Vibrant Communities Calgary - VCC

This Sunday, June 21, is National Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Calgary has the fourth largest Indigenous population in Canada and is the only large city in Canada without a purpose-built gathering space dedicated to Indigenous Peoples’ ceremonial practices. The Indigenous Gathering Place (IGP) is a much-needed central gathering place for Indigenous Peoples’ spiritual, emotional, cultural, and social well-being in Calgary.

Listen to our episode of Let’s Talk Poverty, where we connect with Indigenous Gathering Place co-chairs, Buddie Dixon and Shawna Morning Bull. Learn about the need for a purpose built, and culturally rich gathering space, dedicated to ceremony and the sharing of Indigenous knowledge.

https://enoughforall.ca/podcasts/purpose-built-indigenous-spaces

Our second Income Support policy brief sets out recommendations to improve Alberta’s non-disability income support programs.

Restrictive eligibility rules can lead to higher costs over time by contributing to poorer health, making it harder for people to stay connected to work, and increasing the need for emergency and crisis services. Expanding access to support could also help prevent more people from experiencing homelessness, which would benefit individuals and reduce the significant public costs associated with responding to homelessness.

https://enoughforall.ca/articles/strengthening-albertas-income-support-landscape

Approximately 115,000 Calgarians (or 40,000 households) were at high risk of homelessness in 2016, according to a 2023 report from the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.

How does Calgary’s housing market compare to other major cities? Check out Calgary’s Well-Being Dashboard to learn more.

https://enoughforall.ca/well-being-dashboard

Enough for All (E4A) is evaluated annually by an independent third party to ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous learning. As the steward of E4A, Vibrant Communities Calgary uses these insights to strengthen our collective work toward reducing poverty in Calgary.

The latest evaluation highlights the continued cross-sector collaboration, increased use of shared evidence and tools, and the ongoing importance of a shared strategy to guide collective action on poverty in Calgary.

https://enoughforall.ca/articles/advancing-research-to-reduce-poverty

Workers' Resource Centre of Alberta has a new page! Be sure to follow it here.

Income Support is meant to help Albertans meet their basic needs. But does it?

VCC analyzed Alberta's Income Support programs and found significant gaps between support levels and the realities of living costs today.

Swipe through for 5 facts you should know and see our recommendations. Find our latest Income Support brief here: https://enoughforall.ca/resources/income-support-brief-2

We're excited to announce Central Outreach Hub is now an Enough for All Champion!

Central Outreach Hub is a peer-led, low-barrier day space operating in downtown Calgary. Their model is built on the principle that people closest to the experience of poverty are best positioned to support others through it.

Central Outreach Hub provides meals, on-site wellness services, Indigenous programming led by Indigenous Peer Support Workers, and a coordinated access point connecting community members to housing, health, and social services.

We look forward to working with Central Outreach Hub to turn lived experiences into real systems change.

Starting today, eligible Calgarians may see an extra payment in their account through the new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. The top-up payment will appear as a GST/HST credit on the bank statement of eligible recipients if they have signed up to receive direct deposits.

For years, VCC and Enough for All Champions have advocated for stronger income supports that help people afford the basics. The new Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit reflects progress toward that goal.

Income matters. When people have enough to cover basic needs like food, housing, and transportation, communities are stronger.

Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2026/06/canadians-to-begin-receiving-enhanced-canada-groceries-and-essentials-benefit-starting-today0.html

We’re excited to welcome Parks Foundation Calgary to the Enough for All Champions network!

Parks and play spaces are essential to building healthy, vibrant, and resilient cities. Through their commitment to creating and improving inclusive, innovative community spaces, Parks Foundation Calgary helps strengthen connection, belonging, and well-being for Calgarians across the city.

We look forward to working together to build a vibrant city where everyone can thrive.