“It is with honour that I take this opportunity to share with you how The Alex has been part of my families lives. Over the years we have had minimal interactions with The Alex. In the past, my daughter has done an in person cooking program for teens. We’ve done a class here and there, but it wasn’t until Covid hit that we have really developed a relationship with The Alex.

Although there are many negatives to come from covid for our family this has been one of the silver linings. The Alex has provided our family with knowledge, skills, delicious food, beautiful crafts, cultural teachings and stories, bonding time, networking and more. I truly cannot fully express in words the extent of our gratitude and how warm my heart is without sharing some stories.

The Alex has become a family ordeal. My mother is a very involved Mom and Grandmother to us. While I work during pick up times she is graciously goes to the centre and picks up our food, supplies, frozen meals and more.

There are always perks to visiting the Alex which could be a gift bag of goodies, a new mask that volunteers have made, a meal for the freezer, a meal ready to eat and this is before we even get to picking up the ingredients for a meal class or supplies for a craft session. My mom has always felt welcomed, supported, and cared about.

Walking through the doors of the Alex does not leave you feeling judged or like a drain on society. You are embraced with open arms and smiles beaming behind their masks.

I shall call these “Sm-eyes”. Thank you to everyone that makes the Alex a positive experience.

When I think of all the programs we have participated in since covid started I am amazed by the opportunities we have had. These have been exciting and engaging opportunities that I can guarantee we would not have been able to participate in all of these if we had to meet in person.

Being able to meet virtually meant that it could involve the whole family and not just the person attending at the Alex. I loved this aspect for family bonding and activities. It also allowed for us work around our own schedules such as Dad’s in the kitchen. My three children and partner participate when he arrives home from work. They gather in the kitchen and you hear giggles and teamwork. If this was at the Alex centre, he may not participate because he is shy. His work schedule fluctuates which means at times I can step in and take over but also all three children would not be able to attend at once, too. Going virtual has been such a blessing for our family. I cannot express how much it has meant to us enough times.

As an Indigenous woman there are not many places in the city where we can participate in our own culture ways from teachings, storytelling and creating and the Ways of Knowing series with Dion Nelson gave a large group of us this opportunity. I love that the group is multicultural and so willing to learn and listen. This truly is a program that supports the Truth and Reconciliations call to action.

In closing, if you are not able to read closely the words in the red heart wordle then I’d love to share some of those words that come to mind when I think of the Alex. Alex, volunteers, heartfelt, family, learning, virtual, zoom, food, dreamcatcher, rattle, Indigenous, culture, covid, support, stories, patience, helpful, giving, market, healthy, fun, network, available, smudge, respect, cooking, freezer, baking, dedicated, warm, pick-up and ingredients are a short list of many thoughts and feelings that come to mind when expression what the Alex is to our family.

It is through generous funders, donors, and grants that this becomes possible, and I feel that the stakeholders of these projects should know just how blessed the participants feel and how much of an impact and difference your contributions make with or without covid.

My wishes and hopes are that these opportunities continue, and more people learn about the Alex and it continues to grow and make a difference in so many peoples lives. Thank you for your contribution to this success.

Sincerely,
Stacey and Family”

The post My Family & The Alex appeared first on The Alex.

Beverly was homeless for nearly 20 years before moving into Prelude, an Alex Permanent Supportive Housing building operated alongside HomeSpace.

In 1975, when she was just a girl, Beverly was taken from her birth parents after witnessing violent domestic abuse in the home. She was placed with foster parents and her older siblings all went to different homes. As a result of the trauma she’d experienced, being separated from her loved ones, and being placed in a new home, she experienced anxiety, nervousness and bad dreams that persisted for years. But Beverly was resilient, even as a child. Over time she grew to enjoy living with her foster parents and graduated high school in 1985 at age 19.

“Being homeless was awful,” she says. “All we had were sleeping bags and a tarp. It was freezing. The worst part was when you had to go to the washroom and it was freezing out. Sometimes we stayed at the DI or Alpha House or the Mustard Seed and didn’t have to sleep outside.”

In May 2017, construction was completed on Prelude in Radisson Heights. Beverly didn’t know it yet, but she was about to receive a home, after 19 years of experiencing homelessness.

