2024 Impact Report
Because
everyone deserves
a place to
call home.
Building Sustainable Solutions That Last
Calgary Housing is building more than homes—we’re creating the foundation for self-sustaining, perpetually affordable housing by developing and redeveloping lands.
Calgary Housing has a decades-long history of supporting Calgarians in need of housing assistance. That commitment remains at the heart of our work. But in 2024 we were building something more: a full-spectrum organization designed not just to operate affordable housing, but to act as a steward of lands to develop, manage, and sustain affordable housing as a permanent asset to the community.
Our newest development project in Southview illustrates what this future looks like. Formerly the site of a traditional social housing complex that had reached end of life, the land was transferred to Calgary Housing for complete redevelopment. In 2024, work began on transforming the site into a modern, mixed-income community with several hundred new homes—designed to reflect today’s needs and tomorrow’s possibilities. This is Calgary Housing’s first project where we are leading the development as both landowner and builder—a defining step in our expanded role.
This project marks a meaningful step in the growth of affordable housing—and reflects a broader shift in how Calgary Housing delivers value. As land stewards, we manage housing assets for long-term community benefit. As developers, we take projects from concept through construction. As operators, we provide safe, stable homes for more than 25,000 Calgarians. And through our mixed-income model, we create financially sustainable, perpetually affordable housing that isn’t dependent on ongoing government subsidy.
In 2024, Calgary Housing also reached a critical milestone in transitioning its community housing portfolio—nearly 1,000 homes—into the mixed-income model. Previously operated under legacy funding agreements, this transition is supported by a renewed commitment from our government partners and is being implemented without displacement of residents. By the end of the renewed agreement the portfolio will be self-sustaining for its operations and maintenance–the largest such transition in Canada.
This is one more example of how we’re strengthening our foundation to grow: evolving older models into self-sustaining, resilient housing that reflects today’s realities and prepares us for tomorrow’s needs. It is a critically important achievement as Calgary Housing continues to advance discussions with our partners on transitioning additional portfolios.
This is how we’ll grow to serve 40,000 Calgarians over the next decade: by combining operational excellence with thoughtful development and long-term stewardship of lands for perpetually affordable housing. It’s how we help Calgary respond to the affordable housing crisis—by sustaining what we have, developing what we need, and providing safe, stable homes for people not well served by the private market.
Want to learn more about Calgary Housing? Click here
© Copyright Calgary Housing 2025
Patricia moved to Louise Station to be closer to work. What she found was a chance to help build the kind of community everyone wants.
Back in 2016, Patricia worked at a business close to Louise Station, a Calgary Housing residence. She was living by the airport at the time, and it was a 45-minute drive downtown. Her rent was expensive for a basement suite. She looked up rentals on Rent Faster and was able to secure a home at Louise Station.
“I was so happy because I loved the area,” she said.
When she moved into the space, the single mother mostly kept to herself. She focused on taking care of her son and didn’t socialize with the people in the apartment building. People had warned her about the residence and community, and she heeded their warnings.
“There were people I [would] say hi to everyday, but I didn’t know their names. We got to know each other, even though we couldn’t be around each other much, we would space out and chat,” Patricia said.
After dealing with intense feelings of isolation and loneliness during the pandemic, Patricia began to slowly engage with her community. When the resident group called to say they were going shopping at Fresh Routes, a mobile grocery store, she started joining in.
Slowly, her comfort and confidence grew. She signed up for Calgary Dollars, a program that builds social and economic capital for residents, where they can earn Calgary Dollars for supporting their communities through a variety of tasks. Those dollars can then be used to pay a portion of rent at Louise Station and can be used with some local businesses. Patricia became the volunteer ambassador for the program when the position opened.
“Patricia is awesome, lovely and super resilient,” says Natalie, Calgary Dollars Housing Co-Manager. “She’ll take the good when it comes and when it gets hard, she’ll still stick around and try her best to deal with adversity,” she adds.
Patricia joined the Louise Station Tenant Advisory Group to bring resident concerns to Calgary Housing and take action.
“I don’t like saying ‘It’s not my job,’” she said regarding residents coming to her with concerns about the building.
"It’s my community. I should be concerned.”
It starts a domino effect, she finds. By showing she cares deeply for the community and the shared living space, Patricia observes that other residents start caring too.
She also began hosting virtual socials, creating a place to meet online between Louise Station and Manchester, another Calgary Housing residence.
“I got to know a lot of residents that way too, which was so nice,” she said.
Patricia’s leadership in her community soon extended to organizing cultural events to reduce stigmas and celebrate the various cultures among residents. She also puts together a monthly coffee time for Calgary Housing, Calgary Dollars and residents. The groups can meet to work out problems and connect over coffee and treats.
