Inn from the Cold

A full house, and a full heart. ❤️

Last week, all 52 townhomes in our Whitehorn family housing community became fully occupied, marking an important milestone for the families who now call this community home.

Developed in partnership with HomeSpace Society and Miskanawah the community offers more than housing. It provides onsite supports, connections to resources and spaces where families can build relationships, foster belonging and create a strong foundation for the future.

We're grateful to everyone who helped make this vision a reality and excited to see this community continue to grow.

Every child deserves the chance to experience the excitement of Halloween and make lasting memories. By donating a new Halloween costume, you can help ensure more kids experience the fun, excitement, and sense of belonging that comes with dressing up and celebrating.

If you can donate, please drop off your costumes at our main office at 706 7 Avenue SW (right along the 7 Street LRT platform) by October 26.

Today is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
This day honours Residential School Survivors, their families and communities, while recognizing the ongoing impacts of the Residential School System and our collective responsibility to advance Reconciliation.
At The INN, we recognize that Truth and Reconciliation is not limited to one day each year. It is reflected in the work we do every day to create culturally responsive, family-centred supports, build respectful relationships, and better understand and address the systemic barriers that contribute to homelessness for Indigenous families.
If you're looking for meaningful ways to engage today, we encourage you to explore the 2026 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Guide from Rise Consulting. The guide offers practical ways to listen, learn, reflect and act through educational resources, reflection questions, community events and opportunities to support Indigenous-led organizations and businesses.
Whether you spend time listening to Survivor stories, deepening your understanding of Indigenous histories and perspectives, attending a local event or supporting Indigenous communities, every action matters.
📖 Explore the guide: https://riseconsultingltd.ca/2026-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation-guide/
As we reflect today, let us move beyond awareness and commit to actions that help build a more just and respectful future for generations to come.

🚫 Myth: Most families become homeless for complex or unusual reasons.

✅ Fact: For 65% of families assessed, the reason was straightforward: they could no longer afford rent, were temporarily staying with others, or were facing eviction.

Family homelessness is often driven by housing affordability, not personal failure. As rents rise and household budgets are stretched, more families are finding themselves one unexpected expense away from housing instability.

That's why early intervention and family-centred supports matter. Together, we can help families maintain stability and avoid a housing crisis.

Learn more at innfromthecold.org

Are you a changemaker? Come on INN!
We're hiring a Relief Cook to help support the families we serve at Inn from the Cold. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced kitchen, care about your community, and want your work to have a real impact, this could be for you!
Learn more and apply: https://innfromthecold.bamboohr.com/careers/259

Family homelessness is often invisible.

It can look like a parent sleeping in a vehicle while their children stay with relatives. It can look like families moving from one temporary arrangement to another because housing has become unaffordable.

At Inn from the Cold, we're here to ensure families don't have to face these challenges alone.

This Thanksgiving, your gift can help provide a warm meal, a safe place to stay and the support families need to find stable housing.

The need is growing, but so is the impact we can make together.

Donate today and help ensure someone answers when a family calls for help.

🔗 https://innfromthecold.org/donate/

For 11 nights, Daniel slept in his truck.

His children stayed with family and believed their dad was sleeping on the floor downstairs. Every morning, he made breakfast, got them ready for school, and tried to protect them from the reality he was facing.

When he finally found Inn from the Cold, we were able to keep his family together and help them move toward permanent housing.

This Thanksgiving, families across Calgary are facing similar challenges.

Your support helps provide emergency shelter, meals, housing assistance and hope when families need it most.

Please consider making a gift today.

🔗 https://innfromthecold.org/donate/

Some stories of family homelessness are easy to miss.

A father pays rent for years. A family keeps showing up for work and school each day. From the outside, everything looks normal.

But sometimes families are carrying a crisis no one can see.

Tomorrow, we'll share a story that reminds us why family homelessness isn't always what people expect and why support can make all the difference.

Because every family deserves a safe place to call home. ❤️

🌟 Employee Spotlight: Meet Michael 🌟

As Administration & Digital Communications Coordinator, Michael works behind the scenes to support fundraising, connect with donors and help tell The INN's story.

What motivates him most? Knowing his work contributes to something bigger.
"Whether it's supporting fundraising campaigns, helping teams create what they need or connecting with donors, I like knowing the work I do is helping the mission in some way."

One moment that stands out from his time at The INN was hearing firsthand from families who had been supported through our programs.

"Seeing the impact our work has on real people reminded me why this work is so important."

Fun fact: Before returning to marketing and communications, Michael hosted his own college radio show! 🎙️

When he's not at work, you'll likely find him at the gym, listening to music or heading off on a wacky misadventure.

Thank you, Michael, for helping connect our community to the mission and making a difference for families every day. 💙