“I was staying at the DI and I remember the day the staff told me, ‘We have a home for you.’ That was in April 2017 and then I moved in July 2017. Now, I’ve been here three years.”

“I don’t get bad dreams anymore,” says Beverly, gazing upon the many dream catchers hanging on the walls of her home.

“My hope is for everyone homeless to get housed. I want them to know there’s help out there for them, if they choose to take the opportunity. There are buildings like Prelude, and I want the people who build them to know they are helping.”

The post Beverly’s Story appeared first on The Alex.

What is the best birthday gift you’ve received? For John* it was a gift he gave to himself – walking into The Alex to ask for help with his alcohol addiction.

A professional, with a family, mortgage and all the rest, John had been hiding his addiction, and struggling with intense feelings of shame. Like many people, John was trying to manage on his own, but would find himself in a pattern of returning to alcohol and feeling like he failed himself and his family.

When he arrived at The Alex’s Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) clinic on his 45th birthday, a staff member was able to see him immediately to assess his needs. She prescribed medication to help with his withdrawal symptoms for the short term, and together, they made a treatment plan to move him out of the cycle of relapse and onto a sustainable path of healing. John was the first graduate of the RAAM program, and is now back on track with his job, his family and his life.

It’s the combination of immediate access, safety, and collaboration between medical and social teams at The Alex that makes RAAM so successful.

“Addiction is not a mystery; It is caused by genetic predisposition, trauma and other factors,” says Tracy Dafoe of the RAAM clinic. “When we demystify the addiction, we can stop looking at it as a ‘character defect’ and see and treat the whole person.”

*Name changed to protect privacy

The post John’s Story appeared first on The Alex.

Imagine that your body is fighting against you at every turn, calcifying your bones, resulting in crippling headaches, weakness, stiffness of your arms and legs and ongoing abdominal pain.

This has always been part of Chris’ life, as he was born with a genetic disorder called Pseudohypoparathyrodism, which blocks the parathyroid hormone from regulating his calcium levels.

The diagnosis

Chris’ daughter Samantha was his bright light

She shared the same genetic condition as Chris, but it affected her much more. Her lungs never fully developed, and calcification of her arms and legs meant she was in a wheelchair. Samantha was funny, caring, and never let what she couldn’t do get her down. She would post make-up videos on YouTube where she’d show other kids how to do beautiful eyeshadow and mascara. In those videos she’d discuss bullying and encouraged other kids to be kind and accepting of those with disabilities. Chris shows off her videos beaming with fatherly pride.

“I used to take her to the park, take her to get Happy Meals at McDonald’s, feed the ducks at the park. I’d do her hair and nails and buy her nice dresses. She loved Barbies – she had the corvette, the house – everything. I tried my best. I would never put her in danger. She was my number one priority.”

In 2013, Samantha passed away, and Chris’ substance use and gambling addictions worsened to fill the void she left behind.

“I started drinking even worse because I had no purpose now. I had nothing.”

A father’s grief

Chris tried to push through and keep working but struggled to stay employed: if it wasn’t the drinking that led to losing a job, it was the physical toll that minimum wage work had on his fragile health. He still feels the long-term effects of several on-the-job injuries, as his alcoholism had made it hard to access health care.

“I went to a doctor’s office in Calgary but I kept missing the appointments because I was drunk all the time and couldn’t remember. Eventually the doctor said ‘Chris I can’t have you as a patient anymore’ and kicked me out of the clinic.”

Chris was also struggling to meet his basic needs. There were holes in his shoes, he couldn’t pay rent, and because he wasn’t seeing a doctor and didn’t have coverage, he wasn’t able to get the medications he needed to manage his thyroid condition.

One day, Chris walked into the Bowness Community Centre for a food hamper. After telling a volunteer about himself, she recommended Chris go to The Alex for support. When he agreed she called and made an appointment for him.

Chris didn’t expect much from The Alex, considering he’d been rejected by so many other service providers.

“I came in for the interview and they accepted me right away. Dr. Sun was the first doctor that could tolerate me at the time.”

Chris’ journey to health, wellness, and community

After finally finding a place where he was accepted and not judged, Chris’ life started improving. He stopped drinking, and though he still struggles with gambling, he credits the pandemic with getting it down to a “dull roar.”

