A number of social service and community organizations have signed a joint open letter expressing support for the Rezoning for Housing proposal before Calgary City Council on April 22, 2024.   

In response to Calgary’s soaring rents and a shrinking vacancy rate, the group also known as the Social Policy Collaborative (SPC) is calling on Calgary City Council to follow through on the Home is Here: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy by approving the proposed changes to Calgary’s base residential zones. 

The letter details the impacts of the housing crisis on vulnerable Calgarians that are served by members of the SPC along with their rationale for supporting these changes.   

Quotes  

“The lack of appropriate housing pushes individuals and families into poverty and keeps them there. As a consequence of insufficient housing for our growing population, the City's public services are being stretched like never before. This also undermines the City’s efforts towards safe, inclusive, and supportive communities. Citywide zoning will allow developers to build all types of homes faster, including affordable and accessible homes, creating an opportunity to target one of the root causes of poverty and bringing us one step closer towards reducing the reliance on our overburdened social service sector.”  

- Meaghon Reid, SPC Co-Chair, Vibrant Communities Calgary  

“We know that 115,000 people are at risk of homelessness and nearly 300 people experiencing homelessness in Calgary died in 2023. With our vacancy rate of 1.4%, we are at a severe lack of affordable housing – resulting in increased displacement and disparity.”  

- Joy Bowen-Eyre, SPC Co-Chair, The Alex  

About the Social Policy Collaborative 

The SPC is a group of community organizations committed to working together to inform the development and implementation of public policy that improves the economic and social well-being of Albertans. They aim to bring a clear and collective voice to the government to advance policy opportunities that address the most pressing challenges faced by vulnerable Albertans. The members of the Social Policy Collaborative are The Calgary Counselling Centre, The Calgary Food Bank, Kindred, CUPS, Momentum, Vibrant Communities Calgary, Women's Centre of Calgary, YW Calgary, The Alex Community Health Centre, Inn from The Cold, Calgary Drop-In Centre, Trellis, Prospect Human Services, Action Dignity, Calgary Legal Guidance, Disability Action Hall, and Oxford House. For more information, visit socialpolicycollaborative.ca or follow @albertaspc.