1) Stronger Together – Help us Raise the Roof
We know that strong, stable homes and relationships are critical to every family’s success and well-being. However, not all families have a support network on which they can rely.
We want to bring this purpose-designed space that will change the landscape of Calgary and social programs for the benefit of the children and families we serve, and the whole community.
Located in the heart of west central Calgary at 3404 Bow Trail SW, this six-storey and 55,000-square-foot building will be accessible to all Calgarians. People of all ages, backgrounds, identities, orientations and abilities will have a place to connect and forge meaningful community relationships while receiving the support and resources needed to create positive futures. Children, youth and adults will access a wide range of programs and services – all under one roof.
For 18 Indigenous families, it will be home. Each unit will provide large living spaces that will offer affordable 2-and-3 bedroom family housing on the top three floors, providing 136 to 174 beds, with 6 accessible units
The new building will provide space and opportunity for Closer to Home to:
Once developed, the facility will function as a social enterprise, thereby strengthening its operational model, creating significant long-term self-sustainability, and resulting in long-term social impact for vulnerable children, youth, families, and communities.
The total cost to construct this beacon of hope for our community is $36.5M. With construction set to begin in 2024, primary financial support for this project (85%) is expected from all three levels of government and mortgage financing to a value of about $30M.
Closer to Home is seeking community support for the remaining $4M – from foundations, corporations, and people like you.
Together, we can bring youth mental health services, cultural teachings and family supporters closer to home.
To learn more, we invite you to watch our Stronger Together video here OR for more information, please visit: www.strongertogethercampaign.ca
2) Summer in the City
Closer to Home’s Summer in the City day camp serves families experiencing financial and language barriers, who may have limited knowledge of or access to community resources, and socio-cultural barriers to community integration. The camp provides children ages 8-14 with opportunities to learn essential values and life skills, including self-confidence, teamwork, communication, inclusion, discipline, respect, education and fair play.
Our Summer in the City camp gives kids the opportunity to participate in recreation and group activities and also get the chance to go on field trips (past camps have gone to the Calgary Zoo, Glenbow Museum, and so much more).
To support Summer in the City, please visit: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/ClosertoHome/youthmh.html
3) Seasons of Hope
Seasons of Hope helps vulnerable families year-round by providing vital resources in a time of urgent need. Support could take the form of rent subsidies, grocery gift cards, covering past due bills, and more. When a family is experiencing a crisis, community members like you can offer a safety net through the Seasons of Hope.
Seasons of Hope creates a community for families who may otherwise feel alone. And by taking care of the immediate needs of a family in crisis, we can introduce them to other Closer to Home support programs to build resilience and skills that will teach parents and kids to define and achieve what success looks like for them.
To learn more about how we support families, please visit: closertohome.com/ways-to-give/hope/