time of the last PiT Count in 2022, it helped build a good understanding of the state of homelessness in our city. Calgary’s most recent count found 2,782 individuals and families as being unhoused. This included people living outside, in shelters, in short-term supportive housing facilities and other facilities—such as hospitals and correctional centres.
You can review a more in-depth summary of the 2022 PiT Count here.
How has it changed since?
Calgary has continued to experience a perfect storm of inflation, rental increases, large numbers of new Calgarians and an affordable housing crisis—bringing a focus on the current state of homelessness to the forefront. A new PiT Count is being conducted this year (2024) to help build a greater understanding of the impact of the factors on homelessness over the past couple of years in Calgary.
To help respond to growing needs, CHF is launching a new initiative this year called MAGE. The Mobile Awareness GEOINT Environment (MAGE) is an app that can help facilitate a city-wide response to encampments, allowing a variety of partners to understand where people are living outside and be able to respond appropriately to deliver the best outcomes for those facing homelessness. The MAGE app uses GPS to show real-time data and tracking for outreach teams to stay connected, creating more efficiencies through collective research and collaboration, and better supporting people in their work to provide personalized and ongoing support to those living in encampments.
Moreover, we know it is critical to address underlying factors that contribute to someone experiencing homelessness. That’s why we partner with agencies and organizations with the expertise to work with vulnerable people to deliver a system-wide coordinated response to homelessness that supports the whole person; their wellness, financial stability, connection to community, and housing. In addition to this work, the Government of Alberta—in partnership with shelters and our housing partners—recently opened the Calgary Navigation and Support Centre to provide more supports for unhoused individuals. Connecting them to government services such as income support, addictions and mental health, identification, and recovery coaches. Plus, community supports offered by the Aboriginal Friendship Centre and Siksika Health Services, Calgary Drop-In Centre, CUPS Calgary and more.
What more needs to be done?
The Government of Alberta entrusts Calgary Homeless Foundation with 42 million dollars, in addition to our partnership with the City of Calgary and philanthropy efforts, to allocate resources for highest impact and outcomes for Calgarians experiencing homelessness. These resources will complement the efforts of governments and bolster the collective work of our community partners. With continued collaboration, innovation, and investment, we can build a brighter future for all Calgarians, ensuring that every individual or family—whether that be a mother, father, grandparent, or child—has the supports they need to thrive.
How can our readers help?
There are a few things people can do to help. Firstly, if you see someone who needs immediate help, call the HELP Team at 403-998-7388. If someone is in severe distress or non-responsive, call 911.
Proactively, consider donating. Our distinctive position as a guide and funder gives us an overarching view of the sector and its greatest needs. Allowing us to allocate funds to our agency, community and program partners where it will have the highest impact—ensuring donations go to where it is needed most. You can access our donation form here.
If you want your donation to go towards a specific cause, our #DonateEssentialsYYC campaign raises funds to purchase essential items—such as snacks, water, hats, personal care items, and more—for outreach teams to distribute to people experiencing homelessness in extreme weather conditions.
You can also donate to our shelter partners and partner agencies serving Calgarians experiencing homelessness. You can view our list of partner agencies and programs here to visit their websites and learn what is needed and how to donate.
Do you have any events coming up?
We host events throughout the year including our signature event, Data That Makes a Difference (DTMAD), a conference co-hosted with the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. It brings academics, researchers, social agency representatives and government officials from across Canada to share and discuss the latest research on homelessness.
If you are interested in attending some of our events, please follow CHF on any of our social accounts or visit our website for the latest information.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
At Calgary Homeless Foundation, we work with many amazing partners dedicated to helping our city’s most vulnerable citizens. Please check out our list of agencies and programs here.
