Research & Policy

One of the key strategies of Calgary's 10 Year Plan is to "improve data and systems knowledge."

Join the Calgary Homeless Foundation's Research Network

Facilitated by the Homeless Hub Network, the CHF's network is an online resource for interdisciplinary and multi-sector research on homelessness.

We invite anyone interested in sharing research, knowledge and best practices to join the network. By doing so, you can be part of the ongoing dialogue between researchers, practitioners and concerned citizens on how we can effectively prevent and end homelessness.

To join the network go to http://www.homelesshub.net/network/chf and create a new account.

You can also search the Homeless Hub for articles and studies from across Canada related to homelessness.

Research Tools

The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) provides system-wide, consistent data and service. Learn more.
The Risks and Assets for Homelessness Prevention (HART) Tool helps determine who is at greatest risk of becoming homeless. A literature review for the CHF, published December 2009 by the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work, summarizing research regarding the risk factors, predictors and pathways in and out of homelessness.
- Risks and Assets for Homelessness Prevention - Summary ( PDF 1.56 MB)
- Risks and Assets for Homelessness Prevention - Full Report ( PDF 2.11 MB)

Acuity Scale - developed by the CHF and being piloted by the Alex Community Health Centre, the Acuity Scale matches clients' needs with the appropriate level of case management support to help them remain in housing. It can also be used to demonstrate improvement over time.

Research Reports & Presentations

We have listed a few key research reports below. For the latest research, please join our Research Network, powered by the Homeless Hub.

Plan to End Youth Homelessness in Calgary

On the journey to end homelessness in Calgary, it became clear that young people (under the age of 24) require a plan tailored to their unique needs. Research and local consultations told us that most young people enter into homelessness largely as a result of difficulties in their families.

The Youth Plan includes three strategies:

Build a coordinated system to prevent and end youth homelessness in Calgary
Develop an adequate number of housing units and supportive homes dedicated to youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness
Improve data and systems knowledge and influence public policy

Read the June 2011 Plan to End Youth Homelessness (PDF).

The Youth Summit 2009 Draft Discussion Paper "A Blueprint to End Youth Homelessness in Calgary" was published spring 2009, and helped inform the June 2011 Youth Plan. Download PDF (619.8 KB)

Calgary's 3 Year Research Agenda - Making Research Matter

May 2011 Research Progress Report (PDF 190 KB) - This document presents an update to the 2008 Research Agenda to summarize progress over the past two years, to reflect what has been learned, and to highlight changing priorities.

The CHF's first 3-year research plan was published in January 2009.
Download PDF (958.8 KB)

Case Management Promising Practices

Dimensions of Promising Practice, July 2011 (PDF)

Case management has been identified as a critical aspect to successfully ending a person’s or family’s homelessness. Several months of consultation and research facilitated by the CHF led to the development of this report. Its purpose is to gain clarity on and to set dimensions around the promising practices essential for case managed supports to end homelessness.

Panhandling

Results of a research study commissioned by the CHF suggest while the number of individuals who panhandle in Calgary is decreasing, the number of people collecting bottles ("binning") is on the rise.

Informal Employment: Making a Living in Calgary, by Cori Bender

Homelessness & Welfare Policy in the EU and UK

Suzanne Fitzpatrick, a leading expert on welfare and housing policy in the European Union and United Kingdom, was in Calgary in October 2010 to discuss policy debates and research specific to homelessness and housing in the EU and UK. View Suzanne's presentation.

Research Symposium, August 31, 2010

The Calgary Homeless Foundation hosted a research symposium at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce to generate discussion on how to update Calgary's 3 Year Research Agenda. Please check back for a full summary of these discussions.

Presentations on leading research on homelessness in Calgary were shared and are available below:

Introduction and Summary Research Agenda to End Homelessness - Alina Tanasescu
The Engaged Researcher - Dr. Stephen Gaetz (Associate Dean of Research and Field Development, Facult of Education, York University)
Patterns of Homelessness - Dan Dutton, (Graduate Student, Community Health Sciences) and Dr. Herb Emery (Svare Professor in Health Economics)
Risks and Assets for Homelessness Prevention - Dr. Leslie Tutty (Professor, Faculty of Social Work)
Youth Homelessness - Dr. Bruce MacLaurin (Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Work)
Aboriginal Homelessness - Dr. Wilfreda E. Thurston (Professor Community Health Sciences, Director, Institute for Gender Research) and Carol Mason (Executive Director, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary)
Representations of Homelessness - Dr. Barbara Schneider (Associate Professor, Communications & Culture) and Tim Barber
Potentials for the Future of Homelessness Research in Calgary - Dr. Ron Kneebone (Professor, Department of Economics, Director, Economic & Social Policy Research, The School of Public Policy)

Hidden in Plain Sight

The United Way of Calgary and Area's Poverty Reduction Coalition, the CHF, the City of Calgary and the University of Calgary collaborated on this research into the housing challenges of newcomers to Calgary.

Executive Summary (PDF 729.3 KB)
Full Report (PDF 990.6 KB)

Search the Homeless Hub Network

Please use the Google Custom Search below to find reports and articles from across Canada related to homelessness.