Did you know about our Housing and Communications Hub? It’s a space where Calgary’s most vulnerable can access technology and assistance to support their housing, health, and wellness goals.
Many facing or experiencing homelessness struggle to access core services like income support, housing, and treatment because they lack reliable access or tech proficiency. That’s why the Hub is a lifeline in our Coordinated Entry Program at SORCe, helping those without phones or computers navigate these challenges.
How the Hub started
During the pandemic, Distress Centre Calgary was able to retrofit a room within Safe Communities Opportunity & Resource Centre (SORCe) to create a Housing & Communication Hub. We created this space to connect more people to community resources to obtain or sustain housing and wellness goals.
The Housing and Communications Hub started with 2 computers and 4 phones. It was open around 3 days a week due to fluctuations in staff funding. We also provided free tax clinics to program participants in the space. In 2022, the Hub saw 281 unique individuals & families providing over 694 unique service interactions despite being open for only 6 months of the year at 3 days/week.
In 2023, we received funding from Amazon Web Services to add more computers, a phone, printer, and workstations to the Hub, increasing its capacity. At the same time, we were able to add some artwork for a more trauma-informed environment.
The Housing and Communications Hub now
Currently, the Hub remains a much-needed service to the folks we serve at SORCe. It is open daily, with a focus on goal achievement. Many individuals accessing the Hub require assistance with the following services:
- Employment Search
- Income Support application
- Housing applications & referrals
- System and Resource navigation
- Rental Market Navigation
- Addiction Support and Treatment application
Tax clinics are still offered at the Hub, with a kickoff ‘Super Clinic’ in partnership with the CRA. Providing free tax clinics to those at-risk or experiencing homelessness is crucial, as it facilitates access to affordable housing, ensures receipt of entitled benefits, and helps stabilize housing.
An essential service for Calgarians
Since its inception, the Hub has been a critical service for our community’s vulnerable population, offering an accessible space free of stigma to those experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. With each interaction a highly skilled staff member provides, we witness the power of support and compassion in a goal-oriented, safe space.
Our beneficiaries span across demographics, encompassing adults, youth, and families. They are often facing complex challenges – health concerns, mental health and additions, and housing instability. Despite these obstacles, they show up with goals in mind and are able to embrace the support provided in the Hub to reach their housing and wellness goals.
Through the services offered, the Hub provides an opportunity for more than temporary relief, it provides a pathway to stability and empowerment. Whether it’s assisting with employment searches, navigating housing applications, or seeking addiction support, every service is a step towards bigger goals.
The importance of providing supported access to technology cannot be emphasized enough. In a world where digital platforms are the primary means for applications, searches, and connections, individuals accessing our space often lack ready access and tech literacy to these resources when seeking shelter or sleeping unsheltered.
As part of Distress Centre’s mission to provide compassionate, accessible support, we’re committed to keeping this essential service running—but we need your help.
Donate so we can keep the Hub going. Together, we can ensure the most vulnerable in our community get the support they deserve.
