CRRA Members Rally to Support Alpha House’s ‘Give Hope Through Housing’ Campaign

By The Community Housing Team

Alpha House had the privilege of participating in the Calgary Residential Rental Association (CRRA) Golf Extravaganza on September 4, and we’ve been genuinely heart-warmed by the outpouring of support we received from so many CRRA members and supporters we met at the event. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our mission and connect with landlords who are eager to make a difference.

Alpha House is thrilled to share the incredible response from CRRA members to our recent ‘Give Hope Through Housing’ campaign. The campaign called on landlords and housing providers to join us in offering secure, accessible housing for some of the city’s most vulnerable people through partnerships in our Community Housing program. The result has been nothing short of inspiring.

As a direct result of the relationships formed with CRRA throughout the summer and at the golf tournament, we’ve already secured 10 new landlord partnerships for our clients that will help provide stable homes for vulnerable Calgarians. We met one individual who wanted to do everything she can to raise awareness in her own community in southeast Calgary, of our need for new landlords and donations. She offered to put up posters and encourage everyone she knows to donate. Meeting people in our community who genuinely want to help vulnerable Calgarians is inspiring and gives us hope of a more secure future for our clients. 

One of our new CRRA landlords we have recently partnered with shared, “Being part of the Alpha House housing program and giving preference to a member of our community that needs housing is a very small act that makes a big difference in their life. We are pleased to be part of the partnership that assists the broader community.”

This generosity and sense of purpose resonate with many landlords, who understand the power of providing a safe, stable home for individuals navigating challenging circumstances.

Some landlords have gone above and beyond, offering their properties at reduced market rates, demonstrating incredible compassion and commitment to helping those in need. 

Paul Tokode, Alpha House’s Transition Program Manager, said,

“We’ve seen tremendous empathy from landlords who want to help their community. The generosity of providing units at lower rates means the world to our clients, many of whom live on very limited incomes.”

This outpouring of support not only strengthens Alpha House’s capacity to provide housing but also highlights the vital role community-driven solutions play in addressing homelessness.

Alpha House Executive Director Kathy Christiansen explained,

“Thanks to our new partnerships with CRRA landlords who stepped up, we are in the process of housing 10 individuals who were waiting for a home. This is only possible because of the overwhelming support from CRRA members and really shows the strength of our community when we work together to create positive change.”

 

Looking Forward

The success of the ‘Give Hope Through Housing’ campaign is a reminder of the essential role housing professionals play in supporting and uplifting communities. With the ongoing collaboration of CRRA members, Alpha House is now better equipped to offer hope and stability to more individuals and families facing homelessness.

Our campaign was launched in response to the urgent need for more housing solutions amidst a growing housing crisis, and it has resonated deeply with CRRA members. By stepping up to meet this need, CRRA landlords have demonstrated generosity, compassion, and a shared belief that stable housing is key to building better futures.

Alpha House is proud to continue working with the CRRA and its members to create lasting solutions to housing challenges. Together, we are making a difference, one home at a time.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can contribute to Alpha House’s ‘Give Hope Through Housing’ campaign or partner with us as a landlord, we invite you to visit Give Hope Through Housing.

Thank you to all CRRA members for your continued dedication to making housing more accessible and giving hope to those who need it most!

 

Sober-Living at Alpha House’s Providence House

with Insights from Recovery Coach, Melodie

The road to recovery is a difficult journey—one that’s best traveled with community and supports at your side. Earlier this year, we transitioned one of our harm reduction buildings to our first ever sober-living supportive housing program – Providence House . Sober living aims to provide healthy environments conducive to sustained recovery by giving individuals the supports they need to find independence, reconnect with community, and improve their quality of life. We tracked down our supremely busy Recovery Coach, Melodie, to hear a little bit about her job supporting clients at Providence, the types of programming offered, and the day-to-day activities in the building.

A recovery coach is a mentor and motivator that supports individuals toward recovery by helping them navigate unique situations and challenges on their way to maintaining sobriety. Melodie describes her job as being a sort of a

“cheerleader for the clients – that might mean helping them with a specific task or having my door open and being available to talk when they need.”

Ultimately, it’s about supporting someone’s journey with encouragement and positive reinforcement.

A 9 AM group meeting with Melodie and all the residents in the building kicks off each new day at Providence, where together clients do their daily affirmations, discuss AA and other recovery programs, and share about the things they’re looking forward to, how they’re planning to connect with others, and what motivates them. An important reminder about recovery is that different approaches resonate with different people; it’s important to encourage interest in the approach that speaks to each individual person. After the morning meeting, clients go about their day, and Melodie keeps her office doors open for clients who are looking to chat, whether that’s to vent about a frustrating situation or to start working on a new goal they’ve set for themselves.

Which supports an individual needs looks different for everyone—one client might be looking to find volunteer opportunities or employment, while another could be looking to reconnect with their family now that they are sober. Everyone has their own goals and ambitions, and it’s critical to their success for us to surround our folks with encouragement and support for each milestone. Often times the barrier can be not knowing where to start or who to reach out to which is why we’re so grateful to have Melodie as a resource and support.

Recently, one of our clients has been looking to get visitation rights to see her child after 5 years apart— Melodie has been working with the client and the child’s caseworker to go through the steps of making those visitation rights happen, which includes advocating for the client and presenting the changes and improvements they have made while at Providence House. This is just one of many unique situations a Recovery Coach can help with.

