When homelessness remains hidden, it cannot be addressed. We’re bringing light to hidden homelessness in Calgary through a gender-equity lens. 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Michelle James, Director, Policy at Vibrant Communities Calgary sits down with Lana Bentley, CEO of the Women’s Centre of Calgary and Heather Morley, CEO of Inn from the Cold.  

Many women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness are never counted in official data. To stay safe, many rely on survival strategies like couch surfing, staying in abusive relationships, sleeping in vehicles, or trading sex for shelter. Hidden homelessness puts women, children, and gender diverse people at risk of illness, violence, and isolation. When their experiences go unrecognized and unsupported, these hardships often repeat across generations, deepening cycles of poverty and trauma. In order to break these cycles, Calgary needs local solutions that build inclusive housing and lasting stability for everyone.