News & Stories

World Homeless Day: Turning Progress Into Possibility

October 10, 2025

Today is World Homeless Day — a time to reflect, raise awareness, and take action for those experiencing homelessness in our communities.

At the Calgary Drop-In Centre, this day carries special meaning. Since 2016, we’ve reduced chronic homelessness in our shelter by 70% — proof that progress is possible when compassion meets commitment. This achievement belongs to our incredible teams, dedicated housing and health partners, and a community that believes everyone deserves a safe place to call home.

But our work isn’t finished. On this World Homeless Day, we’re reminded that ending homelessness takes more than words — it takes coordinated effort, leadership, and a shared vision for lasting change.

What is chronic homelessness?: Individuals who have spent 75% of the last 365 days at the DI.

Iain De Jong has spent decades working on the front lines of homelessness, helping communities across North America transform their systems and create meaningful pathways out of homelessness. As the founder of OrgCode Consulting, Iain has been a trusted partner to the Calgary Drop-In Centre, guiding our approach to housing-focused shelter operations and system-level change.

In this powerful video, homelessness expert Iain De Jong takes a no-nonsense look at what it truly takes to end chronic homelessness, moving beyond the slogans and into real, lasting solutions. He lays out the 10 essential ingredients communities need to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring, from data-driven decision-making and cross-system collaboration, to leadership that truly leads.

“This isn’t a TED Talk. It’s a wake-up call”, says Iain. “And it’s a blueprint for what’s possible when we all take action”.

CLICK HERE to watch now and be part of the solution.