Our work
Who We Are
The Heart Home Network serves people at risk of family violence by providing a safe housing environment and comprehensive support services for its residents, so that they can transition to living stable lives free of abuse in the community. We provide essential services such as safe housing, first necessity items, counseling, and educational/recreational programs.
The Brenda Strafford Foundation Ltd. (BSF) was established on August 15, 1975, by Dr. Barrie I. Strafford, to honour his late wife, Brenda Strafford, who tragically passed away in a car accident in 1974.
BSF owns and operates Heart Home Network (HHN), a shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence. HHN is one of the largest second stage shelters in Canada serving a diverse group of women, youth and children who are disproportionately impacted by family violence including 29% Indigenous families and the overarching 79% people of colour (POC). HHN provides shelter, comprehensive counselling, child/youth/parenting programs, and wrap-around support services.
In 2022, Heart Home Network (formerly The Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, BSS), founded by Dr. Strafford in 1996 to meet service gap needs for women and children impacted by domestic violence, officially amalgamated with The BSF as a united entity reflecting a new strategic direction under the banner ‘BSF Cares’ with a specific focus on innovation and response to emerging social needs and gaps in service.
Our Programs
Secure Housing: Second-Stage Shelter (34 units) and Progressive Housing (51 units). Primarily two-bedroom units for mothers and their children.
Food Program: Food Pantry with staple foods, fresh refrigerated food, spices, and non-perishable items from the Calgary Food Bank are stored. The Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Centre located nearby provides free fresh produce weekly.
Adult Services: Counsellors help clients settle into the building, provide emotional support, and assist with finances, education, and employment. Parenting Group and Women’s Support Group is a judgement-free place for women to learn more about themselves and how to care for their children. Workshops are available for resume building, interview preparation, and legal matters. Our Brighter Futures program helps foster workplace and life skills development.
Child Services: Child and Youth Counsellors offer play and art therapy for kids ages 4+ as well as mental health referrals. Outcomes targeted in counselling range from mental health to social skills, confidence, and education.
Our Child Development Center provides trauma-informed supervised programming for children 0-12, free of cost. The curriculum focuses on attainment of positive attachments as well as developmental and social-emotional milestones. We provide a safe environment where children can engage in positive learning opportunities, which values children as co-creators of their environment and the world around them.
Counseling and Case Management
Counsellors and Case Managers address needs, set goals, and develop programming to help our clients build resiliency. Even with the increasing demand for counseling services, residents typically attend at least one appointment per week. If a client has a need or is facing a barrier, the team will work creatively to find resources and support to meet that need or to remove the barrier.
Housing Locator and Landlord Coordinator
After the Second Stage period has ended, clients decide whether to move into Progressive Housing or find alternative housing in the community. Our Housing Locator helps clients decide what is best for them and their families, based on their monthly finances. Our Landlord Coordinator is here to help clients with day-to-day matters, necessary repairs, signing leases, move in and move out inspections, and ensuring timely payment of rent.
Critical Capital Infrastructure Needs – 2026/27
Project Dignity is a proactive investment in safety, dignity, and sustainability—ensuring that families fleeing violence are not only sheltered, but supported in homes designed for healing, stability, and long-term recovery.
Overview
Project Dignity is a coordinated, two-phase capital renewal initiative led by The Brenda Strafford Foundation through its Heart Home Network in Calgary, Alberta. Heart Home Network operates one of the city’s largest post-emergency housing programs for women and children fleeing domestic violence, providing 34 units of Second-Stage Shelter and 51 units of Progressive Housing. These 85 homes serve as a critical bridge between crisis and long-term independence, supporting stabilization, healing, and reintegration into the community.
After years of continuous, high demand use and limited capital reinvestment, the facility faces both infrastructure strain and declining interior unit conditions. Project Dignity responds through a phased capital strategy designed to stabilize core building systems first, then restore environmental dignity within individual homes—ensuring safety, sustainability, and long-term impact.