When a new resident joins Providence House, they have an introductory meeting with the recovery coach so she can hear their story, learn more about them, and identify what areas they need support with. The beginning stages of sobriety can come with its own set of challenges: overwhelming emotions, physical withdrawal symptoms, or difficulty sleeping, eating, or concentrating. Another unique challenge that clients can face is the feeling of abandoning friends they’ve made while struggling with their addiction and who may still be on the street or actively using substances. Separating from those meaningful connections takes time to process and come to terms with. Understanding how difficult sobriety can be, relapse is also a real concern— one of the most helpful aspects of Alpha House’s sober-living program is how we are able to navigate someone’s relapse through the support of our Detox program. Clients who relapse in the program aren’t kicked out, rather they have the opportunity attend Alpha House’s Detox to withdrawal in a medically supported environment. Once they’ve completed the detox process, they can re-engage with the recovery coach and building managers to understand what happened and what they might need to change to find success in their recovery.

Melodie describes the vibe at Providence House as

“very welcoming— each individual is unique in their own ways, but everyone gets along, is engaged in programming, and does their best to welcome new residents.”

The breadth of programming available in the building gives individuals plenty of opportunity to engage with others, and with their own goals and plans. Sober-living and sobriety-based programming involves lots of meetings and group activities including 12-step AA programming. On Tuesdays, one of Alpha House’s Indigenous Peer Support workers stops by for weekly Wellbriety meetings, which is similar to a 12-step program, but with a focus on the teachings of the Medicine wheel. Wellbriety meetings are frequently followed by beadwork, where clients can express their creativity and receive the therapeutic benefits of working on a craft. The weekly sweat lodges that we do in our Detox program are also open to residents at Providence House, which some clients find integral to their recovery journey. There are also lots of spontaneous events that happen at the building put together by staff or other agencies like community cleanups, unique art therapy projects, BBQs, human bingo, gardening, painting bird houses, lawn games like beanbag tosses, and DIY banana split dessert making just to name a few!

Group programming can bring its own challenges though. Many of the individuals at Providence are transitioning from living on the street so attending group activities can come with a lot of anxiety, increased feelings of insecurity, and trauma responses. For example, an individual who transitioned from homelessness may not have access to the clothing they need to attend meetings and group activities in a way that makes them feel dignified. Lots of similar examples come up where the obstacle to engagement is not immediately apparent, but can cause significant challenges if left unaddressed.

After spending many years on the street, things like managing finances or doing laundry are skills that have been forgotten or have never been learned, and can act as barriers to independence. Tackling these challenges are among the first steps to supporting clients toward being able to live on their own. Melodie has taken steps to fill these gaps by facilitating budgeting classes, starting the process of helping clients get their driver’s licenses (we are on the book stage right now!), and working one-on-one with clients to develop their skillsets with day-to-day tasks like cooking, cleaning or laundry. During one-on-one sessions, Melodie has also been working with some of our clients on finding employment or volunteer opportunities. Providence currently has one client working full-time, two working part-time, and another handful who are volunteering in the community.

Clients also get to vote on programming activities, making sure they have a voice in the topics and activities planned.

 

What are the biggest differences we’ve seen from clients on their recovery journey to now?

Of course, differences are going to vary from person to person, but some overarching things we’ve seen are that clients are more hopeful about the future and their lives, and they talk of more— setting goals and finding things they want to achieve. We also see lots of clients confronting their pasts, coming to terms with lost jobs and housing, and making amends through attending court cases and reaching out to lost connections and family members. On top of that, there are improvements to both their mental and physical well-being, which are more general improvements that come with sobriety.

There’s been lots of positive feedback from staff and clients alike about Providence House and the Recovery Coach program here, and we’ve already seen lots of successes!  We are really excited to have added a sober-living facility to our continuum of services and look forward to sharing more about our clients and staff and the community they’re creating soon.

Happy International Self-Care Day! In its honour, we’re talking about Psychological First Aid (PFA), the importance of self-care in the social service sector, and some strategies for taking care of ourselves as well as others.

First things first— what is self-care? Self-care refers to the activities and practices that we can regularly engage with to reduce stress and enhance both our short-term and long-term well-being. [1] The overarching theme around self-care among social service professionals is that “we cannot look after others if we cannot look after ourselves.” Working on the frontline can be both stressful and unpredictable, resulting in pent up stress and unaddressed emotions that can ultimately lead to major challenges later on, if left unchecked. Additionally, care providers are much more likely to experience vicarious trauma, which is a form of trauma resulting from exposure to the traumatic stories and experiences of others; vicarious trauma can significantly impact the mental health of care providers if they don’t have healthy coping mechanisms to avoid the pitfalls of burnout.