Patricia is a quiet leader. She is lovingly building the community that everybody wants and needs. She is breaking down barriers, not only for herself, but for those around her.
"What other people want is important to me.”
Sometimes it’s a language barrier, where residents struggle to write down their concerns. Sometimes it’s a technology barrier, when it’s hard for her fellow residents to write an email or they don’t have access to a computer. And sometimes she’s just connected and talking to residents, so she’ll make sure they replied to the holiday party invite. It’s about creating a place where everyone knows they belong.
“Those barriers come crashing down when you make it easy for people.”
Her son, who is now a young adult, is benefitting from her nurturing community. He loves his apartment building and doesn’t want to leave.
“He’ll have to move out at some point, right?” she said with a laugh.
Housing Options That Reflect Calgary’s Needs
We offer a range of housing and rent support programs tailored to income levels and family needs. Our mixed-income model helps build inclusive, financially sustainable communities.
Program Overview
Program | How It Works | Who it Supports |
|---|---|---|
Social Housing | Deep subsidy
(30% of income) | Households with very low incomes |
Affordable Housing | ~30% below market | Moderate-income families, seniors, and individuals |
Near-Market Housing | ~10% below average rents | Working households with moderate-income |
Rent Assistance | Monthly subsidy for use in private rental market | Renters needing flexibility and choice |
Demographic Highlights
55% of residents are children or youth
Many households are led by single parents or seniors
Majority earn employment income or receive a pension
Nearly 1 in 5 identify as Indigenous or racialized
Quick Facts
25K+
residents supported
7K+
homes under management
2.5K+
households supported through rent assistance
200+
Mixed-income communities across the city
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Delivered in partnership with The City of Calgary, the Province of Alberta, and the Government of Canada.
About Calgary Housing
Calgary Housing is the largest operator of affordable housing in Calgary and Alberta’s leading provider of affordable housing. Every day, we support more than 25,000 Calgarians through housing programs that promote stability, dignity, and inclusion.
Financial Summary
Calgary Housing’s 2024 Financials received a clean audit opinion and highlight our strengthening financial position.
In a period of ten years, CH has increased its total assets from $122M in 2015, to $202M in 2024. As a result of growing assets and decreasing liabilities, CH shifted from a net debt position of $3M ten years ago, to a net asset position of $48M in 2024.
In 2024, this trend was supported by healthy surpluses in the surplus generating portfolios and lower deficits required to fund the deficit funded portfolios. Surpluses were partially used to reduce the accumulated operating deficit as a result of the Asset Retirement Obligation standard implementation with the remainder allocated to reserves in line with policy and agreements.
Operating reserves are fully funded, capital reserves remain significantly below target at 27%. Progress has been made, and the organization is on track to meet long-term savings goals for lifecycle maintenance requirements of both CH and City portfolios.
Capital development efforts have advanced well. CH has also utilized 75% of the 2024 CH capital budget for CH-owned existing assets utilized across lifecycle maintenance, vehicles, and warehouse investments.
Calgary Housing is well positioned with a strong balance sheet to continue to invest to increase housing supply.
$202M
CH increased its total assets from $122M in 2015, to $202M in 2024
$48M
As a result of growing assets and decreasing liabilities, CH shifted from a net debt position of $3M ten years ago, to a net asset position of $48M in 2024
↑↓
In 2024, this trend was supported by healthy surpluses in the surplus generating portfolios and lower deficits required to fund the deficit funded portfolios.
Introduction
At Calgary Housing, we understand that a home is more than a place to live—it’s the foundation for stability, dignity, and opportunity. In a city facing serious housing challenges, we deliver homes that change lives, support communities, and create real pathways forward.
Every day, we provide safe, affordable housing for thousands of Calgarians—and we’re evolving to meet the future. Through bold new approaches like mixed-income communities, strategic asset management, and a growing role in development, Calgary Housing is stepping up in a big way—not just as a landlord, but as a vital player in the future of housing.
Vision, Mission & Strategic Priorities
Vision
To be the leading affordable housing provider in Canada supporting individual well-being and inclusive community building.
Mission
Make life better for Calgarians by providing safe and affordable housing that enables positive social outcomes.
Strategic Priorities
Calgary Housing’s Board has endorsed three strategic priorities to guide our work. Watch for these icons in this report to see the alignment of various initiatives and achievements with these priorities.
