Just for a moment, imagine a city without violence, where a woman need not be afraid of domestic abuse, where a child is not left behind in the pursuit of hope and happiness. This could be our city and the goal of Calgary Urban Project Society’s (CUPS) PAINT A PICTURE OF HOPE expansion campaign is to do this. The mission of CUPS has always been to seek through compassionate healthcare and social and educational services to nurture and promote healing to those that have been rejected or neglected by society. To empower and not enable. To help Calgarians in need go from Surviving to Thriving.

In the last decade, Calgarians witnessed a tremendous economic boom which saw an increase in the general wealth of many Calgarians. This economic boom saw Calgary become the fifth largest metropolitan city in Canada with a population growth of 34.9 per cent between 2006 and 2007.

Whereas Calgarians welcomed the economic fortunes of the city, many others found themselves struggling to make ends meet. Some Calgarians saw their purchasing power decrease ironically in an economic boom. Prices of houses were up by 154 per cent according to research done by the City of Calgary while incomes increased just by 34 per cent. With such economic and social factors prevailing, some section of Calgarians found themselves in poverty. Many Calgarians who found themselves in poverty, some for the first time, included individuals and families with children in the home.

Poverty comes with great economic and social price tags. The Calgary Homeless Foundation reported that in 2008, over 4,000 Calgarians were homeless, with the cost per homeless person to our city being about $100,000 for hospital visits, shelters and correctional services. The goal of CUPS has always been to change that. To empower individuals and families overcome the barriers of poverty and to regain their place in their communities.

For over 20 years, with a holistic approach to solving the issues of poverty in Calgary, CUPS, through its healthcare, educational and housing programs has provided many less fortunate Calgarians the opportunity to regain their lives.

Through its One World Child Development Centre (One World), CUPS enrolls an average of 58 children per academic year since its establishment in 2002 with graduating children being integrated into the public educational system. Children in this program come from low income families. Besides the wonderful education the children receive at One World, they are also provided with healthcare services including visits from pediatric residents, dentists, and opticians. They also receive nutritional breakfast, lunch and snacks among many more.

To provide for a healthy family lifestyle, the CUPS Parent Education program teaches women, who otherwise would be marginalized, parental skills to help provide for a stable home.

Working on an eight hour per day shift, and part-time on Saturdays, the CUPS health clinic provided services for over 21,000 patients per year. The CUPS healthcare clinic, relying only on a few full-time and volunteer Doctors, provide services to patients in areas such as; primary care, pre-natal care, mental care, dental, hepatitis C, optometry and many more services. Many of the patients have come to know CUPS personnel by name and continue to patronize CUPS services.

Finding a job is a difficult process in itself let alone doing that without a home to live in. In solving this problem, CUPS in 2008 initiated the Rapid Exit program to help place individuals and families into stable housing.

In its first year, the Rapid Exit Housing program placed 1,000 individuals and families into stable housing all around Calgary.

The Rapid Exit Program partnered with 125 landlords throughout the city to help less fortunate Calgarians find stable housing. It is worthy to note that the CUPS Rapid Exit program has become the hub for many non profit agencies looking to house their homeless clients.

The past 20 years have been a great period in CUPS history. Over the years, milestones have been achieved through hard work, dedication and passion for serving less fortunate Calgarians.

However in the midst of celebrating the achievements of the past years, there continues to be a desire and an understanding that more could be done for the citizens of Calgary.

Thanks to a lead donation from EnCana Corporation and Cenovus Energy, CUPS will have the opportunity to double its services to Calgarians in need.

Eight additional medical rooms will be available to the CUPS health clinic through this expansion campaign to increase its services to the marginalized from 21,000 patients to close to 30,000 patients per year.

The expansion will further enable CUPS to double its children intake from 58 to 120 children per academic year while providing for a new play ground for the children as well as three new buses and a van for the school.

An increase from 1,000 to close to 2,000 housed families is expected from the Rapid Exit program at CUPS as a result of the expansion.

The funds required to complete the expansion process is $8 million dollars. With this amount raised, CUPS’ physical location will be doubled to 38,000 sq ft with an opportunity to double its services.

CUPS has significant partnerships with the business community, the faith community and individuals throughout Calgary.

As CUPS embarks on this journey, they realize they cannot take this journey alone. They need the help of the general public. CUPS asks that the public, business and the faith communities join hands with them to Paint A Picture Of Hope to many less fortunate Calgarians.

To make a donation to CUPS expansion campaign or to know more about the campaign, kindly visit CUPS website at www.cupscalgary.com  or call CUPS office at 403-221-8780.