The DI Looks to Improve Housing Outreach (Global News)
June 23, 2026
Global News reporter Bella Finn took a tour of the Calgary Drop-In Centre as well as our Affordable and Supportive housing building, Greenview Rise. Kevin Webb, Director of Emergency Shelter & Housing, explains how the decentralization of our services will help housing outreach.
More than Decentralization
Emergency shelters were never meant to house people long-term. Our main emergency shelter building was originally built to provide temporary shelter for 550 people. As the economy shifted and people’s needs changed over the past 15 years, we are now sheltering an average of 812 people each day.
Since our housing-focused transformation began in 2017, we have worked to shorten lengths of stays and have successfully housed nearly 4,000 people to date.
However, people’s needs have become more complex, the affordable and supportive housing supply is low, and people are struggling financially with the rising cost of living. Learn more about these complexities here.
We have already been working with people directly and addressing their unique needs, and we know it’s time for our system of care to evolve once again. We aim to be even more intentional in our mission to work with community and end homelessness, one person at a time.
Global News Tours the DI
Building a Stronger Calgary
The responsibility of public safety and taking care of our neighbours is on all of us. Fortunately, Calgary is a community known to take care of one another.
Here are practical ways you can help:
1) Donate to our Housing Supports Fund that directly supports someone moving out of homelessness and into a home of their own. Learn more and donate here: https://calgarydropin.ca/support-us/stronger-calgary/
2) Rent out your affordable properties to people exiting homelessness. Contact us at landlords@thedi.ca to learn more.
3) Donate your gently used furniture and household items to our Free Goods Program, which are then given to people moving into their own home at no cost. Items can be dropped off at our Donation Centre, 3640 11a St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 6M7 (map).
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