How to find shelter in an emergency?

In situations where a person finds themselves homeless due to various circumstances—job loss, domestic violence, mental health crises, family conflicts, or simply a lack of funds for housing—Calgary offers an extensive system of shelters and emergency support services. The city has a well-organized network of facilities that operate around the clock and provide not only temporary shelter but also comprehensive support to help people get out of crisis situations. This system is designed so that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can find a safe place and get the help they need.

Coordination system and first contact

SORCe (Safe Communities Opportunity & Resource Centre)

The first stop for people in need of shelter should be SORCe, located on the north side of the LRT platform near City Hall at 316, 7th Avenue South East. It is a multi-agency collaboration center that connects people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness with programs and services that can help remove barriers to stable housing.

SORCe operates on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. It is important to understand that SORCe does not have access to emergency housing or emergency financial assistance, but their resource specialists provide information about programs available at SORCe and in the community.

Emergency Contact Numbers

There are several key numbers for initial contact and information about available shelters. 211 is the general number for information about services across Alberta. In a crisis situation where immediate psychological support is needed, the Distress Centre Calgary is available at 403-266-HELP (4357), which operates 24 hours a day.

If you are in immediate danger, always call 911. For non-emergency situations, but when assistance is needed for homeless individuals in a vulnerable state, the HELP Team is available at 403-998-7388.

General shelters for adults

Calgary Drop-In Centre

The Calgary Drop-In Centre is one of the largest and most well-known shelters in North America, located at 1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE. It is a low-barrier, 24-hour emergency shelter that serves as an entry point to housing and reconnection.

The centre provides supervised night and day sleeping accommodations when needed, and provides three meals a day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Packed lunches are available for those who need to leave the facility during the day. The shelter offers hygiene services, including showers, laundry facilities, and hygiene supplies, as well as emergency clothing for those staying at the shelter.

In addition to basic shelter services, the center provides support to vulnerable groups during periods of extreme heat, cold, and other severe weather. Mail, fax, and telephone services, as well as lockers, are also available. The shelter operates on a walk-in basis with no referral or waiting period required.

Alpha House Society

Alpha House Shelter, located at 203 15 Avenue SE, is a unique facility that specializes in providing shelter to people under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The shelter opened on January 18, 1982, in Victoria Park as a safe haven for men and women living vulnerably on the streets of Calgary.

The facility has a maximum capacity of 120 beds and operates 24 hours a day. A person under the influence can show up at 203 15 Ave SE at any time. Alpha House provides a safe and caring environment to reduce harm and vulnerability due to alcohol and drug addiction for those who would otherwise sleep on the streets, in pre-trial detention cells, or in hospitals.

The shelter offers immediate withdrawal management and monitoring of complications due to alcohol and drug use, medical and mental health interventions across the continuum of recovery. Showers and sleeping mats are available, as well as a daily soup kitchen and access to detoxification and residential program assessments.

The Mustard Seed

The Mustard Seed has several locations in Calgary, including Foothills Shelter and a women's shelter. Foothills Shelter, located at 7025 44 St SE, Calgary, AB, T2C 4E8, is a safe and sober space for adults in need of emergency accommodation.

The shelter has a capacity of 370 adults each night and operates 24 hours a day. Transportation to and from the Community Impact Centre in the city centre is provided daily. Contact number: 403.723.9422, email: [email protected].

Women's Shelter The Mustard Seed is located at 110 11 Ave SE, Calgary, AB, T2G 0X5, and is a safe and sober space for adult women in need of emergency accommodation. Beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis at 4:00 p.m., with a capacity of 40 women per night, operating 24 hours a day. Contact number: 587.447.1345, email: [email protected].

Specialized shelters for victims of domestic violence

Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter (FearIsNotLove)

Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter is a leading agency providing hope and support to women, children, youth, and men who have experienced domestic violence and abuse in the community. Operating under the motto “Taking a Stand Against Family Violence” since 1974, the organization has helped over 240,000 Calgarians build safe lives and healthy relationships.

To access the Emergency Shelter or other relevant services, call the toll-free 24-hour domestic violence helpline at 403.234.7233 (SAFE) to speak with a counsellor. A toll-free number is also available at 1.866.606.7233 (SAFE) and TTY: 403.262.2768. During a crisis, the helpline can also be reached by email at [email protected] or by text at 403.604.6689.

The shelter is located at 1509 Centre St S, Calgary, AB T2G 2E6. Emergency Shelter houses women with children and single women who are experiencing domestic violence and abuse, providing a safe haven from violence. Often, women arrive at the shelter with very few belongings, so the facility is equipped to help each woman and her family meet their basic needs, including food, clothing, and hygiene supplies.

During their stay at the shelter, clients receive and can use the following services and support free of charge: a furnished bedroom, including blankets and bedding; food and hygiene products; a change of clothes and nightwear; diapers, formula, and other baby supplies; safety planning; Court Program; individual and group counseling; community resources.