Given the high stress environment that Alpha House staff work in, the agency is always looking for ways to ensure that staff have tools and supports at their disposal to take care of themselves and others. Offering Psychological First Aid (PFA) training is one of the new ways the agency employs to promote well-being among staff. PFA is a 12-hour course that aims to equip learners with a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others, with an emphasis on self-care and personal protection. [2] A study conducted in Alberta looked at the effectiveness of PFA training in the social service sector showcasing that before the workshop less than half of the participants (45.9%) reported having strategies to maintain their wellness and self-care during a disaster; the post training survey revealed that after the workshops, 98.64% of participants now felt aware of the strategies needed to practice self-care and maintain their wellness. [3]

What does the course look like in practice? Overall, the course is very interactive— lots of topics are completed through group work; the continuous engagement and built-in activities allows for difficult topics to be covered in a positive environment where people can engage, observe, listen, or interact as they feel able. Our first few PFA trainings at Alpha House were taught through the Canadian Red Cross but we found it so valuable that several of our staff have since completed their Train the Trainer courses to get certified themselves. Providing the training in-house allows us to be more specific about the examples and strategies discussed in the course, and how they pertain to the population that we work with.

Building trust and rapport with clients is at the heart of frontline work in the social service sector, and part of this is knowing how to identify the emotional state of a client and approaching in a non-judgmental, empathetic manner. When we spend our time and energy meeting the social and psychological needs of others, it can become hard to find room to do the same for ourselves. PFA addresses this specifically and looks to teach individuals how to manage their own stress and emotional state as well as how to support co-workers in coping with the effects of various types of stress.

Recognizing when our co-workers are experiencing stress is a particularly critical element when the work is complex and reliant on teamwork. PFA isn’t about adding a co-worker’s stress to your already full emotional bandwidth, it’s about being able to rely on and support one-another to lighten the load for everybody.

Psychological First Aid touches on this with the 4L’s cycle— Look, Listen, Link, Live. This section explains the process of watching for signs of stress/trauma, the importance of active listening, providing links to people that may be required for support, and how to live with stress as a part of life. PFA discusses the 4L’s cycle in the context of analyzing oneself, then moves on to discuss how the same tools can be used to gauge the emotions of others, and provide support. A brief overview of the 4L’s cycle in the context of caring for others: [4]

Look for common indicators of stress

• Signs of stress
• Signs of distress
• Nonverbal signs of communication
• Are their basic needs covered?
• Signs of violence
• Individuals who require special attention
• Resiliency

Listen in a calm and open manner

• Be open to hearing their experiences
• Listen to their experiences in a non-judgmental manner
• Be aware of your tone and inflections
• Consider the person’s age, gender, cultural background, etc.

Link to support systems by empowering them to connect

• Resources to meet basic needs
• Loved ones
• Social, cultural, and religious support networks

Live with coping strategies and care for yourself so you can care for others

Throughout the course, participants have the opportunity to openly discuss the coping strategies they’ve found effective for managing stress including meditation, hobbies, and connecting with family and nature— to name a few popular options. PFA also discusses more formal approaches to resilience such as mental health counselling for individuals who would benefit from a more guided approach with a mental health professional. One of the topics in the course is ‘Creating a Self-Care Plan,’ which allows for reflective time where participants consider what self-care means to them, what practices they find works best for their situation, and when they feel self-care is most necessary for them.

It’s important to remember that practicing self-care isn’t a one-time thing, but something we have to engage with on an ongoing basis. Self-care can be impacted by external factors such as time or cost, making it hard to find a time where it makes sense to take care of oneself. PFA addresses this by asking participants to re-learn how self-care can be a part of daily living, and how they can incorporate it into their daily routines. Self-care practices are unique to each individual, and what works for one person, won’t necessarily work for another. However, a few starting ideas to incorporate self-care into your daily schedule could be starting a journal, morning meditations, or even watching a TV show without interruptions. Finding what works best for you and your schedule can take time; identifying strategies/activities with the right level of engagement and time commitment is a challenging ask in our fast-paced world.

The Simmons Faculty of Social Work offers some great general advice on how you can better maintain your well-being in the workplace: [5]

• Take a break. It’s important to take some time away from the workplace and recharge, even if it’s a five-minute break to take a walk outside
• Set short-term goals. Breaking down obligations into small, attainable chunks is a great way to turn a large daunting task into smaller actionable steps
• Say no. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, resist the urge to take on new commitments that will add extra stress to your plate.
• Create a support system. PFA does a great job of breaking down the various types of support systems into smaller categories: Personal Factors, Self, Relationships, Community, and Culture and Society. This is a great place to start if you’re looking to identify support systems within your reach
• Connect with your emotions. When we feel anxiety or depression, our bodies are trying to tell us something. Try your best to listen and identify what you need; seek help from a mental health professional if you’re feeling stuck
• Practice mindfulness. Easier said than done! Try your best to find a moment for yourself, do some breathing exercises, engage in an activity like yoga, or anything else you find helps you with mindfulness

If you’re interested in learning more about the course, check out the Canadian Red Cross website for more details.

[1] https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resources/self-care-starter-kit/introduction-to-self-care.html#:~:text=Self%2Dcare%20is%20an%20essential,term%20health%20and%20well%2Dbeing.

[2] https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/course-descriptions/psychological-first-aid/psychological-first-aid

[3] https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts.v17i1.1269

[4] https://www.redcross.ca/crc/documents/19-0420PS-PFA_Pocket_Guide_2020_EN_FA.pdf

[5] https://online.simmons.edu/blog/self-care-for-social-service-professionals/

Spring Cleaning Time

By Amy Sutherland 

It’s finally spring, and as the weather warms up, we just know all of you are itching to clean out your homes and garages, and donate the things that you can’t use! Enter Alpha House! We put this blog post together to provide some tips for spring cleaners who are ready to purge some of their items but want to avoid the landfill.

