Children's Cottage Society Brenda's House offers hope

For the first time ever, 360 images give you exclusive access to the inner workings of a Calgary shelter.

Founded in 2009 with the support of the Brenda Strafford Foundation, Children's Cottage Society's Brenda House is a lifesaver for many homeless families in the city.

Sarah Michael, Senior Manager of Housing and Homelessness highlights the important role of supporting families at their most vulnerable times.

“Brenda's House is an emergency family shelter that supports families experiencing homelessness and provides them with the support they need to transition from homelessness to safe, permanent housing,” said Mikhail.

A shelter that feels like home

One of the defining characteristics of Brenda's House is its commitment to prioritize the safety and well-being of families, especially children, in a sheltered environment.

Located in southwest Calgary, the organization offers emergency shelter that can accommodate 14 families at a time. The shelter is designed to model a warm, home-like environment during difficult times.

“The physical structure of the building allows families to eat together in the dining room, and each family has its own room and bathroom,” said Mikhail.

Mikhail explained that the inclusive criteria for families seeking asylum emphasize deliberately low barriers to accommodate diverse family structures, including men with children – a rarity in the asylum landscape.

Inclusive and active support

At the core of Brenda's House's vision is its proactive stance in moving families into safe, affordable and sustainable housing.

“We often start before the families come into Brenda's home,” said Mikhail.

“Families who call for support will be given resources and assignments from our prevention and diversion staff.”

HomeLinks program

Among the services offered at Children's Cottage Society is the HomeLinks case management program, which provides ongoing support for families to secure housing and build important social networks and skills.

Although Brenda's home has had many successful events, there is one that stands out in Mikhail's mind.

“(One girl was a single mother. Brenda's House provided her with an identity card, parental support and income to start looking for housing,” Mikhail said.

“HomeLinks helped her find a unit with a social housing provider in Calgary, helped pay for her move and provided financial support during her move. This is a great example of the importance of housing in the first place, because having a private home helped stabilize this family's situation.”

However, while Brenda's House strives to help families in need, the organization needs help in this mission.

“We cannot do our work without the support of the community and we are extremely grateful to our donors and volunteers. “Volunteers provide us with several hours of support every week, which makes it easier for the staff to carry the heavy load,” said Mikhail.

“You can come and mentor the youth while the parents are attending workshops, doing crafts, cooking dinner, serving dinner, doing light administrative work. Alternatively, you can give small amounts through monthly payments or gift cards.

Community support and advocacy

To combat the stigma often associated with homelessness and replace it with a desire to help, Mikhail emphasizes the importance of “knowing your neighbors' names (and) knowing that homelessness can happen to anyone.”

As Michael emphasizes the importance of dispelling misconceptions about homelessness, he highlights Brenda House's commitment to providing support and understanding to families in need.

“I think a lot of families think we're judging them, (and) their decisions as individuals and as parents. I promise you, we are not like that,” said Mikhail.

Mikhail said community outreach, including events and social media campaigns, is an integral part of building understanding and empathy.

Faced with hardship, Mikhail Brenda's House relies on the resilience of the families it serves.

“Most of the families stay with the shelter after finding it,” said Mikhail.

For those interested in supporting the mission of Brenda's House, detailed information on donation avenues and volunteer opportunities can be found here.

It depends

Report an error or bug