Calgary shelter sees spike in need

A local shelter is appealing for more affordable housing in Calgary, as it sees a spike in people needing help.

Inn from the Cold experienced a 300 per cent increase earlier this year in the number of days it operated at or over capacity.

Executive Director Abe Brown said while the city is seeing signs of economic recovery, there is still one underlying issue.

“It’s just pretty clear that we haven’t done, as a city, a great job of building housing that’s affordable for those larger families, so what happens is they get squeezed not only economically, but certainly in the rental market as well,” he said.

Brown said many nights this year they’ve had to open up the overflow shelter.

Seventy per cent of the operating budget comes from donations, and Inn from the Cold is running the annual ‘Claire’s Campaign’ to help meet demand.

“Dollar for dollar, up to $400,000 we will match whatever Calgarians give,” Brown said.

The fundraising goal this year is $800,000.

Brown said there’s also always a need for donations of diapers and children’s clothing.

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