Alpha House receives many different forms of donations throughout the year. These are in-kind items like clothing, hygiene products or food, or monetary donations through cash, credit card, cheques, or securities. As people are spring cleaning their homes, we have some new ideas to reduce unnecessary clutter in your home while supporting vulnerable individuals in our city. Let’s delve into some unique and interesting ways to give while refreshing our homes; “Out with the old,” as they say, “In with the… giving!”

Reusable bags are all the rage now (for good reason). For most of us, it’s become a habit to bring two or three bags to the store when grabbing groceries. But I bet every one of us knows the feeling of getting to the store, hands empty, shoulders slumping when we realize we forgot the reusable bags at home… again. And now we’re shelling out a dollar for yet another reusable bag, and who’s telling how many we have accumulated over the years. We aren’t proponents of throwing them away- that defeats the environmentally conscious purpose. But Alpha House is happy to take the abundance of reusable bags off of your hands as part of our partnership with the City of Calgary’s Bag it Forward Initiative. Our main building is a designated drop off location for reusable bags. Natalia Gonzalez, a City of Calgary Waste Diversion Specialist who reached out to Alpha House for this initiative back in 2023 tells us “the Bag it Forward initiative is a way to minimize the effects of the Single Use items Bylaw while supporting vulnerable Calgarians.”

Providing a reusable bag to Alpha House ensures our clients can access bags to keep their belongings in a more structured way. Often the items that they do have are stolen or lost, and a reusable bag can also be easier than trying to carry it by hand or using a ripped plastic bag to keep hold of them. During your spring cleaning, if you find that you have an abundance of reusable grocery bags- bring them to Alpha House!

 

The dreaded hall closet clean-up. You’re looking at those shoes from last season, slightly worn, maybe out of season, potentially too small or too big and wondering if they’ll fit right again soon… Shoes you might wear versus shoes someone out on the street definitely needs – consider passing them on to Alpha House. Unhoused folks have shoes that are exposed to the elements and endure continuous movement and do not last as long as our day-to-day shoes might also because they tend to be the only pair of shoes that an individual has and are worn through at a quicker rate. A proper pair of shoes for our clients provides dignity, confidence, and protection from the environment.

Alpha House is always on the lookout for gently worn shoes, especially pairs that could fit our male clients with larger feet. You can donate gently used pairs of shoes anytime (drop off at our Shelter – instructions below!). Examples of good shoes to donate would be running shoes, streetwear shoes such as Vans or Converse, or boots.

 

Junk cars – let’s talk about them! Do you have a car that has been on your property or in your driveway for a while that you just aren’t sure what to do with? Or maybe you’re ready for a newer vehicle- but don’t want to go through the hassle of trying to sell your current one? Enter our partner organizations, Homeless Cars, operating in Western Canada for just over a year now.

Homeless cars is a Canada wide organization that helps individuals get rid of their unwanted cars for a returned tax credit. These cars are then taken apart for scrap parts and the money that is made goes to organizations working to support those experiencing homelessness! This is an unconventional way of providing donations, but if you have a car that is no longer beneficial to you, homeless cars may be for you! Spring cleaning at its….oddest? No, it’s finest!

When Homeless Cars’ original executive director attempted to donate her late father’s vehicle, and realized that there was no way to donate the vehicle to a Canadian cause that she believed in, she created their organization. Current Director of Operations and Communications, Gillian Speziali told us, they “truly believe in keeping the money received in the communities that they are received in.” If you donate a car in Calgary- the money that is received from the donated vehicle stays within Calgary. You can even request for the proceeds from the vehicle go directly one of you charity of choice that they support- like Alpha House.

The vehicle does not have to be drivable, it just has to have most of its important parts like the engine. Homeless Cars guarantees a minimum $700 tax receipt for vehicles donated with some being more depending on the value of the vehicle. Homeless Cars accepts any cars that you are interested in donating, including higher value vehicles.

The process is easy! A tow truck can come out for the vehicle within the day of request, and you will have your tax return back to you by the end of the following month.

 

We know, we know- you just can’t wait to head out there and start your spring cleaning now right? Well you’re not alone at least – Alpha House is getting into the spirit too! Throughout June, our seven Place Based Supportive Housing buildings are hosting community cleanups with an aim of picking up debris and garbage throughout the neighbourhood (see our social media for details coming soon).

Now we have provided three unconventional and interesting ways to help vulnerable folks in need, and hopefully given you the boost you needed to tackle your spring cleaning.

If you’ re willing to donate any of the items noted above such as your gently worn shoes or your reusable bags, drop off should be done at Alpha House’s main building: 203 15th Avenue SE; we can accept donations anytime. If you’re donating an old car, visit https:// www.homelesscars.ca/ . Join us in creating a community for everyone.

The Calgary Tower lit up in honour of International Overdose Awareness Day

Time to Remember. Time to Act.

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.

The campaign also acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose.

International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:

• To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
• To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
• To provide information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
• To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
• To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
• To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
• To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
• To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.

Sources:
Penington Institute (2023). About the Campaign.

