2022/23
Report to Community
BUILDING COMMUNITY.
Report Contents
“We can’t settle for the status quo. Recognize the urgent need for change. Together, we can create a city that thrives with sustainable, affordable, and inclusive housing for all.”
2022/23 in Review
Vision
A home for everyone in our community.
Mission
We creatively apply our expertise to increase and manage the number of affordable and specialized housing units.
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We respect every person’s right to be treated with dignity and have access to a safe, appropriate and affordable home, while acting with integrity to maintain trust from our partners and community.
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We find new and better ways of providing housing – and thereby, we fearlessly challenge the status quo.
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We collaborate to grow housing options for the community.
Values
Message from our CEO
“We are here to do what’s best for our city. This year that meant having the courage to innovate the way we build housing.”
I’m so proud to share that this year has been HomeSpace’s best yet.
Our small but mighty team are Building Community in Calgary with innovative ideas, and reliable delivery on affordable housing projects that are life-changing to the people we serve.
This year HomeSpace transformed a 100,000 square foot office building into Neoma: a family hub of shelter, transitional housing, and 82 units of affordable housing. This project has been transformative for Calgary, a demonstration of what is possible when an entire community comes together in support of a great idea. Neoma will always be a true highlight of my career in affordable housing.
HomeSpace continued work on 45 stacked townhouses in Seton. Half of those homes are now complete and families supported by Closer to Home are in the process of moving in! We also recently broke ground on a 4 floor 35 unit residential apartment building in Crescent Heights that is the final of 11 incredible developments as part of the Campaign formerly known as RESOLVE.
At HomeSpace we know we have a responsibility to uplift the sector, not only in our city but in any city working to end homelessness. We are going to great lengths to share knowledge about our innovative office conversion across the country and beyond. Our leadership has been presenting at conferences, meeting with organizations, developers, and politicians interested in recreating our model, and speaking publicly about the challenges and successes at Neoma. We knew Neoma’s success would be pivotal to Calgary’s downtown revitalization, and now it’s influencing how other cities view housing and office vacancy.
Along with our portfolio our team is growing! HomeSpace currently has 26 fulltime staff and we’re bringing on incredible new talent to help pursue our mission. One of my greatest points of pride is the culture we have built at HomeSpace, the level of cohesion, satisfaction, and passion on the team is at an all time high and it’s a gift to be surrounded by such caring, competent folks dedicated to improving the lives of others.
Together, with the support of our city, community, partners and generous donors HomeSpace is hard at work Building Community in Calgary. Thank you for your continued support.
2022/23 New Developments
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Neoma
82 units, family emergency shelter, childcare supports
Opened Fall 2022
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Seton
45 unit family townhouses
Opening Fall 2023
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Crescent Heights
35 unit affordable apartments
Broke ground May 2023
Neoma
An affordable housing project with ripple effects.
It’s incredible what can be achieved when an entire community comes together in support of a life-changing project. Our office-to-affordable-housing conversion Neoma opened in September of 2022 and the once vacant space is now teaming with life.
In just one year, HomeSpace and Inn from the Cold raised $30M for the project, and completed the entire renovation, on time, and on budget.
We transformed the 100,000 square foot, 10 storey office tower into 82 apartment units, a state-of-the-art family shelter, a beautiful new home for Inn from the Cold, plus all the amenities that residents need to thrive. Neoma is a home-base for Calgary’s vulnerable families, inspiring the world about the potential these old offices spaces have to transform cities into more equitable places for people from all walks of life.
Great thanks are due to the dozens of Calgarians, every level of government, and our major donors who generously gave what they could in support of people they would never meet but who deserve our community care. That vote of confidence is awe inspiring, and the success of this project proves that the difficult job of creating a better city is possible.
Knowledge Sharing & Advocacy
At HomeSpace, we firmly believe in the power of sharing knowledge and advocacy for affordable housing.
As one of the first organizations to successfully complete a vacant-office-to-affordable-housing conversion, we knew Neoma would be a demonstration project for other municipalities interested in addressing the housing crisis and office vacancy with similar projects. It has been our responsibility this year to share as much as possible about the challenges, and great collaborations that it took to complete Neoma on time and on budget; revitalizing that part of downtown and housing 82 families into beautiful, welcoming new homes.
Over the past year, HomeSpace Society has been active on various platforms, conferences, and media engagements to share our experiences, expertise, and best practices. We have presented at conferences such as the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA), where we showcased the success of our Neoma project. Through these presentations, we have connected with professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders, fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge exchange in the realm of affordable housing.
