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.
Our services include a Shelter and Detox facility, Outreach Programs, and Housing Programs with intensive case management. The scope of our work is a direct intersection of homelessness, addiction and mental and physical health issues. We undertake programs to support improving the lives of vulnerable individuals while simultaneously having a positive impact on the broader community through dedicated responses to social issues.
For over 40 years, we have helped people with addictions. Innovation is at the core of what we do as we look to respond to the ever-changing needs of those we serve and the broader community of which we are a part.
OUR MISSION
To provide safe and caring environments for individuals whose lives are affected by alcohol and other drug dependencies
OUR HISTORY
1981 – Alpha House receives incorporation under the province of Alberta
1982 – Alpha House’s Shelter and Detox programs open. This is a pivotal innovation for clients with alcohol and other addictions.
1985 – We institute the team concept of client care with four teams made up of a Shift Supervisor, Senior Recovery Aide and a Recovery Aide
1992 – With the help of Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 and Alberta Public Works, we open a women’s dorm of four beds in Detox
1993 – We hold our first open Friday night Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. It remains a popular meeting to this day for individuals in the community
2005 –
- Our Outreach program begins through a partnership with Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) called the Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership (DOAP)
- Alpha House’s main facility begins operating as a 24-hour self-referral facility
- Our Detox addition and Shelter renovation projects are initiated through a Development Permit Application with the City of Calgary
2006-2008 – with community partnerships, we operate a second shelter known as Alpha2 to meet the increased demand due to winter conditions
2012 – Our first 3 permanent-supportive housing programs (Madison Place, Lodging House, and Francis Manor) open
2013 – the year of the flood. Our main location was flooded. We responded immediately setting up a temporary shelter. We returned to our main building after a 6 month renovation.
2017 – Alpha House’s 1st Alpha House-owned-and operated permanent-supportive housing building opens – an all-Women’s supportive living program
2019 –
- Our Needle Response Team starts operations and quickly becomes the number one resource for needle debris cleanup in the city
- Alpha House, in partnership with Calgary Transit, launches DOAP Transit, pairing an Alpha House Outreach worker with a Calgary Transit Peace Officer
- Alpha House expands the Encampment Team into Encampment-PAL, pairing an Alpha House Outreach Worker with a Calgary Bylaw Officer
2020 – Alpha House takes on operations of the full Lethbridge Stabilization Centre and Shelter
2020 – 2022 – Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Alpha House:
- operates 3 temporary overflow shelters to support pandemic restrictions on congregate spaces while continuing to support street-involved individuals
- operates 2 COVID-19 isolation programs (one in Calgary and one in Lethbridge)
- opens a transitional housing program in Sunalta
- operates a transitional housing program in Lethbridge
- starts a recovery coach program as part of our Detox services (Calgary and Lethbridge)
2022 – Alpha House begins operating a new outreach program focused on client care and business outreach called The Ambassador Program
2023 – Alpha House transitions out of Lethbridge and the Blood Tribe Department of Health takes on operations of the Shelter and Stabilization Centre
Annual Reports
Past Alpha House Newsletters
Financial Statements
2022-2023
Alpha House acknowledges the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the traditional territories of the Blackfoot: Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, and the Tsuut’ina, and the Stoney Nakoda: Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley First Nations. We would also like to note that Calgary is situated on land adjacent to where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, and that the traditional Blackfoot name of this place is “Mohkinstsis” which we now call the City of Calgary. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.
