Homeless support agencies say the promising results of recent homeless counts in Calgary likely exclude a demographic often unwilling to step forward for help.

Janeen Webb, Inn from the Cold’s director of donor relations, says the shelter has been at or above capacity for the majority of 2016 but there are additional families in Calgary in need of assistance.

“Our families have a lot to lose,” said Webb. “You want to protect your most cherished commodity, you want to protect your most cherished gift and that is your family.”

“To come up on the radar and admit to a stranger that you have no food for your children, no place for them to sleep and that your life’s belongings are contained in one bag, it puts you at risk. You believe that you are at risk of perhaps having your family split apart or your children taken away.”

Many parents facing financial adversity will elect to couch surf, live out of a vehicle or rough sleep while intentionally avoiding homeless head counts. Webb says the belief is a widely held misconception and, in actuality, the support system does everything in its power to keep families together.

“Our doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days and we will help you if you are homeless with children.”

She adds that more can be done to help families before they find themselves without shelter.

“Families that are at risk of being homeless are easy to spot,” said Webb. “We certainly know that there are families across the city who are accessing the Food Bank. Our friends at the Food Bank will see our families before we see them through our doors. Utility companies will make that tough decision to have to send a final notice. They’re identifying our families ahead of time.”

“There are lots of warning signs before a family finally arrives at our doors so we’re working very hard as a family sector and with our friends in the community, including the Calgary Homeless Foundation, to organize ourselves to be able to identify these families in advance and help to keep them away from our shelter.”

The economic downturn has increased demand for Inn from the Cold’s services at a time when financial donations dropped nearly 20 per cent from 2015 but officials say there has been an upside to the downturn.

“Our families are experiencing a greater ease at which they’re able to find affordable, dignified, sustainable accommodations.”

While cash donations have decreased, Calgarians continue to support Inn from the Cold with in-kind donations including diapers, wipes, formula, toiletries and laundry detergent to help sustain the shelter.

Inn from the Cold will host an open house on Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. “We would appreciate everybody popping down not just to see what we’re facing here in Calgary from a real tangible perspective but also so that we can show Calgarians who have supported us in this challenging year the impact of their generosity and to say thank you.”

For more information, visit Inn from the Cold.