G4 Reaching Home Program Overview

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Reaching Home is a federal homelessness program that distributes funds across the country via several local streams:

• Designated: For urban communities
• Indigenous: For urban Indigenous populations
• Rural and Remote: For non-urban communities
• Veterans

Each stream is designed to “reduce chronic homelessness by helping people maintain safe, stable, and affordable housing.” Local organizations, known as Community Entities, manage these streams. Since Fiscal Year 2022-23, the Stoney Nakoda - Tsuut’ina Tribal Council Ltd. (G4) has been the Community Entity for the Calgary Indigenous Stream, managing approximately $7 million per year.

G4 collaborates with a broad network of partners, including:

• Stoney Nakoda - Tsuut’ina Tribal Council Ltd. (G4)
  • Chiefs and Council
• Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada (HICC)
• Community Advisory Board (CAB)
• Designated Community Entity
  • Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF)
• Grassroots Community Members
  • Sober Crew
  • Bear Clan East

• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
  • Aboriginal Housing Initiative
  • Cultural Reconnection & Community Development
  • Kanakaakisom (sp)
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary
  • Aboriginal Standing Committee on Housing and Homelessness (ASCHH)
  • Creation Lodge
  • Dana’s House
• Inn From the Cold
  • Moccasin Pathways
• McMan Calgary and Area
  • Wicihitowin
• Metis Calgary Family Services
  • Native Network
  • Rainbow Lodge
• Miskanawah Community Services
  • Ka-pe-kiwehtahat
• Trellis Society for Community Impact
  • Home Fire
  • Nikso’kowaiksi

• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary
  • Bromley’s Place
• Metis Calgary Family Services
  • Rainbow Lodge Renovation
• Trellis Society for Community Impact
  • Bear Lodge

G4 administers the Reaching Home – Indigenous Homelessness Program by:

• Program Administration:
  • Conducting Request for Proposal (RFP) processes
  • Investing in community-based responses to homelessness
  • Collecting quarterly & annual reports from funded programs
  • Reporting to HICC
  • Building, fostering, and maintaining community relationships
• Collaboration & Events:
  • Coordinating gatherings to support one another
  • Organizing events with services for unhoused individuals in Calgary
  • Supporting cross-agency collaboration and Point-in-Time Counts
• Data Management:
  • Maintaining a data warehouse for reporting and program planning

• 2021: G4 hosted its first Gathering offering lunch, social services, and vaccinations for Indigenous People experiencing homelessness in Calgary.
• May 2022: After working with the Community Advisory Board, HICC, and the designated community entity, G4 was officially selected to administer the Reaching Home – Indigenous Homelessness Program. This marked the first time a Tribal Council had been chosen nationally, with 7 programs across 5 agencies funded to provide services.

• New and expanded programs began offering services to urban Indigenous individuals, women, and families.
• G4 collaborated closely with local agencies to enhance the overall capacity within Calgary’s homelessness sector.

• A competitive RFP process led to an additional $5 million investment:
  • Expansion of 2 existing programs
  • Funding for 6 new programs
• This initiative addressed service gaps for Indigenous youth, women, and families, growing services from 7 programs (5 agencies) to 13 programs (7 agencies).

Successful projects included:

• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary – Bromley’s Place: Purchase of a 10-unit apartment complex for safe, affordable housing.
• Metis Calgary Family Services – Rainbow Lodge Renovation: Upgrades to a 28-unit complex for Indigenous families.
• Trellis Society for Community Impact – Bear Lodge: Renovations for transitional housing, assisting families working toward reunification.

• January 2024: An additional $2.7 million in one-time funding was received for winter-related activities:
  • $1.5 million invested directly into programs
  • $1.2 million allocated for cold-weather supplies, outreach teams, warming spaces, and heaters

• Following the 2022-24 Contribution Agreement, G4 was re-elected by the Community Advisory Board and HICC to continue administering the program from 2025-2028. This renewal allows continued support for agencies, programs, and urban Indigenous peoples in Calgary.

• March & April 2024: Two gatherings at Olympic Plaza delivered over 900 backpacks with warm clothing, essential supplies, and free lunch, with 13 community partners providing front-line services.
• October 2024: A Gathering in support of the Point-in-Time Count was held at The Confluence. This event included information sharing, service coordination, and administration of the federal “Housing and Homelessness Survey.”

As the 2025-26 fiscal year approaches, G4 is collaborating with community stakeholders and the federal government on the following initiatives:

• Administering Additional Funds:
  • Late in the 2024-25 fiscal year, the federal government increased contribution agreements to support a community RFP process aimed at further expanding programs and acquiring capital assets.
• Adapting to New Directives:
  • In 2024, HICC released updated Reaching Home Directives. G4 is actively working with partners to ensure these changes are understood and implemented.
• Community Engagement:
  • Planning 2 Gatherings to support community interaction and service delivery.
  • Coordinating 2 agency networking and relationship-building events.