November 17, 2025
RED FM News Desk
For the fourth year in a row, 20 Calgary organizations are teaming up to help protect people experiencing homelessness from the severe risks of winter weather while connecting them with essential supports.
The city’s Extreme Weather Response program offers seasonal daytime warming spaces, overnight transportation to emergency shelters, and vital cold-weather supplies.
Last winter, the program was activated on 20 extremely cold days, including three days colder than –28 C. Over that period, teams supported 37,180 visits to daytime spaces, provided 2,227 overnight shuttle rides to shelters, and distributed more than 102,000 items such as hand warmers and emergency blankets.
Bo Masterson, vice-president of stakeholder engagement with the Calgary Homeless Foundation, said thousands relied on these services last winter, and the network of partnerships behind the response continues to strengthen.
Masterson noted that while all levels of government are working to add more permanent housing, these solutions take time to build, making the program essential in the meantime.
Calgary’s 2023 Housing Needs Assessment found that about 85,000 households meet the criteria for housing need — spending 30 per cent or more of their income on housing while earning less than 65 per cent of the city’s median income.
To respond, the city launched its Home is Here strategy, aiming to create 3,000 new non-market homes each year. Currently, 2,500 people remain on the waitlist for supportive housing.
Many people using day spaces are already working toward housing, and most spend nights in shelters. Masterson said these daytime spaces are crucial for building trust, offering a low-barrier, trauma-informed environment where people can rest, connect to services, and gradually move forward in their housing journey.
This year’s Extreme Weather Response will operate from Dec. 1 to March 31. Participating organizations include Alpha House, The Mustard Seed, the Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, The Salvation Army, the Calgary Drop-In Centre, Woods Homes, Distress Centre Calgary, and Journey Church.
More information is available at calgaryhomeless.com.
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