Outreach

Alpha House’s Outreach programs include mobile response teams covering different areas and roles throughout the city: Needle Response, Encampment, Ambassador, Transit, and the HELP (formerly DOAP) Team.

We offer a wide range of outreach services aimed at engaging clients into services, but also to reduce the impact of intoxication and homelessness on the broader community and public systems

HELP (formerly DOAP) TEAM

BELTLINE      INT’L AVE      EAST VILLAGE     MAIN

403.998.7388

  • Stands for Human-centered Engagement Liaison and Partnership (HELP)
  • Initiated in 2005 as a mobile diversion response to streel level intoxication
  • Consists of mobile teams covering a variety of areas across the city of Calgary
  • Works closely with Calgary Police Services and Emergency Medical Services to reduce unnecessary and inappropriate uses when these services are not needed
  • Responds to calls from businesses, community members, and other homeless-serving agencies
  • Facilitates individual’s access and entry to the local service systems of shelters, health care, addiction treatment, and supportive housing

The program provides a model of how to engage with vulnerable persons. A social return on investment (SROI) demonstrated that for every dollar invested in the Program, there is a social return of $9.43.

4,000+

unique clients served by the HELP (formerly DOAP) Team in FY22-23

27,619

interactions with clients in FY22-23

60-100

calls a day for the HELP (formerly DOAP) Team’s services

Encampment Team

 403.805.7388

  • Consists of one mobile response team working with the City of Calgary Bylaw
  • Support “rough sleepers” to navigate them into appropriate supports including shelter, detox, and housing programs
  • Provide clients with access to the shelter clinic, lunch, sleeping bags…etc.

 

802

unique clients worked with in FY22-23

5,100

interactions with clients in FY22-23

Needle Response Team

 403.796.5334  

  • Began in January 2019
  • Consists of one mobile response unit cleaning up needle and needle debris on public and private property
  • Patrols “hot spots” looking for needle debris
  • Responds to calls from community/business members to safely dispose of needle/needle debris
  • Gives presentations to educate the public on how to safely dispose of needles and needle debris

3,049

calls from the public for needle debris pickup

72,664

Needle debris collected in FY22-23

Ambassador Teams

  • Alpha House operates 2 Ambassador Programs: Ambassadors and Downtown Ambassadors
  • The Ambassadors work with businesses in the following areas:
    • 17th Ave
    • 4th St.
    • Beltline
    • Chinatown
    • Victoria Park
    • Downtown Calgary
  • Responds to calls from businesses in the above areas needing support with incidences related to homelessness/substance use
  • Work with street-involved individuals towards needed services: shelter, basic needs supplies, housing etc.
  • Advocate for Alpha House clients, share about services, and support greater understanding of homelessness in the community

1,311

business engagements completed in FY 2022-23

1,059

client interactions in FY 2022-23

Transit Team

 403.827.7106 

  • Began in 2019 as a partnership with Calgary Transit
  • Consists of mobile response teams (one Alpha House worker with one Transit Peace Officer)
  • Responds to calls from transit riders, transit help phone, and city calls to support those on the trains or platforms needing support related to homelessness
  • Work with street-involved individuals towards needed services: shelter, basic needs supplies, housing etc.
  • Advocate for Alpha House clients, share about services, and support greater understanding of homelessness in the community

2,453

client interactions in FY 2022-23