Calgary Drop-In Centre Society

It is sad that there is a need for places like the Calgary Drop-​In Centre (DI) but since there is a need for facilities like this the Drop-​In Centre is like a lighthouse in the storm of many people’s lives.
The DI has been serving the homeless in Calgary since 1961 and it was originally operated through a joint initiative of the Roman Catholic Diocese and the Calgary Interfaith Community Action Committee. The DI is now an incorporated, non-​denominational, non-​profit, charitable organization and funding comes through many sources and you can find out detailed information at the DI website at
Although the DI is run by full-​time staff, the DI relies heavily on the help of volunteers to help run the many programs it provides.
I had the opportunity of volunteering to dish up meals one evening. It was the first time I had been in the DI. I never realized the scope of what the DI does and being there and seeing the faces of the poor has made the plight of the homeless a reality to me. It is easy to think that people who make use of the facilities are either addicts or misfits who refuse to contribute to society but this is far from the case. There are many levels of need and I have to confess that I have very little knowledge about the whole subject. The DI’s website has tons of info on the various programs they offer, who they serve, and how you can help.
The evening I was there I was part of one half of the dishing up and plating meals team and I plated 331 pork chops and I don’t know how many the other half did. It took less than an hour. The weather was warm for December so there were not as many meals served; still that was almost 700 meals served just in that one hour. The saddest part of this was how grateful everyone was. We, the volunteers, were greeted by spontaneous applause as we walked out with many of the people offering a heart-​felt «Thank You» just because we helped serve the meal.
The DI offers different levels of housing, facilities to shower and do laundry. There is also a computer lab for those who want to acquire some basic computer skills or to do up a resume. There are so many areas you can volunteer in and if time is not something you can offer, they can definitely use help to fund some of the programs. Check out the website, there is a wealth of information there.

So let’s just put some rumours to rest. The City of Calgary does not pay for the Calgary Drop-​In Centre Society entirely. The group is primarily funded by the Government of Alberta, Ministry of Housing, who pay a per diem rate for each individual housed every night. Additional funding comes from the City of Calgary and United Way. Now that may not change everyone’s perception, but it’s the facts.
Beyond the funding, they rely heavily on volunteers and local businesses to function. Several local businesses provide volunteers and meal sponsorship through events organized by each organization. My first experience with Calgary Drop-​In Centre was through just such an event.
The company I worked for rallied together several employees to go during lunch and serve food. They also paid for the food. It was a great experience and I strongly recommend it to anyone wishing to learn more about the group.
The Drop-​In Centre is unique in that they will accept persons with drug and alcohol problems. You may not know this, but most groups that offer assistance to individuals living on the street will only accept you if you’re sober. I understand the reasoning, but in principle I disagree with that ideal. I’m not alone, which is why Calgary Drop-​In Centre exists.
In addition to providing nightly housing to persons without a home, they also offer programs to help rehabilitate people back into society. These programs are much more strict and require sobriety. But the options are there for those willing to make a change. I personally believe we need more groups like this. While it may be easy and in some cases justifiable to lay the blame at their feet, some people are truly in need of help. Calgary Drop-​In Centre aims to fill that void.