Worldwide

• There is an international crisis of drug overdose. Over the last twenty years drug overdose deaths have increased significantly in many parts of the world. Each year a record number of deaths are reported, predominantly driven by the misuse of opioids, often in combination with other drugs including benzodiazepines, stimulants and alcohol.
• In 2020, an estimated 284 million people – one in every 18 people aged 15-64 – had used a drug in the past 12 months, a 26 per cent increase from 2010.
• Opioids account for two-thirds (69 per cent) of drug overdose deaths. The estimated number of people using opioids globally has doubled from 26-36 million people in 2010 to 61.3 million in 2020. There are currently multiple ongoing opioid overdose epidemics in the world; one is driven by the increased presence of the synthetic opioid fentanyl in the United States and Canada, while another in North Africa, West Africa, the Near and Middle East and South-West Asia is due to the non-medical use of the synthetic opioid tramadol.
• Some of the new drugs available today – most notably synthetic opioids and amphetamine-type stimulants – are more dangerous than their counterparts were 20 or even 10 years ago. There were 1,127 new psychoactive substances reported in 134 countries and territories between 2009 and 2021. Opioids are the fastest-growing and most harmful group of new psychoactive substances – there were 87 different types recorded globally in 2020, an increase from just one in 2009.

 

Sources:
Penington Institute (2022). Global Overdose Snapshot.
UNODC (2022). World Drug Report 2022.

 

Canada

• There was a total of 32,632 apparent opioid toxicity deaths between January 2016 and June 2022.
• A majority of deaths occurred in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario; high rates were also observed within other regions.
• In 2021, fentanyl was responsible for 87 per cent of opioid-overdose deaths in Canada. Of the accidental stimulant toxicity deaths during the year, 62 percent involved cocaine, while 55 percent involved methamphetamines.

 

Source:
Government of Canada (2022). Health Infobase.

Recognizing Those Who Go Unseen.

As an agency committed to providing safe and caring environments for those whose lives have been affected by alcohol and other substance addictions, Alpha House acknowledges both the importance of IOAD and this year’s theme, “Recognizing Those People Who Go Unseen”.

Overdose alters the lives of those who experience it, as well as those around them. This includes the family and friends who grieve the loss of their loved ones, workers in support services and healthcare who tirelessly commit themselves to providing safety and stability to those around them, and first responders who provide emergency, life saving care under traumatic circumstances.

This is a crisis that we are all in together, and on this day, we amplify the voices of those individuals in our communities who often go unrecognized.  We acknowledge their strength, compassion, and care as an example to us all.

Today, we say to them: “We see you.”

 

 

Standing Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

By Dawn Lemieux

 

Canada is becoming increasingly diverse. According to Statistics Canada, one million Canadians identify as belonging to the 2SLGBTQ+ community (2022). While Canada has made moves toward equality, such as same-sex marriage and new protections for gender identity and expression written into the Canadian Human Rights Act, we still have a long way to go in combatting the homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia that is prevalent in society, schools, and other institutions.

 

Statistically, 2SLGBTQ+ people experience real danger on a daily basis since they are more likely to be physically or sexually assaulted or to sustain injuries as a result of aggression than those who are not 2SLGBTQ+. Alarmingly, 59% of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Canada have been physically or sexually assaulted since age 15, a drastically larger proportion than their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (Statistics Canada, 2022). Homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia can also take on more subtle forms of discrimination, including microaggressions and online harassment. Folx with intersecting identities, particularly those from racialized groups, can face double or triple forms of discrimination. One of the most vulnerable groups in our society are 2SLGBTQ+ youth who make up between 25% and 40% of unhoused youth in Canada (Statistic Canada, 2022). Whether overt or subtle, all forms of discrimination have negative and lasting implications on an individual’s mental health and well-being. When a person’s mental health and wellness declines, they are more likely to turn to alcohol and other substances to cope with feelings of stress, anger, loneliness, and sadness.

 

May 17^th marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia. On this day, people around the world band together to celebrate diversity, disrupt hate, and stand against injustice toward 2SLGBTQ+ people. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly and to live a life free of fear. What next steps can you take to help create a safer, more inclusive society?

 

• Commit to developing a critical consciousness. Begin by reflecting on your own positionality in relation to dominant culture and the power and privilege that comes from your identity markers. An essential part of becoming more critically conscious is understanding that everyone has prejudices or biases due to the stereotypes they’ve absorbed during their upbringing and through consuming media. These prejudices are not always conscious, and it takes real work to unpack them in order to identify misconceptions about folx from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. You can also commit to learning more about the International Day of Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia and 2SLGBTQ+ identities by browsing the resources on https://may17.org. Learn more about queer topics by exploring books, shows and documentaries, and podcasts by people from the community. Consider grabbing a friend or two to attend Calgary’s queer film festival in June, hosted by the Calgary Queer Art Society.

 

• Break free of your comfort zone. In an increasingly divided society, it can be tempting to stay quiet and take a neutral stance when complex issues come up in conversation or when you witness an act of discrimination. Remember that standing against injustice is almost never a comfortable experience. Bravely challenge hate-filled comments by reorienting them to focus on equality and equity. Staying silent is what allows injustice to continue.

