New Workers Swamp Calgary's Homeless Agencies

Families drawn by the economic boom can't find housing

Kim Guttormson, CanWest News Service

Published: Saturday, July 08, 2006

CALGARY -- Some workers who have moved to Calgary looking for a piece of the Alberta advantage are finding themselves out in the streets.

Agencies that deal with homelessness are overwhelmed by families who have arrive in the city without lining up housing first.

"I've never seen it like this," said Inn from the Cold executive director Diana Segboer. "It's a new trend that's got us very concerned. And it's going to get worse, a lot worse.

"It's the downside of the boom."

The agency, which helps find temporary shelter for parents and children, received 10 calls in one day last week from people preparing to come to Calgary, but needing somewhere to stay. And in some cases, people are arriving at their door straight from the bus depot.

Analysts say Calgary is starting to reach a critical point, where the labour market will absorb as many bodies as arrive, but housing and infrastructure are becoming stretched to the limit.

The average house price has soared past $400,000. City transit is at capacity. Affordable housing is especially hard to come by, with 2,300 people now on the city's waiting list for a spot and rent rising with demand.

Segboer classifies most of her clients as working poor -- those who have jobs but can't keep up with the increasing cost of living in the city.

Calgary's need for workers isn't going to ease any time soon.

Segboer said the city needs a permanent shelter to handle the specific needs of families.