The shelter now has two pet rooms, making it easier for women with pets to escape abuse. The lack of space for pets often prevents women from leaving abusive situations, or some consider returning to their partner because they fear for the safety of their pets.

Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society

Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society is a 32-bed, full-service women's emergency shelter in Calgary dedicated to providing services to women and children from all cultures. The shelter operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with counselors on site and on call available at any time. To access the shelter, call the crisis line: 403-531-1972 or 403-531-1976. Women and children can stay at the shelter for up to three weeks. Awo Taan supports clients with resources to help ensure they do not return to abusive situations.

The name Awo Taan means “shield” in the Blackfoot language, and the shelter embodies a protective shield for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Offering a unique atmosphere where traditional holistic and spiritual teachings of Indigenous peoples are practiced, Awo Taan provides a culturally appropriate and highly effective environment for families to overcome trauma.

YW Calgary Emergency Shelter (YW Crisis Shelter)

YW Crisis Shelter is a short-term crisis shelter for women and their children who are leaving domestic violence and abuse. The shelter provides basic necessities, including food and personal items, as well as individual counseling and support for domestic violence.

To register, call the YW 24-hour crisis line at 403.266.0707. For email support, write to [email protected], but please note that this email is not monitored 24 hours a day.

During their stay and after, women and children can also receive individual support and referrals to help children understand and process their experiences and feelings in a safe and supportive environment. Women who leave the shelter and move into the community can continue to receive support from the YW Outreach Supports team.

Family shelters

Inn from the Cold

Inn from the Cold provides support to families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 24-hour support line: 403 263 8384. If you and your family are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, please contact them.

The Emergency Family Shelter Program provides temporary emergency shelter to families when they cannot remain in their existing homes and have nowhere else to go. If you and your family are facing eviction or have recently become homeless, the organization is ready to help. The shelter will provide your family with a safe roof over your heads, and your family will stay together in a semi-private environment that includes access to three healthy meals and snacks each day. During your stay, the family support team will work with you to find new housing as quickly as possible and provide the support you need to achieve housing independence.

Inn from the Cold also assists families with basic needs such as clothing, footwear, hygiene products, children's items, and special supplies for your child or young adult. These supplies may include sports and recreational equipment and special items for school and for celebrating birthdays, holidays, and cultural celebrations.

Services are intended for families in the Calgary area with a pregnant mother or children under 18 who are at risk of losing their home. There is no cost to families staying at the shelter; all services and support provided during their stay are free of charge.

The Children's Cottage Society – Brenda's House

Brenda's House, operated by The Children's Cottage Society, is located at 1921 28 Street SW and can be reached at 403-242-8575. This facility specializes in providing shelter to families with children.

Youth Shelters and Programs

Avenue 15 (Trellis Society)

Avenue 15 provides temporary shelter and basic necessities to youth aged 12 to 17 who are experiencing homelessness. A comprehensive support system is also provided to help youth reunite with their families or find alternative housing arrangements.

During their stay at Avenue 15, opportunities are created to gain the skills and stability necessary to reconnect with family or to succeed in other housing arrangements. Assistance is also provided with things such as family mediation, school, employment support, money management, recreation, healthy living, and life skills development.

Aura (LGBTQ2S+ Housing Program)

The Trellis Society's Aura program is a Housing First program for youth aged 14-24 that works with LGBTQ2S+, gender non-binary, and gender non-conforming youth who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness. Contact number: 587-779-5015.

McMan Calgary Youth Housing Supports (Hope Homes)

The Hope Homes program assists youth in finding safe and stable housing options and offers individualized support for youth aged 17-24 who are experiencing homelessness. The program operates under the Housing First, Recovery Oriented System of Care, and Trauma Informed Practice models.

All referrals to Hope Homes come through Coordinated Assessment and Access (CAA). All youth must be assessed through the Safe Communities Opportunity and Resource Centre (SORCe), which is sent to the CAA desk, which then sends the referral to Hope Homes. Self-referrals are not accepted.

Calgary John Howard Society (Roofs for Youth)

Roofs for Youth is a supportive housing program that provides case management and clinical support to 50 young people (aged 15-24) who are experiencing episodic or chronic homelessness and are involved in the criminal justice system or at risk of such involvement.

Warming centre systems and extreme weather

Extreme Weather Response Program

Calgary has a special program called Extreme Weather Response (EWR), formerly known as Coordinated Community Extreme Weather Response, which is in its third year of a five-year cycle. The program provides warming centers that can accommodate up to 400 homeless Calgarians and connect them to night shelters, among other resources.

The program runs from December 1 to March 31. The warming centres are open to everyone and provide buses to night shelters where possible. The warming centres' hours of operation have been extended this year into the early evening, in part to better facilitate transportation to night shelters.

The Mustard Seed Warming Centre

Each winter, The Mustard Seed extends its drop-in hours through its Warming Centre, located in downtown Calgary at the Community Impact Centre (CIC). With support from the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), the City of Calgary, and Coordinated Community Extreme Weather Response (CCEWR), the Warming Centre provides coffee, snacks, extended hours, buses to other shelters, and hot meals for guests seeking respite from the cold winter temperatures.

