Dream Centre helps address homelessness

by John Syratt

Many Alberta communities are experiencing a population surge. This summer Calgary’s numbers officially reached the one million mark. That’s a 7.1% increase since its 2004 Civic Census. The economy across the province is strong. Things are looking good. Yet there’s a sad story in the midst of all the growth. Calgary saw a 32.3% jump in its homeless population over that same period. Homelessness is not just outpacing the growth. It’s increasing at an alarming rate...4.5 times faster than the general population.

The City of Calgary has conducted a census of homeless persons every two years since 1992. According to a one night count on May 10th of this year, 3,436 people in the booming city are homeless. The real number is estimated to be much more because the survey didn’t include those sleeping in their cars, abandoned buildings or at friend’s places.

Amongst the 51 facilities in Calgary currently providing emergency and transitional housing, the Calgary Dream Centre (CDC) is one of several agencies working hard to get people off the street permanently.
“We’re the only agency that actually goes out and interviews clients,” said CDC’s Intake Coordinator Robert Laird. “We go to the De-tox, methadone clinics, hospitals, prisons and to the street to select people who would be good candidates for change.”

The CDC, which seeks to focus on “life change” in their residents, has been in operation for a little over two years and has been asked for statistics on their success, but because they’re relatively new on the scene, their successes are still being tallied.

“I can’t give you the exact numbers, but I can tell you about the guys who aren’t living in cardboard boxes anymore,” said Laird. “The guys that aren’t living under bridges; the guys that aren’t living in seedy hotels or by the river; guys that are now living in, what they call, their home; guys that consider this to be part of their family; guys that are now working for the first time in five years in their chosen profession because they’re able to get their life back on track, and the families that have been restored.”

The stated mission of the CDC is to help people restore their dignity, discover their destiny and realize their dreams and this is all done in a spiritual environment.

“I tell people this is a Christian faith-based organization but it’s not shoved down their throats,” Laird noted.

“When I was volunteering with another ministry, there weren’t a lot of transitional facilities available,” added Jennifer Ksionzena, CDC’s Reception and Facility Rental Coordinator. “My prayer at the time was that God would provide a safe place for people to go if they desired a life change and now I’m seeing that unfold on a daily basis. ”

Gary and Annette Carmichael, who recently celebrated 34 years of marriage, both work at the Dream Centre and love what they do. Gary was the Business Administrator of First Assembly Church in Calgary but works hard today as the Programs Director for the Centre. Annette, a former addict herself, used to spend many hours volunteering at the CDC and now has three jobs there including coordinating volunteers, handling staff and assisting Jim Moore, the Centre’s Executive Director.

“When you see that transformation with men walking in the dreams and the destiny that was meant for them, it’s exciting and that’s what it’s about,” said Annette. “It’s all about them.”

“I’ve never had a job where I enjoy coming to work so much because every day is different,” added Gary, who oversees the three basic program streams which, along with residential and transitional housing, cover such topics as Personal Life Management, Spiritual Foundations along with Career Skills and Personal Life Development. “We try and find what their dream is and help them out with it.”

“It’s really exciting to see someone’s life change,” said Lynnel Schultz, CDC’s Events Administrator. When she was a student she helped gut the building that houses the CDC.

“When my father passed away earlier this year a lot of the guys dressed up in suits to come to the funeral,” said Moore. The suits had been donated and for many of the men it was their first time wearing one.

The Calgary Dream Centre continues to dream big. “We have a dream to buy additional property and build facilities for women and families too,” said Moore. “A large part of my job is to keep this place running. Money comes in through prayer.”

On September 14, just prior to Calgary’s Homeless Awareness Week (September 17-24), the CDC is hosting its 4th Annual Radiothon fundraiser, with Shine 88.9FM broadcasting live on location. From 6am to 9pm the day-long event will feature sponsor exhibits of fast cars and motorbikes, a climbing wall and skate park, kayaks, resident’s art show, music, BBQ by donation and more.

“Parents can learn about addiction prevention,” Moore concluded. “People can meet our partner agencies and learn about our solution to homelessness.”

The Calgary Dream Centre is located at 4510 Macleod Trail South. For more information please call (403) 243-5598 or you can visit www.calgarydreamcentre.com  or www.homelessawareness.ca.