City of Calgary Hotlines & General Community Resources
| Resource | Information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| General information | Community resource information in many languages | 211 |
| City of Calgary | Information about City of Calgary operations | 311 |
| Directory | Information about telephone numbers | 411 |
| Emergency | Fire, police, and ambulance emergency | 911 |
| Calgary Police Services | Police non-emergency line | 403-266-1234 |
| The Distress Centre | Open 24 hours, and provides crisis counselling and support services | 403-266-HELP (4357) |
| Inform Alberta | Online community, social, government, education, and health information across Alberta | |
| Immigrant Services Calgary |
|
403-265-1120 |
| Calgary Legal Guidance | Provides legal information, advice, and advocacy to Calgarians who don't have access to legal services | 403-234-9266 |
| Legal Aid Alberta | Provides a range of legal services to low-income Albertans in a number of areas, including family, criminal, and civil law | 1-866-845-3425 |
Food
| Resource | Information | Contact |
| Calgary Food bank | Hampers can be picked up from at the main warehouse or one of 14 satellite locations throughout Calgary. | 403-253-2055 |
| Society of Saint Vincent de Paul | Provides emergency food hampers | 403-250-0319 |
| Community Kitchen | Good Food Box Program offering low-cost fresh fruits and vegetables | |
| Good Food Box - Community Kitchen Program of Calgary | Provides fresh fruits and vegetables at lower cost: Large box (40-45 pounds of produce): $20 Family box (30-35 pounds of produce): $15 Senior/single box (20-25 pounds of produce): $10 60 locations throughout Calgary |
403-538-3780 |
| The Alex Community Food Centre | Brings people together to grow, cook, share, and promote good food for all. Register for a cooking class or drop in for a community meal. You can also visit the affordable produce market. | |
| Calgary Community Food Map | A listing of places to access free or low-cost food in the community. “Calgary Community Food Map” | |
| Free Food Alberta | Alberta Health Services listing of free food sources. Helping to connect you with emergency food programs including food banks, food hampers, and free meals. | |
| Drop-in Food Pantry | Every Thursday from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM. No appointment needed. Robert McClure United Church – An Affirming, Inclusive Community. 5510- 26 AVE SE |
|
| Kingdom Coffee YYC | Food, hygiene products. Monday – Saturday. No questions asked 4099 Ogden Road SE | |
| Calgary Neechi Mart | Every Tuesday 12pm – 3 PM Banff trail Community Association 2115-20 Ave NW Free Food (Food items Change weekly. First come, first serve basis. Bring your own Bags/boxes |
Clothing
| Good Neighbour Community Market  | Pay -what you can thrift store 149 5 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2G 5T1, Open Thursday-Saturday 11-5pm |
|
| The Free Goods Program at the Drop-in Centre | Women in Need Society (WINS) is Calgary’s homegrown thrift charity, providing basic needs resources and support to women and their families | Access application form here: https://calgarydropin.ca/free-goods-application-form/ |
| Women in Need Society (WINS) | Women in Need Society (WINS) is Calgary’s homegrown thrift charity, providing basic needs resources and support to women and their families | https://www.winsyyc.ca/contact |
Pregnant Women, Infants and Childcare
| Resource | Information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Best Beginning |
Support for pregnant teens and women living on a low income to prevent low birth weight, promote prevention of injuries and promote maternal mental health by low social isolation and making connections with community supports
|
811 |
| Baby Hampers - Calgary Food Bank |
|
403-253-2059 |
Housing and Emergency Shelters
To visit the Bow Valley College housing page, click here
Furniture and Housing Supplies
| Resource | Information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| MCC Thrift Store, Calgary | Second-hand clothes, furniture, and more at low prices. | 403-272-0282 2946 - 32 Street NE |
| Women in Need | Calgary’s homegrown thrift charity, providing basic needs resources and support to women and their families | 403-255-5102 |
| The Free Goods Program provides lightly used goods, like furniture, kitchenware, clothing, computers, mobile phones, small appliances, books, and more, to low- and no-income Calgarians who are building a life for themselves and their family. | 403- 276-3173 635 - 35 Avenue NE |
Financial Management & Financial Literacy Supports in the Community
| Aspire Calgary |
Aspire Calgary is a multi-sectoral collaborative of 30 organizations working to implement financial empowerment Programming includes:
|
https://aspirecalgary.org/ |
| Rise Calgary- Basic Needs Fund | The Basic Needs Fund is an emergency financial assistance fund, intended to help people out of an unforeseen financial crisis. See website for eligibility criteria and application. | https://www.risecalgary.ca/basic-needs-fund |
| Money Mentors |
Alberta Debt Relief & Financial Education. They help Albertans get out of debt, manage their money, and plan for retirement. Savings & Debt Resources for Success: https://moneymentors.ca/resources |
1-888-294-0076 or 403-265-2201 |
| Momentum | Momentum offers programming to reduce financial barriers including financial management skill development workshops and courses, entrepreneurship classes and more. | 403-272-9323 |
Services and Supports for Parents and Families
| Resource | Information | Contact |
| CUPS |
|
403-221-8780 |
| Families Matter | Programs for Parents | 403-205-5178 |
| Calgary Childrens Link | Access point of information for families of children with special needs in Calgary and the surrounding area | 403-230-9158 |
| Community Resource Centre (CRC) |
A Community Resource Centre provides you with resources, referrals, information, and support. Get help with basic needs, including:
|
|
| The Alex Community Health Centre | A full-service health clinic that understands that good health is so much more than just physical.
