Calgary sets aside two city-owned sites for affordable housing developments

Calgary is moving swiftly to address the ongoing housing crisis in the city, announcing Thursday that two city-owned sites are being dedicated to housing development for families with children at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

This comes as part of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, which was approved by council in mid-September.

Proposals are now open for all qualified non-profit organizations with experience developing and operating non-market housing, the city says.

“With the approval of the Housing Strategy this year, we committed to take immediate and longer-term actions to ensure Calgarians have access to safe housing they can afford,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek said. “The release of these two city land sites to rapidly create homes for families in precarious situations will allow for housing with dignity in a completely overloaded system.”

The two sites are near CTrain Stations, according to the city — one in the north near Whitehorn Station, and the other in the south near Fish Creek-Lacombe Station.

Read more: Approval of Calgary housing strategy just the beginning: advocates

Making use of these city-owned sites is a way Calgary can move quickly on supporting non-market homes and affordability, the city says.

“The city has strong housing partners that have a far reach and impact in our community,” said Tim Ward, manager of housing solutions. “This Expression of Interest is an important first step in working with and enabling our partners to establish housing for families experiencing homelessness.

“We’re pleased to be able to release this Expression of Interest today as we begin to implement the housing strategy.”

Calgary’s Housing Strategy is made up of 98 actions that address the housing crisis — creating more homes in all shapes and sizes in all neighbourhoods.

Qualified organizations have until Jan. 15, 2024 to submit an Expression of Interest.

Once housing provider partners are chosen, the city says a lease agreement will be negotiated and it will support the partner in providing housing on the sites.

Interested non-profit organizations can access details on the subject lands and submission process for Whitehorn here and for Fish Creek-Lacombe here.