On October 7, 2024, the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation announced Community Grants totalling $115,500, which is $10,000 more than in 2023. The money pays for major repairs and renovations to existing housing and shelters, so people can stay housed in their communities.
Who received grants
- L’Arche Association of Calgary supports people with intellectual disabilities in five Calgary homes. The grant pays for essential renovations at one of them.
- HomeSpace Society manages over 900 affordable units housing over 1,300 residents. The grant covers repairs and painting of common areas in a permanent supportive housing building.
- The Mustard Seed will replace carpet with durable vinyl flooring in short-term units at its 14th Street building.
- Discovery House has served women and children leaving domestic violence for over 40 years and supports about 600 people a year. Its shelter was built in 2002, and the grant will update one suite.
Foundation chair Catherine Chow said the organizations have a significant impact on their communities and that the foundation is proud to support them on behalf of local REALTORS®.
Why it matters: repairing existing homes keeps affordable units available while new supply is built.
CREB® Community Grants in 2024, planned and awarded
From the spring call to the October awards
When applications opened in May, CREB said $105,000 in Community Grants would be awarded in 2024, along with $45,000 in Transformation Grants and a $350,000 Legacy Grant to Ronald McDonald House Charities. The final Community Grant total came in at $115,500, which the Foundation said is $10,000 more than in 2023. Community Grants are the program for major repairs and renovations, aimed at keeping people housed in their communities.
What the grants will pay for
At L’Arche Calgary, which has five homes with supported independent living and day programming, the money goes to essential renovations at one home so that it meets standards and offers a secure, healthy living space. “Our homes are more than just places to live—they are spaces of belonging,” said Executive Director Ani Hynes. At HomeSpace, the grant covers patching, painting and refinishing walls, door frames and trim in a permanent supportive housing building that also has a palliative care suite. HomeSpace follows a housing first approach to ending homelessness.
At The Mustard Seed, carpet in short-term units with high turnover will be replaced with vinyl flooring that is easier to clean and lowers maintenance costs over time. “This generous gift from CREB will support critical upgrades at our 14th Street building, making the building safer and more welcoming for vulnerable people,” said CEO James Gardiner. At Discovery House, most of the roughly 600 people it supports each year are children. Its shelter has two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, a childcare centre, counselling rooms and an enclosed courtyard with a play area. As part of a multi-year capital project, the grant will update one suite with new flooring, lighting, appliances and furnishings. “Safe, stable housing is something everyone deserves,” said Executive Director Leslie Hill.
Why repairs matter now
Calgary’s resale market is loosening: CREB reported 5,064 homes for sale in September 2024, nearly double the spring lows. But that extra supply is mostly in higher price ranges. For people who rely on shelters and supportive housing, new market listings do not help directly. Keeping existing units in good condition is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect affordable spaces while new ones are built.
If you work with a local housing non-profit, watch for the next round of CREB Foundation applications and review the criteria early. In both 2023 and 2024, applications opened in May, and the 2024 deadline was June 28.
The four organizations serve very different groups, from adults with intellectual disabilities to families leaving violence, which shows how broad the need for safe housing is in Calgary.
