Episode 29: Examining Homelessness in Calgary 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, Meaghon Reid connects with Lee Stevens, Policy and Research Specialist at VCC and Nick Falvo, a leading researcher on housing and homelessness to discuss the No Place To Go report, its findings and further actions that need to be taken to end homelessness in Calgary. 

In this episode 

• No Place To Go asked the awkward questions around homelessness and social disorder on transit that aren’t typically asked, which led to a few surprising conclusions such as that those experiencing homelessness and police share similar struggles. 
• There is a significant lack of daytime spaces to support those experiencing homelessness.  
• The benefit of listening to all voices involved in a problem to be able to design the most effective solutions.  

Three key takeaways 

The lack of supervised consumption sites and treatment options makes transit a Defacto supervised consumption site that is unsafe and uncomfortable for everyone. 

When Housing First is provided, which is housing and wraparound supports, the costs for health and justice decrease. 

The reality of homelessness is that even if decision makers don’t like shelters, that doesn’t mean they should ignore them.  

About Lee Stevens 

Lee Stevens is the policy and research specialist at Vibrant Communities Calgary. Lee has worked as a Social Worker in Calgary since 2006, for organizations such as the Calgary Drop-in Centre, CUPS, and Alberta Health Services. Lee completed her Bachelor's and later her Master's of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She has provided leadership and support to several groups advancing the Enough for All strategy such as the Indigenous Gathering Place, Basic Income Alberta, the Alberta Living Wage Network and the Calgary Social Policy Collaborative. She has expert knowledge of basic income, living wage, and the impact of social assistance programs. 

About Nick Falvo 

Nick Falvo has a PhD in Public Policy and spent 10 years working on the front line with persons experiencing homelessness. He is Editor-in-Chief, North America, of the International Journal on Homelessness, and is the 2021 winner of the CMHC President’s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research. 

Subscribe to Let's Talk Poverty at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Share your thoughts. Have an idea for us to explore or a question for us? Send us a message!