Phase One: Building Systems & Climate Control
Phase One focuses on urgent, foundational building systems required to ensure resident safety, physical health, and long-term asset protection. Specifically, this phase addresses the replacement of aging HVAC systems and the installation of individual suite climate controls across all 85 units.
In Calgary’s extreme climate, consistent heating and cooling are essential for trauma-impacted residents, particularly children. Current system failures compromise comfort, increase health risks, and threaten the reliability of these healing spaces.
Planned Phase One outcomes include:
- Replacement of roof-mounted VRV units
- Installation of 51 new high-efficiency split systems
- Individual wall climate controllers in all 85 suites
- Improved energy efficiency and reduced risk of system-wide failure
From a dignity and trauma-informed care perspective, Phase One restores resident autonomy by allowing families to control their own living environment—an essential component of recovery for individuals who have experienced domestic violence. From an asset-management perspective, these upgrades are expected to extend the operational lifespan of the facility by an estimated 15–20 years, protecting a vital community resource.
Phase Two: Unit Renewal & Environmental Dignity
Phase Two builds intentionally on the stabilized infrastructure established through Phase One by addressing long-deferred interior capital renewal across all 85 homes. While structurally sound, many units currently suffer from worn furniture, aging finishes, and outdated kitchens and bathrooms that undermine habitability and resident well-being.
Phase Two scope includes:
- Replacement of furniture and beds
- Kitchen upgrades with modern, energy-efficient appliances
- Bathroom improvements
- Drywall repair and fresh paint throughout
- Installation of durable flooring suitable for high-use supportive housing
These upgrades directly impact health, mental well-being, and a sense of safety—particularly for women and children recovering from trauma. Clean, well-maintained, trauma-informed environments reduce stress, support healing, and reinforce dignity and self-worth during a critical period of rebuilding.
Integrated Impact
Together, Phase One and Phase Two form a single, cohesive capital reinvestment strategy that advances three core outcomes:
- Resident Safety, Autonomy, and Healing
Reliable climate control and dignified, well-maintained interiors create environments where trauma-impacted families can stabilize, heal, and focus on education, employment, and parenting. - Asset Protection and Long-Term Sustainability
Strategic reinvestment protects existing housing stock, reduces deferred maintenance, lowers long-term operational costs, and prevents unit loss in a constrained housing market. - Community Benefit and Homelessness Prevention
By preserving deeply affordable, non-market housing paired with wrap-around supports, Project Dignity reduces reliance on emergency systems and strengthens long-term community stability.
Organizational Capacity
The Brenda Strafford Foundation brings deep technical, operational, and governance expertise to Project Dignity through its Heart Home Network. The organization has a strong track record in capital project planning, trauma-informed housing delivery, and long-term asset stewardship. Calgary-based leadership ensures strong local partnerships, effective project oversight, and alignment with municipal, provincial, and philanthropic priorities.
Budget Outlines
Phase One – Building Systems & Climate Control
Total: $1,184,222
- Electrical – Power & Controls: $375,000
- Equipment & Materials (VRV units, split systems, controls): $420,300
- Labour & Installation (mechanical, coring, patch & paint, commissioning): $230,000
- GST: $51,265
- Contingency (10%): $107,657
Purpose: Life-safety, climate stability, asset protection, and resident autonomy.
Phase Two – Unit Renewal & Environmental Dignity
Total: $1,116,000
- Furniture & Beds: $310,000
- Kitchen Upgrades & Appliances: $285,000
- Bathroom Improvements: $165,000
- Drywall, Paint & Repairs: $145,000
- Durable Flooring: $160,000
- Project Management / Contingency: $51,000
Purpose: Trauma‑informed interiors, dignity, habitability, and long-term livability.
Total Project Dignity (Two Phases Combined)
One Bottom Line: $2,300,222
Registered Charity
CRA Registered Charity Number: #105198873RR0001