|
403-266-2622 |
Transportation
| Resource | Information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Calgary Transit | Offers a low-income program for transit users | 403-262-1000 |
| Calgary Transit Access | This is a door-to-door shared-ride service for people who can't take a bus or the CTrain. | 403-537-7770 |
| Upass | In partnership with Calgary Transit, full-time learners can buy an optional transit pass that gives unlimited access to Calgary Transit services during their term of studies. See Upass page for details | 403-537-7777, option 2 |
Family Recreation and Activities
| Resource | Information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Vecova Recreation Centre (formerly the VRII) | Barrier-free facility offering recreation to Calgarians of all ages and abilities | 403-284-2231 |
| KidSport Society of Calgary | Registration fees and/or sports equipment for children and adolescents from low-income families | 403-202-0251 |
| Calgary Between Friends | This organization providing quality social, recreation and development opportunities to more than 80 different disability groups; of which, over 40% of are on the Autism Spectrum. Our programs & services are designed for children, youth, and adults based on age group & interests. Everyone is welcome to participate at Between Friends, regardless of ability, age, gender, race, gender identity, religion or culture. | 403-269-9133 |
| CanLearn Society (formerly the Calgary Learning Center) | Provides programs that support families with learning, literacy and attention difficulties | 403- 686-9300 |
| City of Calgary – Free Activities Listing | Explore our fun, FREE activities for children, youth, adults, and families. These safe, supervised programs are great for making new friends and learning new activities. Our year-round outdoor programs and events are weather dependent. |
Legal Supports
| Resource | Information | Contact |
| Calgary Legal Guidance | Provides legal information, advice, and advocacy to Calgarians who don't have access to legal services | 403-234-9266 |
| Legal Aid Alberta | Provides a range of legal services to low-income Albertans in a number of areas, including family, criminal, and civil law | 1-866-845-3425 |
| Pro Bono Law Alberta | Brief legal assistance to self-represented litigants with civil matters | 406-541-4804 |
Indigenous Student Supports
| Resource | Information | Contact |
| Indigenous Housing | Inn From the Cold – Moccasin Pathways | https://innfromthecold.org/supportive-housing/ |
| Miskanawah | ka-pe-kiwehtahat program that helps prevent families enter homelessness. | https://miskanawah.ca |
| Trellis | Families with minor children or dependents living at home who are at imminent risk of homelessness. | Eligible families must be renters within Calgary. Contact 403-219-3477 (Option #1 in menu) homestay@growwithtrellis.ca |
|
Metis – Métis Capital Housing
|
Housing services | https://www.metishousing.ca/uploads/source/Application_Forms%3A_/Reaching_Home__Program_Application_PDF_Updated_-_October_2022_-_FILLABLE.pdf |
| Treaty 7 Housing | https://www.t7housing.com/ | |
| Forward Housing | Apply for Affordable Housing | Forward Housing | |
| Native Counselling Services of Alberta | Free counselling services for Status Indigenous Learners | https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1576441552462/1576441618847 |
| Emergency food benefits online | https://emergencybenefits.alberta.ca/login/ | |
| First Nations Health Consortium | The Alberta Indigenous Virtual Care Clinic serves individuals self-identifying as First Nations, Inuit and Métis and their immediate family members. | https://aivcc.ca/how-it-works/ |
Counselling Services
| Resource | Information | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| The Distress Centre | Open 24 hours, and provides crisis support, and professional counselling at no cost. | 403- 266-4357 |
| Kindred | This organization provides support strengthening relationships with family; working on personal goals and relationships; and gaining knowledge and skills as a new parent. | 403-233-2360 |
| Bow Valley College Counsellors |
Provides guidance and information on a variety services to support your wellbeing. You can access:
|
403-410-1440 |
| Carya | Counselling, support, and other programs for individuals and families | 403-205-5294 |
| Calgary Counselling Centre | Counselling support for individuals, couples, families, and groups | 833-827-4229 |
Newcomer Supports
| Resource | Information | Contact |
| Centre for Newcomers |
The Centre for Newcomers is a resource centre for Calgary’s newcomers and refugees to receive settlement and integration services as well as information. Settlement and integration services include:
|
403-569-3325 |
| Calgary Immigrant Women's Assocaition (CIWA) | This association focuses on the concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families. They offer unique settlement and integration, language training, workplaces, and family services. | 403-263-4414 |
| Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) | CCIS (Calgary Catholic Immigration Society) is a non-profit organization which provides settlement and integration services to all immigrants and refugees in Southern Alberta. | 403-262-2006 |
| The Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC) | This not-for-profit connects newcomer professionals to strategies that will lead to successful employment outcomes. | 587-894-7583 |
| The Immigrant Educational Society | This organization offers language, employment, and settlement training for newly arrived newcomers and low-income families. | 403-235-3666 |
| Immigrant Services Calgary |
Immigrant Services Calgary has been providing a wide range of settlement services to immigrants and refugees looking to begin a new chapter of their lives in Canada. Services include:
|
403-265-1120 |
| Windmill Microlending | Windmill Microlending is Canada’s largest microlending not-for-profit for skilled immigrants and refugees, Windmill addresses underemployment of internationally trained professionals across Canada | 1-855-423-2262 |
For Banff community resources, click here
For Chestermere community resources, click here
For Airdrie community resources, click here
For Cochrane community resources, click here
For Chestermere community resources, click here
For Strathmore community resources, click here
