Request for Proposal: Program Evaluation – Distress Centre Programs at SORCe

Distress Centre Calgary is a non-profit agency that provides 24 hour crisis support, professional counselling and 211 referrals to hundreds of government, health, social and community resources in Calgary and the surrounding area – all at no cost. Since 2013, Distress Centre has offered in-person programming directed to the homelessness support sector that operate out of the location of the SORCe. SORCe is a multi-agency collaborative that connects people experiencing or at risk-of homelessness.

Distress Centre programs at SORCe have experienced an increase in demand and in the complexity of the presenting concerns of those who access our services. Through COVID-19 project grant funding we saw a marked increase in unique people served and services provided. We endeavor to have the right people in the right roles that are prepared and supported in the work they are doing in the face of this increase in demand and complexity.

This project is designed to help identify, document and understand the correlation of these enhanced services to core programming, staffing impacts, and identify impacts and strategies in our way forward in order to provide continued service excellence. The goal of this project is to understand community impact and individual outcomes of pre-pandemic core programming, enhanced pandemic programming, and future impact to the core service delivery of the CAA program delivered at SORCe.