Our engagement with the media has been instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of affordable housing and the transformative impact of Neoma as part of Calgary’s downtown revitalization. Dozens of journalists, representing publications including The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, and the San Francisco Chronicle, plus several local news outlets have featured our work. These media features have not only highlighted the success of our project but have also served as a platform to advocate for affordable housing as a crucial societal need.
HomeSpace Society has been proactively publishing editorials to articulate issues facing our residents and the housing and homelessness sector, calling for affordable housing to prevent family homelessness, and supporting non-profits helping families survive as cost-of-living skyrockets. This year alone, we have published two impactful editorials, which have been regularly contributing to the ongoing dialogue around affordable housing, social responsibility, and innovative solutions.
We have also taken a proactive approach to educate and inspire key stakeholders and decision-makers to follow our lead with innovative approaches to affordable housing. HomeSpace has conducted numerous guided tours of the Neoma building for Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), city councilors, urban planners, and affordable housing providers. These tours have allowed us to share valuable insights and firsthand experiences on how we transformed a vacant office tower into affordable housing. By demystifying the process and showcasing the feasibility of such projects, we hope to encourage others to replicate our success and expand affordable housing options within their communities.
Together, we can create a future where safe and affordable housing is within reach for all members of our community. A home for everyone.
Our Residents
A snapshot of our residents.
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This information is representative of residents in HomeSpace buildings with programs funded by the Calgary Homeless Foundation, it does not represent the entirety of HomeSpace residents
All data is between April 1 2022 – March 31 2023
All gender, ethnicity, income and health data are self-reported by the participant.
Receiving Income Supports is based on the participant identifying they receive income from at least one of Alberta Works or AISH.
Health data is based upon answers to the following questions: Do you have an ongoing mental health condition? Do you have an ongoing physical health condition? Do you have an addictions/substance abuse issue?
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The following housing programs were included in this data: Abbeydale - The Alex, Aurora on the Park - Alpha House, Bridgeland and Ophelia Supportive Housing - HomeSpace Society, CASS - Langin Place, CASS - Stepping Stone Manor, Closer to Home - Norris House, Croydon - The SHARP Foundation, CUPS - Community Development, Enviros - Triveri House, Francis Manor - Alpha House, James House – McMan, Murray's House - The SHARP Foundation, Prelude - The Alex, Providence - Alpha House, Sunalta Lodging House (PBTH) - Alpha House, The Clayton - Alpha House, Trellis - The Maple, Veterans Housing Project - Alpha House
Meet some of our residents
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Mira
Like many newcomers to Canada fleeing turmoil in their home country, Mira immigrated to Calgary years ago in search of safety and security. Today, she’s in her 60s and lives comfortably alone in her single-bedroom apartment that’s owned and operated by HomeSpace.
Without family in Calgary to support her, Mira was unable to find a home she could afford on what little wages she earned when she came to Canada. With HomSpace, Mira is able to access housing at an average of 30% below market rates. Full of gratitude, Mira continues to reiterate to our staff how grateful she is to have found safety and support in her new home.
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The Hassans
When the Hassan family immigrated to Canada, they had big dreams for their family’s future. Soon after arriving, parents Fatima and Carim welcomed their first child—a beautiful baby boy. Things were looking up for the young family until the pandemic hit our economy hard in March of 2020. Like many Calgarians, Carim was laid off from work—and with Fatima working as a stay-at-home mom, they suddenly found themselves in dire straits.
As newcomers to Canada without any other relatives nearby, the young family felt like they had nowhere to turn—until they were connected to HomeSpace. With winter setting in, HomeSpace was able to expedite the family’s move into an affordable housing unit. To this day, the Hassans are overwhelmed with gratitude that supports like Homespace exist to carry them through one of the most challenging times in their lives.
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Alicia
Growing up identifying as transgender, Alicia didn’t have the support she needed from her family to thrive. As she entered adulthood, she found herself struggling with depression and addiction issues. Alicia eventually lost her home, and for years, she battled addiction and homelessness through the cold winter months.
When one of our partner agencies met Alicia, they quickly discovered that getting her off the streets, through treatment, and into a safe, affordable home was a life-or-death scenario. Since Alicia has undergone addiction treatment and is rebuilding her life from the comfort of one of our Permanent Supportive Housing units. Here, she’s been given a second chance at life—and with a safe space to call home, she continues to grow stronger each day.
