The Calgary Alpha House Society was established in 1981 as a committed response to a marginalized population of men and women who were addicted to alcohol or other drugs and living vulnerable on the streets of Calgary.

Alpha House’s values and beliefs includes respecting the clients’ right to self-determination as they address the impact of alcoholism and addiction in their lives. The organization strives to develop relationships of trust with clients, working on client-identified objectives from withdrawal management and mental health concerns, to addiction treatment, housing needs and more. The continuum of care model provides services for the challenges and opportunities the client may face.

Alpha House is committed to the well-being of its staff through ongoing training and the promotion of self-care. We provide our staff with cultural and diversity sensitivity training, crisis and trauma informed care training, CPR and other specific training to enhance the compassion and empathy our staff bring to our clients daily.

Calgary Alpha House Society’s History:

• In 1985, the team concept of client care is instituted with four teams made up of a Shift Supervisor, Senior Recovery Aide and a Recovery Aide.
• In 1992, with the help of Royal Canadian Legion No. 1 and Alberta Public Works, a women’s dorm of four beds is opened in Detox.
• Throughout our history we have maintained a small but effective volunteer base of Board members and administration help.
• In June 1993, our first open Friday night Alcoholics Anonymous meeting is held. It remains a popular meeting to this day for men and women in the community.
• In 2005, our Outreach program begins through a partnership with Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) and the Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership (DOAP) is born.
• That same year, we began operating as a 24-hour self-referral facility.
• In 2005, a Development Permit Application is sent to the City of Calgary and this begins our Detox addition and Shelter renovation project.
• In 2006-2008, with community partnerships, we operate a second shelter known as Alpha2 to meet the increased demand due to winter conditions.
• Throughout Alpha House’s history our occupancy rates have remained steady from 85% to l20% for the Shelter and Detox programs.
• Presently we run five programs: Shelter, Outreach (DOAP), Detox, Housing and Encampment.
• 2012, we marked 30 years of community service.
• 2012, opened our first Permanent Supportive Housing building.

OUTREACH

Alpha House provides outreach through its Downtown Outreach Addictions Partnership (DOAP) team. The DOAP Team is a mobile diversion response to street level addiction and public intoxication. It links clients with a broad range of community services across the city. Another outreach team is the Encampment Team. The Encampment Team engages rough sleepers and other clients experiencing homelessness and sleeping outside. The Encampment Team can assess clients with addictions and mental health issues and intervene to address social isolation and marginalization. The Encampment Team and Housing Locators work together to reach rough sleepers and find homes for them in the community.

SHELTER

The 125-person shelter provides a safe and caring environment for men and women with alcohol and other drug dependencies and is available at any time of the day or the night. Clients may be self-referred or referred by addiction services, police, emergency services, hospitals or other agencies. The care, rapport building and support of clients are paramount as addiction withdrawal and mental health issues are stabilized.

DETOX (DOAP/Encampment)

The 42-bed detox centre provides for men and women a place to safely withdraw from alcohol and other drugs and transition to treatment. Twelve of these beds are for transitional clients who need a safe place to stay until they find a permanent home and/or are waiting for addiction treatment.

HOUSING

Alpha House has found homes for over 300 clients since the housing program’s inception. It operates and provides case management support through market housing and three housing projects funded through the Calgary Homeless foundation. As a proud partner in the Resolve Campaign a Women’s Project is slated for opening in 2018. The Housing Program is fully accredited and is grounded in the Housing First Model.VOLUNTEER

Alpha House seeks to promote well-being through community involvement and it’s Volunteer Program. We have an ongoing need for individuals wanting to join our sandwich making group on Thursday afternoon and those who want to serve Sunday lunch to shelter clients. Other individual opportunities include sharing a skill such as arts and crafts and knowledge based presentations related to addiction with our clients. Group activities are also available and include preparing our outreach kits, sandwich making and lunch bagging.

To volunteer with Alpha House, please contact us at [email protected] or 403 237 8341.

DONATE

Your generosity means so much to us. Giver, receiver and gift…it is all connected. We encourage you to consider Direct Giving, Gift in Kind, Sponsoring A Clothing Drive or Hosting a Fundraising Event. We want to work with you.

For more about how to help Alpha House, contact us at  [email protected] or call 403 237 8341.

$100 DOLLARS BUYS:

• A mat and a safe reprieve from the street in our supervised shelter
• Harm reduction and outreach supplies for men and women on the street from our DOAP van
• Support of our nursing and medical support in our on-site clinic

$50 DOLLARS BUYS:

• Meals for 5 detox clients
• Meal service for 10 clients in our shelter
• One knapsack with essentials needed for those new to housing and recovery from our transitional detox beds

$20 DOLLARS BUYS:

• 10 toothbrushes or other hygiene products
• 10 pairs of socks
• 10 plastic reusable bowls

Your support to Alpha House allows us to sustain and grow our programs to benefit our clients. Donating to the Resolve Campaign will see the fruition of our present capital project for marginalized women in Calgary.