In addition to a doctor, Chris also sees a mental health counsellor at The Alex, who has helped him understand the psychological factors of his addictions, and to heal, build strength and resilience. He made a big step in the right direction recently when he banned himself from online gambling websites through the Alberta Gaming Liquor Commission (AGLC), which means if he tries to access them again, the site will automatically block him.

Today, Chris lives in a cozy basement suite in Taradale and has been there for two years. He also has a girlfriend who he credits as being one of the reasons he gets up in the morning.

“She also helps me with the gambling. When I say we should go to the casino she says no,” he laughs.

Chris owns a truck, a French bulldog named Gunner, and a home sound system with subs, all of which give him joy. He’ll take any opportunity to show you pictures of his life these days. He looks so happy as he talks about off-roading in his truck or the birthday party he threw for Gunner.

Now that he has consistent, compassionate care at The Alex, Chris has also been managing his thyroid condition much better. He says he only has bad days when he misses his medications.

Chris has also been seeing a social worker at The Alex, who has helped him with claims for his workplace injuries and with some of the fines he’s accrued. He says it’s been a huge help because the justice system is complicated. They go to court with him, advocate for him, and help navigate the process.

Chris says he kept coming to The Alex because they showed him that there was more to him than he could see through his addictions. When he comes to The Alex he can see his doctor, counsellor, and social worker all in one trip, allowing him to get the wraparound support he needs without having to tell his story over and over again.

“[The Alex] gives you to tools, but you gotta be resourceful, you gotta be a survivor. Drugs can take you down or you can take it down. If you asked how I got to where I’m at, I couldn’t tell you. What made me change? It was every little step up that got me where I am. Each small thing I did I made a better decision.”

The post Chris’ Story appeared first on The Alex.

Five years ago, Liza and her husband Nathan moved to Calgary from the Philippines. Liza was pregnant at the time and was excited to start a new life with her new family in Canada.

But when his work contract expired, Nathan was denied immigrant status to remain in the country. He was forced to return home, leaving Liza and her infant daughter to learn a new language, culture, and city alone.

Liza has been going through the process of getting immigrant status as well, but until she receives it, she can’t work, get an Alberta health card or health insurance. She lives in constant fear that she will be sent back to the Philippines or be separated from her now 5-year-old daughter Tessie, who was born in Calgary. Without the ability to work, Liza relies on the friends and community they’ve found in Calgary.

“They helped me when I had my daughter and my husband had to go back. Now they help me get food. It’s not just about the food though, it’s great having people to talk to. With the pandemic, I don’t know if it was depression, but with the help of the community I got through it. My husband has been away from me for five years. He’s never met his daughter. And so it’s hard because I don’t have family here. So my community becomes my family here.”

Tessie started kindergarten this year. She’s a kind little girl who loves to draw and play games, and wants to be a ballerina when she grows up. Tessie has an Alberta Health Care card, but unfortunately that doesn’t cover the health care she needed most – dental.

A few years ago, Tessie started complaining of pain in her mouth. Liza called around to ask for help, but was told she’d have to pay hundreds of dollars just for a check-up. Without income, Liza had no options.

As Tessie’s pain got worse, so did Liza’s desperation. Tessie couldn’t sleep or eat certain foods because of the pain. Every parent understands the heartbreak of seeing their child in pain, and nothing seemed to help. One fortunate day while volunteering, Liza met a woman who recommended The Alex.

Often new Canadians who are going through the immigration process are afraid to ask for help or provide information, because they’re worried immigration authorities may get involved. Indeed, Liza was worried, but she decided to trust her friend, be brave, and call The Alex Dental Health Bus. Tessie was able to see a hygienist on the bus within a few months.

“She enjoyed the bus. She wasn’t scared and liked the people there. They taught her flossing and brushing and she has remembered everything they taught her.”

Tessie learned a lot on the bus, but when the hygienist looked in her mouth it was clear it was too late for prevention. Tessie needed treatment on all her top baby teeth and 4 lower baby teeth. She required teeth to be pulled, stainless steel crowns, fillings, and baby tooth root canals. She also had an infection in the upper left side of her mouth.