What our residents are saying.
This year we found great success in the addition of written feedback from our residents. We asked our residents to identify what they liked the best and the least about their building or unit. We also encouraged our residents to provide any other comments that they wanted to share.
While these results are more difficult to quantify, we know that their voices must be heard. This feedback is crucial in understanding where focus and change are needed, but also in rewarding what we are doing well!
What is the best thing about your building or unit?
What is your least favourite thing about your building or unit?
Resident Satisfaction
Affordable housing should be high quality, friendly, and well maintained. We are committed to continuously improving our affordable housing offerings and experience because we know safe affordable housing is essential to health, education, and employment outcomes for our residents. Our vision is to build community within our buildings with the help of our supportive partners we are creating not just housing – but homes for Calgarians in need.
HomeSpace Staff
At HomeSpace, team matters.
Our small but mighty team turns challenges into opportunities every day. At HomeSpace we innovate with speed, passion, and dignity. Being part of our team means making a rewarding impact in your community. As our portfolio of affordable housing grows our team is growing too. From developing new buildings to keeping the ones we manage in good shape, from helping residents settle in, to keeping our books balanced, our small but mighty team works hard every day to make Calgary a more equitable place to live.
Agency Partners
If we want to end homelessness in Calgary, we have to work together.
HomeSpace has a unique model for affordable housing. In each of our buildings we partner with a social serving agency who provides the supports our residents need to thrive. This way we get to focus on what we do best: building, maintaining, and managing more properties to house Calgarians in need.
Financial Summary
Here is a quick snapshot of our income breakdown, rent levels, and the distribution of our various types of affordable housing we provide.
Giving makes an impact
Building, maintaining, and managing our many projects wouldn’t be possible without generous financial support. This year between public grants and private donors we have raised over $30 million dollars to build and maintain homes for Calgarians in need. Special thanks to our monthly donors for their continued support. Housing is at top of mind for so many Canadians, and low-income families feel the crisis the most. Every investment into affordable housing will benefit vulnerable families for years to come. Thank you so much for your support.
Our major donors
Government of Canada, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp.
City of Calgary
Government of Alberta
Alberta Real Estate Association
The Anderson Family Charitable Foundation
Anonymous Donors
ATCO
BMO Bank of Montreal
Calgary Foundation
Canadian Natural Resources Limited
Canadian Pacific Railway Company
Clearwater Foundation
CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation
David Bissett
Enbridge Inc.
EON Foundation
Genevieve Groulx
Gibson Energy
Home Depot Canada Foundation
J.N. Fyvie Family Fund at the Calgary Foundation
Jenny Belzberg
John Brussa
Kiewit Corporation
The Kinsmen Club of the Stampede City
Max and Denise Chan and Family
McCarthy TetraultFoundation
Plains Midstream
PoelzerFamily Foundation Fund
Rogers Communications
The RuparellFamily
Shaw Communications
Vermilion Energy
W. Brett Wilson
Kairos
Picture Perfect Cleaning
CANA Management Ltd
Rotary Club Heritage Park
Lowes Canada
D. R. Ashford
A letter from HomeSpace Board Chair
George Coppus
We’re very proud of our accomplishments over the last year. As this report outlines, we saw several great projects completed and our existing units are being managed very well. A big thanks to our excellent staff who once again did a wonderful job.
Despite making great progress, we are not done with accomplishing our vision “A Home for Everyone in our Community”. It is an unfortunate situation that a city as prosperous and successful as Calgary many people are left behind and we still need charities like ours to help put a roof over their heads. HomeSpace’s commitment to Calgary continues.
There are a few factors that contribute to our success and that we need to retain.
First, there is excellence in staffing, we are blessed with a great group of people who are highly skilled and share value of performance and caring. Part of this is nurturing great relationships with our agency partners and the three levels of government we deal with.
Second is our strategy of execution excellence. Our staff and partners are doing a great job managing our properties and completing projects. This creates a virtuous cycle of excellence enhancing our reputation which attracts new opportunities. A great example is our Neoma project, Calgary’s first office-to-residential conversion. It is attracting national and international attention.
For our immediate future, I would expect continued growth and a diversity of projects. The common factor will be the culture of caring and excellence in all functions.
Last but not least, I would like to thank our fellow Board members who continue to contribute with passion and great skill.
George Coppus,
HomeSpace Board Chair
