CHF and Calgary Community Land Trust Society Announces Move to Accelerate Build-Out of Affordable Housing for Specialized Populations

/EINPresswire.com/ -- CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/27/16 -- In a special announcement today at the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) and Calgary Community Land Trust Society's (CCLT) joint Annual General Meeting, David McIlveen, Director, Community Development, Boardwalk REIT and Chair of CCLT Board, announced CHF's over $50 million housing portfolio will form the foundation of CCLT's new directions. As of this fall, 2016, CCLT will operate as an independent, self-governed not-for-profit. Its focus will be to accelerate the build-out of specialized, integrated housing to serve vulnerable populations and the Homeless-Serving System of Care.

"We are incredibly excited to announce that the Calgary Community Land Trust (CCLT), initially established in 2003 within the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), will transition into community as a completely independent housing organization by fall 2016," says David McIlveen, Chair, CCLT. "CHF and CCLT have incubated best practices in build-out, ownership and management of affordable housing within the homeless-serving sector. Having a portfolio of over $50million gives CCLT a solid foundation upon which to continue building housing for specialized populations."

In April 2016 a new CCLT Board of Directors was established with five members of CHF's board stepping down to join the new board.

"This move is critical step towards safeguarding specialized housing for the sector," says Diana Krecsy, President & CEO, CHF. "In our role as System Planner we are continually seeking ways to mobilize community's capacity to deliver on the vision of ending homelessness. Having designed, cultivated and demonstrated success in building and operating housing for specialized populations, the transitioning of CCLT into community will benefit community by enhancing access, capacity and innovation, to a current housing system that has been unable to keep up with the demand for permanent and supportive housing options for Calgary's most vulnerable citizens."

At today's 2016 Annual General Meeting, the Calgary Homeless Foundation also reported on its progress as the System Planner for Calgary Homeless Serving System of Care and its 5 year Strategic Blueprint.

CHF presented highlights of its past year of operations, including its 5 Year Strategic Blueprint. It also presented its many upcoming changes to its Board of Directors for this next fiscal year. The foundation welcomed nine new Board of Director members: Alexandra Nuth, Christine Hitchinson, Colby Delorme, Ellen Dungen, Gerald Chipeur, Karen Young, Lourdes Juan, Dr. Ron Kneebone and Tracee Collins.

In addition, CHF said goodbye to three retiring board members: Lucy Miller, President & CEO, United Way of Calgary and area; Anne Maxwell, Director, Imagine Energy Inc.; and Sharon Carry, President & CEO, Bow Valley College.

"Each of these board members has brought something incredibly valuable to CHF's Board of Directors over their varying years of service." says Krecsy. "Their passion for ending homelessness and their compassion for the people experiencing homelessness; it has been an honour to work with them and we sincerely wish them well in their future endeavours."

Details of CHF's progress in fiscal 2015/16 are available in the 2016 Report on Progress and include:

--  940 people placed in housing with supports;
--  The City of Calgary experiencing a 17% decrease in homelessness per
    100,000 population since 2008.
--  Funding provided to 35 programs delivered by 24 agencies.
--  Opening of Stepping Stone, CHF's first purpose built affordable housing
    building through the
    RESOLVE Campaign.
--  84 Community programs using the Homeless Management Information System
    (HMIS).

In addition to the Report to the Community, the CHF's Management's Discussion and Analysis and Financial Report is available at www.calgaryhomeless.com.

Contacts:
Calgary Homeless Foundation
Louise Gallagher
Director, Marketing and Communications
403 615 7606
louise@calgaryhomeless.com