The HomeSpace Society has been selected as the developer of two City of Calgary properties that will eventually be transitional homes for city families in need.
In December 2023, the City of Calgary revealed two parcels that would be used for emergency housing, intending to have homes on the site within 18 months. One is in Whitehorn, the other near the Fish Creek-Lacombe LRT station.
After an Expression of Interest closed on Jan. 15, the City of Calgary reviewed the providers and selected HomeSpace.
“We now will have two sites for housing that will make a difference in the lives of families who deserve to live with dignity,” Mayor Gondek said.
“This is a very good news day for families in Calgary who have been living with grave concerns about the future of their housing in our city. “
The HomeSpace Society operates 34 buildings across Calgary and houses 1,300 citizens. HomeSpace CEO Bernadette Majdell said that they take pride in blending affordable housing into the surrounding neighbourhoods.
“With these new city sites located near CTrain stations, we envision a very near future where families have easy access to transportation, schools, recreation and essential services,” she said.
Majdell said they would be working on both sites concurrently to take advantage of economies of scale, which she said would reduce the taxpayer cost for affordable housing by creating efficiencies in the planning, design and construction.
Patricia Jones, CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation, said there are 170-plus families on waiting lists for stable homes in Calgary.
“Many might right now be with friends or family; they could be in shelters. They could be in hotels, or in precarious, sometimes unsafe situations.
“As a parent, and as a somewhat obnoxious new grandparent, some would say, I can’t imagine any of you would disagree that Calgary’s children deserve a bedroom and their parents deserve the dignity of providing for their kids.”
Addressing community concerns
Majdell said that the next step would be talking with the communities where the sites would be built.
“That’s our first step because we want this process to work for the communities that we’ll be in as well,” she said.
Between the two projects, they’re looking at a proposed 104 combined 3-bedroom suites, with a handful of accessible suites in each location. The units will be roughly 1,300 square feet, according to preliminary designs, and each site will have an 8,000-square-foot amenity area, plus a patio area and playground.
Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot was there to support the project and said the need for family housing is citywide. Along with that, he said this was the ideal way to provide more affordable housing in Calgary.
“From my perspective, this is an ideal situation for us,” Chabot said.
“No cash outlay, we’re providing much-needed housing to families and with an external service provider, with the potential of it being made whole in the end, with us getting market value for those lands. So, I don’t see a downfall to this.”
Coun. Chabot did say that area residents will want to know that there are appropriate wraparound services for these families at risk of homelessness. He said he believed HomeSpace was well positioned to provide those supports.
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean wasn’t at the announcement and expressed some concern about the timing and the location of the city-selected site in his ward. He said while it’s by the LRT, there are few other major amenities in the area.
“The biggest concern is amenities. It’s kind of out in the middle of nowhere, next to this LRT station, but not within walking distance; there’s no grocery store, drugstore, 7-Eleven or medical doctor’s offices and clinics.”
He said he voted against it when the sites were first pitched to council and he had suggested a different site near the area Superstore that’s just a forested area right now.
“I know we have to find housing quick, but don’t rush it. Make sure we find the right spot,” he said.
The public engagement will be upcoming and then the projects will go through the city’s planning and development approval process.