 

• Break down binaries and use inclusive language. It often seems that we live in a ‘two-choice’ society, where binaries such as hot/cold, up/down, Black/White, male/female, and gay/straight are the norm. Embrace fluidity by bending, blurring, or breaking society’s binary codes and welcoming words, actions, and people who do not fit neatly into categories. Language matters! A simple way to use inclusive language and help others feel safe and validated is by respecting their pronouns. Do not feel overwhelmed by the terminology related to gender identity and sexual orientation. If you aren’t sure about a person’s pronouns – just ask. A thoughtful way to go about this is to share your pronouns first. Do not use the term ‘preferred pronouns’, as it suggests that using a person’s pronouns is optional. If you make a mistake with a pronoun, apologize quickly, and move on.

 

• Celebrate the heroes of equality-seeking groups and observe days of awareness. Take time to learn about and acknowledge 2SLGBTQ+ leaders and heroes of past and present, such as Harvey Milk, and pay tribute to the important days of awareness for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, including the International Day of Trans Visibility (March 31^st) and the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (May 17^th).
• Consider donating to 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and charities. Calgary’s End of the Rainbow Foundation is one organization that creates sponsorship circles, hosts support groups, and provides education to help 2SLGBTQ+ people settle into their homes and communities. Donations to the End of the Rainbow Foundation directly assist 2SLGBTQ+ people, including refugees, in emergency scenarios to obtain safety and support. Check out https://endoftherainbow.ca for more information.

 

When we embody love and acceptance, we can disrupt the intolerance, discrimination, and violence directed toward 2SLGBTQ+ people in our local and global communities. We all have a role to play in creating safe and caring communities for everyone.

 

 

References:

Statistics Canada. (2022). Standing against homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia. Ottawa, On. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/1294-standing-against-homophobia-transphobia-and-biphobia

 

 

 

Alpha House is so very lucky to work with a cohort of nurses in our Shelter, Detox, and Permanent-Supportive Housing programs. Our in-house nurses provide care, comfort, compassion, and critical medical supports for a group historically underserved and oft discriminated against in healthcare. Check back here to hear from some of our incredible nursing staff about their work for National Nurses Week 2023!

Angela Shanahan

How long have you been a nurse? Since 2012

What drew you towards pursuing nursing as a profession? I wanted to work in the public, in a healing position, so it just seemed to fit.

What inspired you to focus your work on homelessness and addictions support? I’d been working in long-term care my entire career and just wanted a change, so I applied at Alpha House and I love it here. I love this demographic.

What do you love the most about your work? Seeing success is the most rewarding. And my team! I work with an amazing team.

Can you share a favorite story or impactful moment you’ve had with a client since you’ve been with Alpha House? I guess just seeing everyone who leaves Detox and moves onto a treatment center. They change so much in 10 days, it’s like they’re a completely different person. I think it’s very rewarding to see them getting healthy, and they’re always very thankful for all that we’ve done for them

Evelyn Nyangaresi

How long have you been a nurse? I just started. I graduated in December, so this is my first job as a nurse.

What drew you towards pursuing nursing as a profession? To be able to take care of people, to help people, to get them from one point to another and to nurse them back to health.

What inspired you to focus your work on homelessness and addictions support? I was already a case worker with Alpha House at the Vet’s building, and I’ve always been a humanitarian. Back home I worked in a refugee camp. I’ve always worked with the vulnerable population, so I love always helping people.

What do you love the most about your work? To see how clients progress. Seeing them get from one point to another. When I see them come in, and am able to help nurse them back to health, that is my most rewarding moment. Even if it’s a minimal improvement, it is still a plus for me.

Can you share a favorite story or impactful moment you’ve had with a client since you’ve been with Alpha House? That’s tough because there’s so many. There was one client who came, and he had just been admitted when all of a sudden, he overdosed. We were able to Narcan him because he had already started turning purple, just like with all overdoses. But to be able to actually save someone’s life and to be able to help them in that capacity, that’s really the most rewarding part of my job. Just knowing that you really are able to make a difference, however minimal that is, that’s what counts for me.

 Shweta Sobti Sharma

How long have you been a nurse? For 3 years.

What drew you towards pursuing nursing as a profession? I was a dental technician before, but I didn’t like the timelines, and I always wanted to work with people. That’s why I went into nursing.

What inspired you to focus your work on homelessness and addictions support? When I started here, I wasn’t sure whether or not I would like it. This was my first job, but I ended up really liking it, and I never went anywhere else.

What do you love the most about your work? The clients. Helping them get clean and getting them onto Suboxone or Methadone so they don’t go back. Just helping them live a better life and getting to a better quality of life with the clients.

Can you share a favorite story or impactful moment you’ve had with a client since you’ve been with Alpha House? When I see them sober, that’s a special moment. Even if they end up coming back, when they tell me that they didn’t use for 6 or 7 months…we did have a client who was here for almost two months. She did relapse, but she had been clean for 7 months and we would always make sure that she was receiving her treatment from CUPS. It made us really happy to see that her treatment was successful.

 

Sam Dziuba

Can you tell us a little bit about your nursing background, and what drove you to become a nurse? I’ve spent the past 10 years working as a nurse.. I was raised by a hippie who always told me to never do a job for money, only do what makes you happy. And nursing seemed to have chosen me.

