On November 22, 2024, the CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation awarded $45,000 in annual Transformation Grants. Three organizations received $15,000 each to improve housing quality for vulnerable Calgarians.
Who received grants
- Radiance Family Society has supported women and children affected by domestic violence for more than four decades. The grant pays for new flooring in a shelter so it can offer pet-friendly suites.
- Calgary Drop-In Centre will upgrade the kitchen at Bridgeland Manor, a mixed-market residential building for seniors moving from homelessness to stable housing.
- Onward Homes Society will upgrade plumbing at Glasswaters House, home to 10 new and expectant mothers at risk of homelessness. The house was built in the 1950s.
The grants follow the $115,500 in Community Grants awarded earlier in the fall. Since 1987, REALTORS® have invested more than $8.1 million in Calgary and area communities.
Foundation chair Catherine Chow said that as the colder months approach, safe, warm and functional shelter is “more crucial than ever.”
CREB® REALTOR® Community Foundation grants awarded in fall 2024
Why pet-friendly suites matter
At Radiance Family Society, new flooring will let a shelter for women fleeing domestic violence offer pet-friendly suites. “We know that people experiencing violence will stay in their home out of fear for the safety of their pet, or because they do not want to be separated from their pet,” said Executive Director Susan Herman. “Thank you to CREB for helping us provide safe homes not only for women and their children, but also for their furry family members.”
A kitchen for seniors leaving homelessness
The Calgary Drop-In Centre connects vulnerable adults with emergency shelter, housing and health programs. Bridgeland Manor, its mixed-market residential building, houses seniors who are moving from homelessness to stable housing. The kitchen is where residents build cooking skills, alone and in group cooking events. Kevin Webb, Director of Emergency Shelter and Housing, said the renovation will “create a more functional and accessible space that fosters social connection among our senior residents.”
Plumbing for a 1950s home
Onward Homes Society provides homes to low-income Calgarians, including people with mental health and mobility challenges, seniors and people leaving homelessness and domestic violence. Glasswaters House, home to 10 new and expectant mothers at risk of homelessness, was built in the 1950s and renovated in the 1980s, and it now needs plumbing upgrades. Mothers there receive support through Inn from the Cold and its Emma House program.
The 2024 grant year
In May, CREB announced $500,000 for housing and shelter in 2024: $105,000 in Community Grants, $45,000 in Transformation Grants and a $350,000 Legacy Grant to Ronald McDonald House Charities. Community Grants ended up at $115,500 in October, above the spring figure, and Transformation Grants came in at the $45,000 planned. Since 1987, CREB REALTORS have invested more than $8.1 million in Calgary and area communities.
Why it matters
Calgary’s resale market has more homes for sale than a year ago, with 4,966 listings in October 2024, but that supply is mostly at higher prices. For shelters and supportive housing, the most practical help is often keeping existing units safe and usable. Small grants for floors, kitchens and plumbing can keep rooms open through the winter. Non-profits that need similar help should watch for the next application window; in 2024, Transformation Grant applications closed on June 28.
Lasting improvements
Chow said the Transformation Grants “will significantly enhance housing quality for each organization, empowering them to better serve and support the Calgary community for years to come.” Each project is modest in size, but each fixes something residents use every day: the floor of a shelter suite, a shared kitchen and the plumbing in a family home. Onward’s CEO Martina Jileckova summed up the goal with the society’s motto: “with homes for all, people and communities thrive.”
