Two more day spaces for homeless Calgarians following success of extreme weather response

Calgarians experiencing homelessness will soon have more places to go to rest, get a warm meal or drink, and access essential services and resources.

The Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) announced Thursday it has partnered with the City of Calgary, the Calgary Police Service (CPS), and United Way of Calgary and Area to transform and expand two warming spaces into year-round day spaces.

Day spaces give alternatives to public spaces like libraries, parks, and transit during the daytime hours.

CHF says the spaces aim to complement resource centres by offering trauma-informed place to meet the needs of the community.

This comes following the success of last year’s Extreme Weather Response (EWR) programming. The foundation says during the 2024/25 cold weather season, the EWR program recorded more than 37,000 visits to five warming spaces across Calgary.

Alongside food, essential services, and other resources, individuals will also be able to seek respite from extreme heat, cold, or smoky conditions.

According to CHF, the first of these spaces will expand on the work The Mustard Seed is doing at its downtown Community Impact Centre; that location’s daily capacity will increase from 300 to 450.

It will also continue to provide hygiene items, clothing, hot lunches, and connection to essential support services, as was done through EWR programming.

“The transition from the Extreme Weather Response program to year-round Day Spaces marks a significant advancement in our collective efforts to address homelessness in Calgary,” said City of Calgary director of partnerships, Kay Choi. “This initiative reflects the strength of cross-sector collaboration and a shared commitment to supporting our most vulnerable citizens. These spaces will not only provide immediate relief and essential services but also serve as critical connection points to long-term housing and stability.

“Together, we are delivering meaningful progress and reaffirming our city’s commitment to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all.”

The second location will come together through a partnership between Journey Church Warming Centre and Distress Centre Calgary. CHF says Distress Centre staff will support Journey Church in offering meals and beverages, clothing items, and hygiene items. Individuals will also be connected to support services, including referrals to detox and applications for addictions treatment services, completion of housing assessments and housing plans, and individualized financial education and coaching services.