What led you to working with people struggling with homelessness, and substance use issues?  I lived on the streets when I was a youth from 16 till 20 years old…I also fought my own addictions. To me, I am not working with the homeless or people with substance use disorders…I’m just working with people just like myself…they are my people.

What do you like about working with this population? I like working with people who are down to earth and nonjudgmental…and the thing about addiction is that it lets you reach a point in your life where you learn what’s really important, material things come and go…but the people in your life are what really matters. I like the raw feeling of connecting to others based on respect, not what you have or where you live.

What’s your favourite part about being a nurse? I like learning, and people always teach me something new everyday. I love that.

Is there any advice or words of wisdom you would give to someone who is considering a career in health working with marginalized populations? Just be yourself…living on the streets makes you learn real quick on spotting who is being real and who is not.

Harvey has just moved into Alpha House’s Permanent-Supportive Housing Program in Sunnyside; Aurora House. He’s from the Siksika Nation just outside of Calgary and first came to the city at the age of 16. He speaks fondly of his parents and the parts of his childhood spent with them, sharing tales of adventuring across Canada.

At 6 years old, he remembers being removed from home and taken to a Residential School. He was told to speak English but, while his parents spoke both English and Blackfoot, they primarily spoke Blackfoot at home. So English did not come quickly to him. His brothers and sisters attended the same school. Occasionally, he could visit them.

The school, he recalls, was Protestant-denominated, not Catholic. ‘It was 3 miles from home; [I] tried to run away and go back home. My parents were happy when I’d escape, just happy to see me’ he shares. Once, he escaped for a week with three other boys. ‘I kept running, didn’t even stop to use the bathroom or sleep’. But eventually the school would come looking and each time he’d be brought back.

At home in the summer, he would smudge with his family and learn dances like the chicken dance; a dance that celebrates the connection of people and the prairie grouse. He says his Mom would take him foraging to gather mint for tea and mushrooms for soup. ‘Mom took care of us, made sure we had something to eat’. As he reminisces about the mushroom soup, he says he is going to check his cupboards for some after this conversation.

He had a dog named Lucky growing up, a surprise gift brought home by his dad one day. Lucky was Harvey’s constant companion, often accompanying them when his Dad would take him hiking. He moved into Calgary at 16, his siblings and friends had moved so he decided to as well.

He spent some time working for CP Rail ‘lifting railway ties. I was strong,’ he says. And he was married for a while as well. Sandra and Harvey met on a chance encounter roaming around Calgary. ‘I thought she was very pretty’.

Theft at a few shops on the reserve landed Harvey in prison. It was in prison that he first started beading, something he still does today. Prison was ‘hard at the start, beading helped’. He made a few friends that he still occasionally sees.

He spent time after prison hitchhiking across the mountains and sleeping out under the stars with an end goal of reaching his sister in Vancouver. ‘She was surprised to see me walking down the street. What are you doing here?! I got lost I told her. I was off to see the world I told her.’

His sister has now passed on and Harvey says ‘I hope to see her in the next life’. He came back to Calgary to attend the funeral of his nephew and decided to stay in the city. He got connected with Alpha House not long after that.

An Elder visits Harvey in his room at Aurora House once a week. Together they smudge to push away bad spirits and bad emotions. He says he feels strong after the Elder visits and holds his arms up in a strongman pose.

The birds wake him up each morning but he says he likes that; along with starting the day with a cup of Maxwell House coffee. His drum, an important connection to his brother, was stolen from him one day in a park downtown. But he’s been working on beading a necklace lately in lieu of drumming. Another of his creative expressions, a painting, hangs in the staff’s office at another Alpha House building.

 

Calgary Alpha House Society was established in 1981 as a committed response to a marginalized population of men and women who are addicted to alcohol or other drugs and living vulnerable on the streets of Calgary. Over 50% of the clients we serve are Indigenous. Today, the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, we wear orange, come together to drum and sing, and remember and honor those lost to Residential Schools and the survivors still with us.

HelpSeeker is a registered B-Corp Social Enterprise with a mission to scale systems change to resolve complex social issues. One of their most celebrated new creations The HelpSeeker app is a free network of location-based services, resources, and support you need to help your clients and the community. We had the opportunity to sit down with some of HelpSeeker’s team members to get the scoop on how things are going and what they hope their new initiatives will accomplish.

 

Who is Helpseeker for?

The HelpSeeker navigation tool can be used by anyone who might need to find help, whether for themselves, or on behalf of someone else.  Because HelpSeeker is used by thousands of people seeking help, it is also a great marketing tool for service providers, as it helps to get their information out to more people.

HelpSeeker also offers other digital tools that provide valuable insights for people in decision making roles, who want to understand the needs of their residents better, so that they can make more informed decisions that will lead to better outcomes.

 

Are you marketing the app to the general public?

Yes!  We have two apps: the HelpSeeker app and the Wellbeing Screener, which are free for anyone to use, anywhere across Canada.

HelpSeeker is a navigation tool, where people can search anonymously for supports in their community that can help them address their needs, including help services, helplines, benefits, and social programs available in a community.

HelpSeeker is great for frontline workers and people who have a good sense of what they need help with.  But sometimes it isn’t always clear to someone that the problem is: they may know they aren’t feeling their best, but can’t quite pinpoint what they need help with.  In instances like that, the Wellbeing Screener is a quick way to assess any urgent needs, and start the process of understanding what resources are available nearby, and connect to them directly, or share with a friend or family.

