On June 20, 2025, the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation awarded a $1 million Legacy Grant to the Calgary Dream Centre to build affordable housing for vulnerable women and mothers with children.
The project
- Erlton House will be a three-storey building with 56 condo units and full amenities.
- It will include green space, communal gathering areas and an outdoor play area.
- The grant will be paid over three years, with the final instalment in 2027.
Why it matters
The Legacy Grant is the foundation’s signature stream for creating new housing. When the foundation opened its 2025 grants in March, it said Legacy Grants can reach $1 million over three years. Foundation chair Christian Twomey said the project creates “dignity and hope for one of our city’s vulnerable populations.”
Calgary Dream Centre CEO Craig Hill said the grant “will directly support building Erlton House” and will open doors for those seeking stability.
Because the money is paid over three years, with the final instalment in 2027, the grant follows the project through construction rather than ending at the groundbreaking.
The context
The foundation is the community investment arm of CREB®, the Calgary Real Estate Board. It has more than 8,500 members, REALTORS® and community members, and it funds housing- and shelter-related work in Calgary and the surrounding area. Since it was founded in 1987, it has contributed more than $8.2 million to non-profit organizations.
In March, the foundation opened applications for $590,000 in 2025 grants, $90,000 more than in 2024, with applications closing on May 20. The Legacy Grant is a separate, larger commitment. A single $1 million Legacy Grant is worth more than the whole 2025 program of regular grants, a sign of the weight the foundation gives to creating new housing.
CREB® foundation funding, $
About Erlton House
Erlton House will be a three-storey building with 56 fully equipped condo units for vulnerable women and mothers with children. The plans also include green space, communal gathering areas and an outdoor play area, meant to give residents a sense of community. The Calgary Dream Centre runs programs from addictions recovery to housing and offers lifelong support through its alumni network, so residents will have access to services as well as a home.
Craig Hill said the support “doesn’t just allow us to break ground; it empowers us to break barriers and transform lives.” He also said that home “isn’t just about square footage but about creating strong communities where people can truly thrive.”
What it means for Calgary
Calgary’s resale market is shifting toward balance, with 6,740 homes for sale in May, but more listings do not help someone with no income or savings. Projects like Erlton House fill the gap at the bottom of the housing ladder, where the market does not reach.
What it means for buyers and sellers
For homeowners, buyers and sellers, the foundation is one practical way the real estate industry gives back to the communities where it works. Its grants come from REALTORS® and community members, and the foundation publishes its grant programs on creb.com. For anyone choosing an agent, it is fair to ask how that agent supports the community too.
Local angle
Funding from Calgary-area REALTORS® stays in Calgary and area: the foundation only funds housing- and shelter-related initiatives in its own region. Erlton House is one example of that commitment.
How the grant cycle works
The timing fits the foundation’s 2025 calendar. Applications for this year’s grants opened on March 11 and closed on May 20, and the Legacy Grant to the Calgary Dream Centre was announced about a month later, on June 20. Christian Twomey said the Dream Centre is “making meaningful strides toward creating safe, affordable housing that directly addresses urgent needs in our community.” Organizations interested in future rounds can find the foundation’s grant programs on creb.com.
