As part of Calgary’s 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness, Calgary Keys to Recovery Society was developed to stop homeless individuals from returning to the streets once they have completed addictions treatment. This is an integral part of Calgary’s sytstem of care.
Vision Statement: To permanently end homelessness with dignity, compassion, and support for adults recovering from addictions.
Mission Statement: Keys to Recovery provides intensive, collaborative case management services, in conjunction with permanent, affordable housing, for highly vulnerable adults who have completed addictions treatment.
By not only providing housing but the support they needed to maintain their sobriety and their housing, last year we PERMANENTLY ended homelessness for 100 men and women. Unlike traditional addictions services, we do not discharge a client if they relapse. Keys to Recovery understands that relapse can be a part of the recovery process but that it doesn’t mean that the person needs to become homeless once again. We continue to support the person, in whatever way they need, in order to get them back on track. This may look different for each individual. For one person it could mean a return to residential treatment. For another, it could mean an outpatient day program. Some may require increased home visits until they stablize once again while others need to be relocated to a different apartment. Our Case Management team will work alonside each client to determine what type of supports are needed.Calgary Keys to Recovery Society (Keys to Recovery) conducts an assessment with each referred individual to ensure that they are highly vulnerable (chronically homeless), low income, mental health and/or chronic physical condition and that they require intensive case management support in order to maintain their housing and their sobriety. We offer scattered-site (a few apartments in various buildings throughout Calgary) and place-based (Keys to Recovery holds a Master Lease for the entire building) single or double occupancy housing options.
Once the individual is accepted, they choose their apartment from available units and a move in date is determined. Basic furnishings (donated) will be provided as well as groceries to get them started. Calgary Keys to Recovery Society will hold the lease on all apartments and will pay the market rental amount directly to the property manager for each apartment. The client will reimburse Calgary Keys to Recovery Society an amount each month based on 30% of their monthly income plus utilities.
Clients are visited by case managers in their homes on a regular basis, depending upon clients’ level of need but ranges from daily to weekly. Upon acceptance and at three month intervals thereafter, case managers will conduct various evidenced based assessments in the following areas: current needs, vocational, physical, mental health, leisure, financial, housing, addictions, and cultural. Based upon these assessments, the case manager will work with the client to develop a service plan, which is also reviewed every three months, and is entirely determined by the client.
Keys to Recovery offers several services in various areas such as addictions counseling/relapse prevention, traditional Aboriginal ceremonies, job or volunteer readiness, psychiatric support, and systems navigation. We also offer 24/7 crisis support.
Keys to Recovery is PERMANENT supportive housing. Due to the high acuity of our clients and their complex needs, there is no maximum length of stay. However, we do have three phases that clients can move through. The first phase is the Stabilization Phase. Here, clients are seen by our psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse who provides a full psychiatric assessment. A mental health plan is developed alongside the client. This phase is from 0-12 months.
The Preparation Phase is the 2nd phase and is from 1-5 years. In this phase, the clients get their high school diploma, access post-secondary education or re-enter the workforce. The clients are preparing for graduation and independence. Keys to Recovery continues to support them with a Rent Geared to Income subsidy, case management and financial assistance for items such as school books, bus tickets, work boots, work clothes, resume and interview preparation, etc.
The 3rd and final phase is the Graduation Phase and is 5+ years in length. This phase involves the client completing post-secondary education, and becoming gainfully employed. The client is stable in their recovery, their employment, and their mental health. They are fully integrated into their communities and are able to be fully independent. They will then become Keys to Recovery Alumni and will be able to become a Peer Support for other Keys to Recovery clients.
Donate
Keys to Recovery has set an initial goal of increasing the organization’s annual budget by $500,000 for this year, which will greatly enhance the opportunities for the success of our clients to transition to normalized living in the community. Your support will make a great impact on our clients’ lives and the City of Calgary as a whole by giving them a chance to become productive members of society. It doesn’t get much better than that!
This is what your support would provide:
$100
$250
$500
$1000
$1500
Volunteer
We are always looking for volunteers who are looking for ways to impact the lives of others in various ways. If you have skills in the following areas and would like to volunteer your time, please call 403-244-5397, extension 212 to arrange an interview.