The Confluence hires Alpha House outreach workers for public safety pilot project
Calgary’s The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland has hired a team of outreach workers in collaboration with Alpha House which will patrol the area and ensure a “people-centred approach” to public safety.
The project, which began on Aug. 12, is funded by the City of Calgary Civic Partner Community Safety Grant Program and will see at least two dedicated outreach workers operate on the site for eight hours every single day.
Jennifer Thompson, president of The Confluence, said her team decided to apply for the grant to fund support workers rather than security personnel to meaningfully address issues facing unhoused people in downtown Calgary.
“We’re a part of the downtown community and we really want to make sure that everyone who accesses the parkland and our museum space feels welcome,” Thompson said.
“Certainly the community has established encampments here, but we really didn't want to take an enforcement approach. Relationship building is the key to success when you’re working with people who are experiencing homelessness.”
During the warmer months, The Confluence team had been calling Alpha House almost daily regarding unhoused people camping on the property, vulnerable individuals in need of support and concerns over needle debris.
Cody Snoxell, Alpha House Outreach Program Director, says the pilot project will embed Alpha House staff onto the Confluence team so fewer resources will be required to manage situations as they arise.
“By working closely with partners, we can come up with innovative ways to act proactively and provide effective support,” he said.
“Our goal is to improve wellbeing and overall wellness by understanding where people are at and using collaborative case management customized for each individual.”
The pilot project will run for six months until Dec. 31 at which point The Confluence and Alpha House will assess the next steps for a potential permanent implementation of outreach workers on site.
‘I have my own place now’
In 2023, many staff members at The Confluence formed a friendship with Darrel Staples, a man who lived outside of the site for several months.
Alpha House outreach workers also connected with Staples regularly to check on him, help him apply for housing and support and eventually move to temporary housing.
Today he now lives in permanent housing with continued assistance thanks to these efforts.
“Alpha House helped me so much,” said Staples.
“I have my own place now and it’s because they helped me with the whole process of getting my ID back and applying for everything. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Witnessing that moment is what prompted Thompson to want to continue offering support for unhoused individuals in need.
“It was incredibly emotional when we were able to actually see Darrel go to the next step of being housed,” she said.
“We still have a great relationship with him. He's trying to inspire other people to work with community groups like the Alpha House and even Calgary Police Service, to sort of understand how there are so many services out there. But again, it takes everyone in the community to come together for this.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7034258.1726084302!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'An unfortunate waste of resources': Ontario woman facing criminal charge following water gun incident
A Simcoe, Ont. woman is facing an assault with a weapon charge after she said that she accidentally sprayed her neighbour with a water gun over the Labour Day weekend, a situation that at least one legal expert says amounts to an ‘unfortunate waste of resources.’
The man who discovered Churchill's picture was stolen was treated like a suspect; now he's being honoured
When the 'Roaring Lion' portrait of Winston Churchill is returned to the Fairmont Château Laurier, a 68-year-old man once considered the prime suspect in the heist will have the honour of replacing it.
Billionaire steps out of SpaceX capsule for first private spacewalk hundreds of miles above Earth
A billionaire kicked off the first private spacewalk Thursday, teaming up with SpaceX on the daring endeavour hundreds of miles above Earth.
Consul general to New York to answer questions over $9M luxury condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark will testify on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
Buckingham Palace guard's distinctive bearskin caps under fire by animal rights group
An animal rights group trying to get real fur out of the bearskin caps worn by King's Guards at Buckingham Palace took aim Thursday at the cost of the ceremonial garb.
Dollarama keeping an eye on competitors as Loblaw launches new ultra-discount chain
Dollarama Inc.'s food aisles may have expanded far beyond sweet treats or piles of gum by the checkout counter in recent years, but its chief executive maintains his company is 'not in the grocery business,' even if it's keeping an eye on the sector.
What passengers need to know about their rights ahead of a potential Air Canada pilots strike
While Air Canada has shared advice for travellers ahead of a possible pilots strike, an airline passenger rights advocate has more tips for Canadians who may be affected.
Ontario woman misses flight to funeral due to airline ticket typo
An Ontario woman admits she was flustered and stressed trying to book an airline ticket when she found out a close relative had died last month.
Jon Bon Jovi helps talk woman down from ledge on Nashville bridge
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jon Bon Jovi and a video production assistant persuaded a woman standing on the ledge of a pedestrian bridge in Nashville to come back over the railing to safety.