Alpha House has been delivering a version of the Engaging Vulnerable Persons workshop to Calgary communities for nearly a decade. The training has gone through many iterations over the years, adapting to the landscape of homelessness and addiction in the city to provide the most relevant information surrounding the challenges that can come from interacting with people on the street who may be under the influence, struggling with poor mental health, sleep deprived, or some combination of the above.

The EVP is broken into three sections.

  • The landscape, myths, and key concepts surrounding homelessness and addiction
  • Biases and Perceptions
  • Improving interactions

This workshop is designed for any individual or group who is interested in understanding more about navigating public substance use, homelessness, and street-involved interactions. Learn all you need to know about this workshop with the below FAQ:

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost?

Alpha House is committed to providing this workshop to as many people as possible to increase understanding and compassion, equip people with tools to create safety for all, and bring community together to tackle these large social issues. If you do not have any funds to support this training, we will do our best to work with you. For businesses and corporate groups, the cost is $250.00, for other non-profit organizations and community groups the cost is $100. For individuals, we do have a webinar version available for $10 on demand. Details here: https://alphahousecalgary.com/engaging-vulnerable-persons/

 

Can I book one for my specific group?

Yes! We offer bookings for specific groups whether you’re a local business, corporate office, community group or non-profit agency, church, community association, or categorized some other way. Please email us at [email protected] to request a workshop.

 

How long is the workshop?

The full workshop is roughly 90 minutes, but we also offer condensed versions in 60-minute, 45-minute, and 30-minute options. Please note: we of course recommend the full version as it contains all the topics we believe are most relevant for effective understanding and implementation of the information. However, we can accommodate requests for compressed options as needed.

 

Is it possible to customize the presentation for my group?

Absolutely! Alpha House offers customizations (within reason) by request. We are happy to utilize specific scenarios or situations based on experiences your staff or group has encountered in the past. Equally, we can adjust the workshop to include more, or less, specific information about the topics covered.

 

Is the EVP in-person or virtual?

You decide! We are happy to provide the workshop in-person at your group’s location or virtually. We can also provide a hybrid option if you have staff/interested participants who are not able to make it in-person. Lastly, webinar options are available if you are interested in ongoing training for new hires, new volunteers, or something similar. Reach out to us to discuss.

 

Is there a webinar version for the general public?

You bet there is! More details here: https://alphahousecalgary.com/engaging-vulnerable-persons/

 

How do I book a workshop?

Email us at [email protected] !

 

Are there additional resources available?

We’re so glad you asked! There ARE additional resources available. Check out our YouTube channel for our Engaging Vulnerable Persons Video Series, which breaks down different interactions and best practices for engaging: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIrMdCzSNpxv0Wp-4Dk8dvg

 

If you have a question that has not been answered here, please feel free to email us for more information: [email protected]

 

The information presented in the Engaging Vulnerable Persons Training is information directly pulled from Alpha House’s 40+ years of experience working with vulnerable populations in Calgary, Alberta. We do not make any guarantees about the practices described in this training, however, and Alpha House shall not be responsible for any decisions made based on this information