Calgary Housing Strategy Clears its First Hurdle. Next Up: 2023 Budget Adjustments
Thank you, Calgary nonprofits! On September 14, you showed up in a way we’ve rarely seen. 93 nonprofit organizations signed a letter calling on the City Council to curb the housing crisis by adopting recommendations made by the Housing Affordability Task Force (HATF). On September 16, the Council voted 12-3 in favour of the Housing Strategy, which includes those recommendations. Thank you for taking the time to support this outcome!
The City Council’s adoption of the Housing Strategy is a great first step towards keeping Calgary affordable. Its continued success will be contingent on proper funding – which the public can weigh in on at the City’s review of the budget in November. Opportunities for public input on the Adjustments to the 2023-2026 Service Plans and Budgets are welcome up until November 20, 2023. Want to weigh in? Share your comments or sign up to speak here.
Affordability and housing affordability is essential to our work: we cannot have a thriving nonprofit sector, business sector, arts sector, hospitality sector and ultimately a thriving Calgary if workers have nowhere to live. Preliminary results of the 2023 State of the Survey Sector show that once again, attraction and retention of workers is a top concern among nonprofits. Between rising inflation and skyrocketing mortgages and rents, affordability plays a substantial role. Let’s keep Calgary affordable!
Organizations that signed the letter:
Shelter Movers Calgary, Cerebral Palsy Alberta, Sled Island Music & Arts Festival, Vitreo Fundraising Group, BGC Calgary & Foothills Clubs, Sober Friends Society, Women in Need Society, Sinneave Family Foundation, Providing Avenues to Hope Society, Simon House, Miskanawah Community Services Association, North East Family Connections, Unison/Kerby Centre, Rozsa Foundation, Wellspring Alberta, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Skipping Stone Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters Calgary, Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society, Sagesse, Leftovers Foundation, ActionDignity, Kindred, Pembina Institue, Carya, Institute for Community Prosperity, Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, The Alberta Seventh Step Society, Hands Lifting Hearts, Caresce Inc, Further Education Society of Alberta, Confederation Park 55+ Activity Centre, Ogden 50+ Activity Centre, Calgary Humane Society, Calgary Food Bank, RESET Society of Calgary, Alberta Community Crime Prevention Association (ACCPA), Meals on Wheels, Volunteer Connector, Students’ Association of Mount Royal University Representation Executive Council, Calgary Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, Rise Calgary, Discovery House, Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society, Calgary Counselling Centre, Women's Centre of Calgary, Accessible Housing, Calgary Arts Development, The Arusha Centre, YW Calgary, Enviros, INPAVI Integration for Life, Umoja Community Mosaic, Calgary Alternative Support Services, SafeLink Alberta, Inn from the Cold, Gateway Association, Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency, Norfolk Housing Association, The Children's Cottage, New Age Services Inc., Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, Calgary Blues Music Association, Alberta Food Rescue, Cerebral Palsy Kids & Families, Centre for Newcomers, HomeSpace Society, Calgary John Howard Society, Trellis Society, PAL Calgary and The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (CBFY) .