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1
Empower Applicant and Resident Success
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2
Enhance Asset and Financial Performance
STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3
Become a Centre of Excellence Within the Affordable Housing Sector
The Need for Affordable Housing
Strong Leadership, Public Accountability
Calgary Housing is a wholly owned subsidiary of The City of Calgary. We are governed by an independent Board of Directors and led by a professional Executive Leadership Team responsible for day-to-day operations and strategic execution. Our reporting structure ensures strong public oversight and accountability while enabling Calgary Housing to operate as a responsive, effective, and client-focused housing provider.
Organizational Reporting Structure
This structure reflects our unique mandate as both a public entity and a community housing provider.
Board of Directors
Anna Nelson – Citizen Member (Chair)
Aaron Brown – City Administration
Adam Rock – Citizen Member
Alkarim Devani – Citizen Member
Councillor Courtney Walcott – Calgary City Council
Erendira Cervantes-Altamirano – City Administration
Ellen Wright – Citizen Member
Councillor Evan Spencer – Calgary City Council
Jade Getz – Citizen Member
Jauvonne Kitto – Citizen Member
Jill Mackenzie – Citizen Member
Kelley Fiske-Nielsen – Citizen Member
Councillor Kourtney Penner - Calgary City Council (Q1-Q2)
Simon Rainsbury – Citizen Member
Councillor Terry Wong – Calgary City Council
Victoria Bradbury - Citizen Member (Q1-Q2)
Will Bridge - Citizen Member (Q1-Q2)
Executive Leadership Team
Sarah Woodgate – President & CEO
Aminda Galappaththi – VP, Portfolio Mgmt. and Exec. Operating Officer
Maureen Swanson – VP, Business Strategy
Bo Jiang – VP, Assets & Development
George Abdelmessih – VP, Customer Experience
Jana Tchinkova – Chief Finance & Risk Officer
Chantal Robitaille - Chief of Staff (Q1-Q2)
Alexis Poirier - Chief of Staff (Q3-Q4)
RESIDENT SUCCESS
A Quiet Leader Builds Connection
Our Impact:
Stories of Transformation
OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Rising to the Moment
DEVELOPMENT EVOLUTION
A Mission to Build: Calgary Housing Takes on the Development Function
Empowering Individuals and Building Community
Short stories about how building communities and connections is creating resilience and transforming lives.
Calgary Housing residents are part of the communities they live in—and like any Calgarians, they care about their neighbours and the places they call home. But the story works both ways. In Edgemont, a local resident—a mechanic we’ll call Sam—shows how a simple act of kindness helped connect kids, bikes, and community.
Sam, who is a neighbour of the Edgemont Calgary Housing residences, found himself running a little community bike repair session with the youth there. Sam has been a long-standing volunteer at the breakfast club at the complex and was approached by Calgary Housing to see if he could repair a child’s bike after it was run over by a car. A mechanic by trade, Sam did what he could realigning the rim.
The child’s sibling then brought another bike, this one had a flat tire. The tire needed a new inner tube, so Sam took it home to repair it.
When he brought it back on the following Saturday, the youngsters had told their friends.
“We just had a horde of kids with bikes with some things that could be fixed and some things that were not fixable,” said Sam, who didn’t want to be identified for this story.
“It was not meant to be anything spectacular… It just happened to be the odd screw to be adjusted and oil to be squirted, and the kids were pretty happy about it,” he added.
Sam feels a strong sense of community in his volunteer work and his ability to help. He just wants to show up and do the job, and if he gets a couple ‘thank yous’ and some smiles, that’s enough.
He recalled how, growing up, bikes were in constant need of repair and anyone with the tools or know-how to fix them were like “gold.”
And if the kids need more repairs?
“The kids know that they can find me here,” said Sam..jpg)
"I came from a community like this, this is how I grew up. When we had bikes, it was freedom.”
Sam
MechanicKids want to play. At Calgary Housing’s Montgomery property, it’s basketball. The kids in the community set up their own makeshift court in the parking lot. Uneven asphalt covered with gravel, cars interrupting the game, a net that would tip over unexpectedly… and sometimes, complaints about the noise.
Then a resident father, Mohamed, and some other residents stepped in. They approached Calgary Housing about the need for a safe place for the kids.
Together, they applied for a Calgary Foundation grant for the community to build a court, benches and a vegetable garden. The grant was approved and administered by Umoja Community Mosaic.
The projects brought the community together. They worked with a contractor, support from Calgary Housing staff, and efforts from many of the residents and youth. Together, they all pitched in to create a safe place to gather and play.
The successful effort has led to strong feelings of connection and collaboration in the community. Residents came together to voice their concerns and created a positive addition to their shared space. Collectively, residents also learned valuable skills in how to make change in their community, while the youth now understand how to make their voices heard. They look out for their community and each other. Rather than watching out for traffic, the kids spend their time sharpening their ball skills.
