A women’s shelter that provides more than just safety, but a second chance

The Salvation Army in Calgary offers a 24-hour shelter for women who need a safe place. It accommodates 18 women fleeing domestic violence, eviction, human trafficking, addiction, or homelessness and gives them a chance to get back on their feet.

“The unique thing about the shelter is that it feels like a home and not an emergency overnight place,” Lisa Harris, West Campus Program Manager, said.

The living space in this shelter gives the women a sense of independence. They have access to laundry, showers, three meals daily, and a bagged lunch provided by the Calgary Centre of Hope. The house has a shared space to chat or play board games.

In the morning, they have enough time to prepare for their day. Most women will head to work, while the others can head over to the resource center, where they can attend classes and look for jobs or housing opportunities with the help of the resource specialist.

Throughout the month, women can attend free classes to help them learn new skills. The staff on-site help teach budgeting, resume writing, goal planning, counselling, grief support, healthy boundary classes, and bible study.

The shelter recently celebrated its first anniversary. The success of this shelter comes from stories shared by women who have already started to make positive changes in their lives.

One of the women suffering from homelessness used the resources available to start college and become a paralegal. She now helps other residents in the same situation she was in.

“The women are given their independence,” explains Lisa. “They can shower, do laundry, and eat whenever they want.”

Calgary has seen an increase in the need for shelters and transitional housing. The shelter has had to divert almost 50 women in a month because of capacity, with some months as high as 100 since reopening in May 2022.

The shelter is still looking to improve its programming. On the property, two cottages are sitting empty waiting on approval to transform into transitional housing for women. This project would allow the women living in the shelter an opportunity to take the next step toward an independent life.

As the staff look to the future, they’ve made a wish list that includes a new kitchen, full-time chef, and an Alberta Health Services Addictions Specialist for the women coming to the shelter with trauma.

“You can learn and be trauma-informed, and this allows you to know the women and know when they’re having an off day,” Lisa explains. “The comfortability to ask if they’re doing ok and know what their baseline is.”

The relationships with the women are essential as it allows trust to build. The past year has seen many women succeed with their goals because of the trust they have with the staff. The Salvation Army will continue to help give hope to many more women coming through their doors and guide them towards a healthy and independent life.