As Dr. Benzies explores more about social innovation; she's diving deep into a collaborative process that explores both existing and emerging processes that have the potential to improve quality of life.

Integrated care at CUPS is as much about connections as it is about the journey. While the initial assessment allows us to use the brain story to figure out what support clients need and how effective the support is over time, it’s the connections to care that start a client down a new road to a more resilient future.

Removing barriers and increasing accessibility to the COVID-19 vaccine has been a priority at CUPS for the last few months. What started initially as a support program for shelter populations has expanded into a CUPS outreach vaccination program that is actively getting immunizations into vulnerable members of our community.

Over the past year, Community Connect YYC has provided a range of barrier free counselling and other social supports with the goal of improving mental health and well-being. The service connects clients with affordable supports either by phone or video, and the numbers speak volumes.

Along with other voices of social justice for Canada’s Indigenous people, Métis singer-songwriter Craig Ginn’s latest album was released before the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The 10-song album is free to download, yet any voluntary donations go towards CUPS.

This year, the report highlights powerful stories of resilience and success through a year like no other. It explores the impact of the Assisted Self-Isolation Site, a partnership with The Alex, looks at how we pivoted as an organization to ensure no one fell through the cracks, and dives deeper into CUPS Connect 2 Care program.

On any given night in Calgary, nearly 3,000 people experience homelessness. These are adults, youth and families — all facing homelessness, not by choice, but by different circumstances that have led them to where they are today.

Kevin began using opiates and meth when he was 16 after his mother passed away. He aged out of the youth system at 18 and began living in emergency shelters or would sleep in train station terminals with his father, who was also experiencing homelessness.

A weekly virtual gathering, dads not only learn helpful information on the different ages and stages their children are experiencing and tips on how to get their kids to eat better, it also takes a deeper dive into fatherhood.

In Canada, human trafficking victims can be trafficked as young as 13 or 14 years old, and many have a history of early childhood trauma. In order to combat this issue, as a society we must bring awareness to this issue and talk about it with people in the community.

On July 28, 2021, people across the globe come together to acknowledge World Hepatitis Day to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and the global effort to eliminate it. But what exactly is hepatitis, and why is it a global health problem?

When Carlene Donnelly first came to CUPS, it was for a short-term contract. There were fewer than 25 employees and she was brought in to support the CUPS outreach team.

It’s graduation day next week at the CUPS Child Development Centre. This group has demonstrated resilience with how they’ve adapted with their families to online learning, continuous changes to restrictions and everything that comes from going to school during a pandemic.

Mike grew up only knowing and understanding one way to live — through struggling and homelessness. He was exposed to alcohol, drugs and crime at a young age and it was the only lifestyle he knew.

There are so many stories of those who have worked so hard to build healthier and stronger families and communities during the last year, and we want to share one of those stories with you today. We want you to meet Rose.

The individuals who make up the CUPS Board of Directors are passionate about the community and about CUPS, and dedicate hundreds of volunteer hours to engage stakeholders and industry partners so we can provide better support for vulnerable Calgarians.

It’s National Volunteer Week in Canada and we are so grateful for the entire volunteer community at CUPS. The support and love we feel from our volunteers is profound and it directly impacts the level of care we can provide.

Mental health challenges impact 20 per cent of people in Calgary. That means for every five people you know, one of them — maybe you — will experience a mental health issue or prolonged illness in their lifetime.

Rapid Care Counselling (RCC) is a new partnership with CUPS and the Catholic Family Service (CFS), funded by the Calgary Homeless Foundation, designed to provide barrier-free mental health services to anyone experiencing homelessness.