And, as a bit of cherry on top, Mohamed received a Good Neighbour Award from Calgary Housing for his leadership and community efforts.The residents at Temple saw opportunity in their shared space—a chance to refresh the aging surroundings and create something better for their families and neighbours. While some features, like fencing and gathering areas, had seen better days, the residents were ready to reimagine what was possible.
Together, they brought forward ideas and, with Calgary Housing’s support, applied for a grant through the Calgary Foundation, administered by Women in Need Society (WINS), who already run programs on-site. Their vision soon became action. Over the course of the summer, residents built garden boxes, put benches together and painted fences. Beyond the physical improvements, they were building a strong and resilient community where neighbours know and watch out for each other. They invested in their shared space, and it was a labour of love. The children now have a place to be and play together, and the shared space creates a collective feeling of vibrancy and connection.
The space now includes benches, picnic tables, community gardens, murals and colourful garbage bins. Residents are already planning on planting together in the spring, sowing seeds that will grow their connections to their homes and each other.
The idea of a breakfast club came up 13 years ago. The principal of the local school in the community of Edgemont realized that some youth didn’t have access to enough food. She started providing food in the classroom and approached the Edgemont Community Association to help.
When community member, Barb, heard about this, she was compelled to help out.
“You want a breakfast club? I can get it going,” she said.
And so, the breakfast club at the Calgary Housing’s Edgemont complex was born. It provides lunches and food for residents who need it. Through the club, residents and volunteers started slowly building connections and trust.
"The families got to know each other through this and are not as isolated [anymore],"
BarbCommunity member
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Calgary Housing staff and volunteers are building a strong community that provides for everyone. Volunteers say that there is now a real sense of belonging and connection.
Barb finds funding for the club through grant writing and local business donations. She also has funds donated every year by friends and family.
Barb feels like the perception of safety immediately increased in the community once breakfast club launched. Residents and neighbours were connecting more, and it led to even more community initiatives like community gardens and little libraries. Edgemont breakfast club shows when residents and neighbours get to know each other, and look out for one another, it can build a lasting sense of belonging.
Rental Assistance
A Lifeline in the Rental Market
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Unlike other Calgary Housing programs, the Rent Assistance Benefit offers flexibility by allowing residents to find housing in the private rental market that meets their specific needs. This could mean staying in their current home if affordability has become a challenge. Or it could mean securing a home that Calgary Housing doesn’t have available—such as one with accessibility features, a specific location, or enough bedrooms for a larger family. The benefit helps cover a portion of the rent, giving eligible residents more choice and stability, even when a suitable Calgary Housing unit isn’t available.
The benefit provides a maximum of $900 towards rent and there are few requirements for the program. Applicants need to have less than $25,000 in the bank, be living on a lower-income, and have a current lease in good standing with their landlord.
There are no restrictions beyond these criteria. Residents can access other government funded programs such as Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) or Income Support or be living on a pension.
The impact of RAB is tremendous.
"It’s a lifeline for some residents. It’s a lot of single parents accessing the program who are really grasping right now.”
Deborah
Rent Supplement Administrator
The Rent Assistance Benefit plays a vital role in supporting individuals and families facing affordability challenges. By providing a subsidy that can be used in the private rental market, it offers immediate relief without requiring a wait for new housing to be built. In a time when the cost of living is putting pressure on many Calgarians, this program helps those on lower-incomes find and keep stable housing that meets their needs.
“I truly don’t know what I would do if I was [without RAB],” says a resident currently receiving rent assistance. “With the cost of living now, groceries, and the fact that Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is no longer covering my son’s daycare fees – he is in special needs care for his disabilities. I really appreciate everything this program does for me, and I am so grateful for the help I receive.”
Not all affordable housing comes with a Calgary Housing front door. For many Calgarians, support comes through rent assistance—a flexible, often overlooked program that helps people cover rent in the private market. It’s a solution for those who already have a suitable home they can’t afford, for those who need a location or unit type Calgary Housing doesn’t offer, and for expanding support without waiting on new construction. It’s a powerful tool in Calgary’s housing system—and it’s growing.
The Rent Assistance Benefit (RAB) provides long-term rent support for those living on a lower-income in Calgary. The program has been running for nearly 15 years and supports approximately 1,650 residents. It is funded by the Government of Alberta under the Rent Assistance Program.
The Rent Assistance Benefit is used to offset a portion of the rent a recipient pays to a private landlord—whether that’s a small independent owner or a larger rental company. Acceptance into the program is based on applicant needs, but residents cannot be admitted into a Calgary Housing residence if they accept the RAB.