 

There are a lot of social service organizations in Alberta. How has the app changed navigation of those services for people who need them?

The most common cited concern we hear is that people just don’t know where to go for help. Which is too bad, because there are thousands of support services available across Alberta ready and willing to help.

HelpSeeker was created by people with lived experience in social issues, who also worked as frontline workers.  They knew firsthand that trying to find help, whether for yourself or for someone else, is a complicated and overwhelming process.  Their goal in developing HelpSeeker was to simplify the process, so that people could get access to help more quickly.

We appreciate that often people seeking help are those in very vulnerable situations, and we designed HelpSeeker using that lens.  The app is completely anonymous to use, and is free to download.  It can be used on any Smartphone (Apple or Android device) or can be searched using any desktop with internet access, in 23 different languages. 

Navigators can select from over 80 different search tags to search for issues particular to their needs, or they can use our smart search bar, which recognizes informal terms that might be used (ie. if someone types in “I’m hungry”, the smart search would know to find services that offer food).  Based on the search results, navigators can click on the listing to see a short and helpful description about the organization and their services/programs, contact information, hours of operation, whether the person fits the eligibility criteria, whether or not the service or building is wheelchair accessible, and in certain cases, whether the organization has enough the ability to help them right away. From there, they can either call or email the organization directly.

There is also a map that the navigator can see where the organization is located, as well as a directions button that connects to Google maps, so that people can plan their route to get there.

 

What’s the current scope of the app in terms of locations where it is available?

We are currently available in more than 200 Canadian communities, but thanks to a recent investment from CMHC, we will be in every Canadian community within the next 3 years.

 

What are some of the trends you have been able to see through the app’s data and are you / how are you / using that to improve its efficacy?

Having the ability to compare what supports people are searching for with where supports are located is really useful, as it provides a starting point for identifying where possible gaps and/or duplications exist.  The data can also be used to help improve program design, and to help communities develop responses to rapidly changing needs, like what we experienced with COVID.

We’re always taking feedback from service providers and people using the app on ways to improve the user experience. Look for new improvements later this year!

 

Have social service organizations been open to the idea of the app?

Yes!  The response from social service organizations has been tremendous, especially as they appreciate the important role they play in the overall systems transformation process, and discover how the app can really help their staff and frontline workers spend more time working one-on-one with their clients, instead of spending time in front of a computer navigating services. Organizational leaders like that they can use the service provider dashboard to get a snapshot of their organization’s overall program capacity, which can help guide decisions for future programming and funding allocations. They also like that people who have used their services can send private feedback directly to their organization, so that they can assess how to improve their service delivery.

 

 What is the biggest roadblock you have faced with the app’s implementation or progress?

Our most exciting challenge is getting the app into the hands of people who need it. We’re continually brainstorming new strategies to do this!  And we are always on the lookout for people that can help us raise awareness in their community.

 

What’s your favourite feature of the app?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one favourite feature!  I would say that my favourite feature is our smart search bar, which has the ability to recognize everyday, common terms, like “I’m hungry” or “need clothes”, and will show results accordingly.  It’s very cool!  We’re always adding new features, so  stay tuned for more!

 

You can download the HelpSeeker App and the Wellbeing Screener for free wherever you get your apps!

The Holiday Season is often a time of reflection as we look back on the year that was and anticipate what will be when the calendar turns on January 1^st. Without question, 2020 has been an extraordinarily challenging year for our city, our country and the world.

At Alpha House, we have done our best to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on the vulnerable people we serve, both in Calgary and in our new stabilization centre and shelter in Lethbridge. We’ve collaborated with partners to find and provide safe shelter that will meet all protocols and guidelines, asked our staff to go above and beyond in caring for clients, and we’ve taken every precaution we can to keep men and women seeking our help, safe.

Despite many new challenges, our priority remains the same as it’s always been: to meet the needs of individuals whose lives are affected by alcohol and other drug dependencies.

 With our resources being stretched thin, this year more than ever, we need your help. Since 2018, Tom Jackson – a beloved Canadian musician, actor and philanthropist and Alpha House volunteer – has dedicated one of his annual “The Huron Carole” concerts to support Alpha House. Last year’s sold-out concert raised funds for our Downtown Outreach Addiction Program, also known as the DOAP Team.

 On Tuesday December 1, the annual Huron Carole concert “Light Inside” is going virtual in support of our DOAP Team, and recovery programs in Calgary and Lethbridge.

As Tom so eloquently says, “Under the cloud of these challenging times, those less fortunate in our world are going to be the ones most impacted by the current economic fall-out from Covid 19. This Christmas season is going to be different from any other. It’s going to require us, as individuals and as a society, to look inside ourselves for a light of optimism. A silver lining. We must treasure that light and hang on to that silver lining with all our might.”

It is our request and hope that you will join us for this treasured holiday tradition celebrating the music and meaning of the season. Tickets are just $15 or $30 (includes a VIP pre-show experience with Tom).

We understand that this is an incredibly difficult time for our community. If you are able, please join us for an evening that is sure to lift your spirits and that will give hope to other Calgarians as we all reach for the light inside.

Tickets are available here.

You may also donate to Alpha House online.

With thanks,

Kathy