Journey Church Warming Centre

Journey Church, in partnership with the Calgary Homeless Society and the City of Calgary, has created a Warming Centre that operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Drop-in Warming Centre helps those in need of respite from the cold with hot drinks, homemade soups, and snacks to meet physical needs.

Shuttle Services

From December to March, free bus services are available to transport people who sleep at LRT stations to emergency shelters. Emergency Shelter Shuttles operate seven days a week between 10:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. on the South Line and Northeast Line.

Buses run from Somerset LRT station, Anderson LRT station, Rundle LRT station, and Marlborough LRT station to the Drop-In Centre/Alpha House. Each shuttle bus has a maximum capacity of 30 people. A maximum of two bags per person is allowed, in accordance with emergency shelter requirements.

Financial Assistance and Support

Emergency Needs Allowance

The Province of Alberta provides emergency financial assistance through the Emergency Needs Allowance program. You may be eligible for assistance when the situation is caused by unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, poses a serious health risk, and you cannot access other resources or wait until your next paycheck or Income Support benefit.

If you are currently receiving Income Support or AISH, call your designated centre. If you do not know your contact centre, call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.

Outside of regular business hours, the Income Support Contact Centre will assess eligibility for the following benefits over the phone: food, transportation, temporary shelter, medication, medical supplies. All other emergency benefits must be obtained through your assigned centre.

Basic Needs Fund

The Basic Needs Fund offers emergency support to individuals and families in financial crisis with a one-time grant to address an immediate need. Assistance through this program is designed to help individuals and families dealing with an emergency situation, such as sudden job loss or unexpected illness.

The Basic Needs Fund is administered by the Distress Centre. Last year, $136,091 was distributed among 86 families and 79 individuals in need of financial assistance. To inquire about receiving assistance through the Basic Needs Fund, call 2-1-1.

Rent Assistance Benefit

Calgary Housing Company administers the Rent Assistance Benefit (RAB) Program in Calgary and Chalmers. Recipient households living in market-rate rental housing in Calgary will receive monthly assistance to subsidize their housing costs.

The amount of assistance is the difference between what would be an affordable rent (30 percent of the recipient household's total income or the basic shelter rate for private housing) and the market rent for the unit, up to a maximum subsidy of $900.

Mental Health Services and Crisis Support

Distress Centre Calgary

Distress Centre Calgary provides 24/7 crisis support by phone, text, and chat to Calgary and southern Alberta. Anyone can contact the Distress Centre when they are in crisis to talk to a highly trained responder, receive emotional support, and feel heard.

  • Phone or text: 403-266-HELP (403-266-4357)

  • Online chat: select the message icon in the lower right corner of the screen

All conversations are confidential. In 2024, the Distress Centre supported 8,203 unique individuals in the Coordinated Entry program, providing 18,737 services through a coordinated, trauma-informed approach.

ConnecTeen

ConnecTeen is a youth support program operating under the umbrella of the Distress Centre Calgary. Youth can call 403-264-TEEN (8336). It is a free, confidential service that operates locally.

Access Mental Health

Access Mental Health is a free service for Calgarians of all ages seeking mental health support or addiction treatment.

  • Available Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 403-943-1500
  • No referral required

Recovery Alberta

Recovery Alberta offers 24/7 support for mental health and addiction treatment.

  • For mental health support: 1-877-303-2642
  • For addiction-related issues: 1-866-332-2322

Special Populations

LGBTQ2S+ Support

Calgary Outlink is a hub for gender and sexually diverse people to connect with community and support. The organization's mission is to make Calgary Outlink a point of connection for gender and sexually diverse people with community and support.

The Centre for Sexuality offers various programs, including Camp fYrefly, a leadership retreat for Two Spirit and LGBTQ+ youth aged 14–24.

Indigenous Peoples

Awo Taan Healing Lodge provides culturally sensitive programs for Indigenous women and their family members. The lodge offers a unique environment where traditional Indigenous holistic and spiritual teachings are practiced, providing a culturally appropriate and highly effective environment for families. The Aboriginal Friendship Centre also participates in the Extreme Weather Response program, providing warming centers with cultural services, including opportunities for sacred ceremonies and conversations with elders.

Transportation Services and Access

Calgary Transit provides various services to support access to shelters. As part of the Extreme Weather Response program, free shuttle buses operate from major LRT stations to shelters. Regular LRT services are also available for those who wish to be transported to a shelter.

People traveling by transit to a shelter may not need a ticket—simply inform the Transit Officer that you are going to a shelter. Transit Watch can be reached at 403-262-1000 or by texting 74100 to report immediate safety concerns.

Calgary's shelter and support system is a comprehensive, multi-tiered network designed to ensure that every person in crisis has access to a safe place and the help they need. From financial support to psychological services and specialized programs for vulnerable groups, the city provides a variety of support options aimed at long-term solutions and community integration. If you or someone you know needs help, don't hesitate to reach out for support — these services are designed for your safety and well-being.