There’s a lot the hygienists can do on The Alex Dental Health Bus, but because it’s a mobile clinic, capacity is limited. Cases like Tessie’s need equipment and expertise that can only be found in a dental office. That’s why over the past few years, the team at The Alex has been developing the “Dental Access Network” (DAN), which is a network of dental offices in Calgary that volunteer their time and resources to help kids like Tessie, whose family cannot afford the cost of dental procedures.

“It would’ve cost me thousands and thousands of dollars. I was in shock when I heard. I’ve heard that when people are immigrating to Canada they’re told to get their dental work done at home before coming here because it’s so expensive.”

The Alex team referred Tessie to a dentist in northeast Calgary, and within two months she had her operation.

“I don’t know what I can give back to The Alex community who helped me. I don’t know what I can do, I cannot do anything about her teeth because I don’t have money. Even if I don’t have status I feel so blessed.”

7 months after the operation, Tessie is doing well. She’s no longer in pain and brushes and flosses her teeth every day to prevent problems in the future. Her favourite part is gurgling the water and laughs at the sound every time she does it.

Since her first experience with the Dental Health Bus, Liza has continued her journey with The Alex by volunteering at the Community Food Centre. She helped cook and package over 400 meals during the height of the pandemic for her neighbours. She enjoyed cooking and learning from the chef and sharing recipes from back home.

“You helped me so much. If I can do anything, I will give my time to give back. I pray that you can help more people like me.”

Liza plans to keep volunteering with The Alex, continuing to demonstrate that she has a lot to offer the community – a big heart, a lovely smile, and courage and resilience gained from unique experiences and a strong community.

“I’m so glad because there’s something for everybody [at The Alex] – for food, market, dental and healthcare. All in one package. If you need help, just go to The Alex. They ask ‘what do you need?’ Just go there and they can help you. And if they can’t help right away they find a way to help. They never say no.”

The Alex Dental Health Bus visits underserved communities in Calgary, educating kids ages 6-24 on the importance of oral hygiene and providing preventative dental services. Many who use the program are low-income, non-insured or underinsured, and shoulder the greatest burden of dental disease in our community.

We take action because we know that dental health problems often lead to chronic pain, infection, lowered self-esteem, and compromised performance at school. Dental health problems are also linked to other serious health issues.

Learn more

The post Liza and Tessie’s Story appeared first on The Alex.

On an unseasonably hot day in June, Jordan visited The Alex Youth Health Centre. She’d heard about The Alex years ago from a friend, but didn’t know much about it. As she bled from her wrist that afternoon, it was the only place she could think of to go.

Jordan had always struggled with self-harm and today was particularly difficult. Even though she was feeling desperate, Jordan knew she didn’t want to go to the hospital. She’d been through that before and knew that this time she needed more than a bandage on her wrist and a night in the psych ward. Yes, Jordan was in distress, but she wasn’t suicidal. In fact, she saw cutting herself as a way to cope.

“I need help,” Jordan said to Meghan, the social worker who greeted her as she arrived at The Alex. As she held up her arm, Meghan moved calmly but quickly. “Come with me,” she said. “We’re going to help you.” Meghan asked nurse Caitlyn to join them in an exam room to treat Jordan’s wound.

When someone comes to The Alex who has harmed themselves, it is protocol for a physician to do a psychiatric assessment to determine whether that person needs to be admitted to a hospital or if they can be discharged. So,
while Caitlyn cleaned and bandaged Jordan’s wound, Meghan walked down the hall to talk to the doctor on shift at The Alex that day.

Dr. Clain was able to see Jordan right away. She did an extensive assessment, asking her lots of questions and doing a physical exam. During the assessment Jordan mentioned that about a week ago she ran out of the medication she’d been taking to treat her depression. She couldn’t renew the prescription because she lost her part-time job at Tim Hortons and couldn’t afford them anymore. The Alex always has common medications on hand in case of an emergency like this, so Dr. Clain gave Jordan a 2-week supply so she could immediately resume her regimen with the hope that her mental health could stabilize.

Dr. Clain concluded that Jordan did not need to go the hospital, but that mental health support was still needed immediately. Moments later, Dr. Clain brought in a mental health clinician at The Alex named Elaine. With a bandage on her wrist and a bottle of her medication in her hand, Jordan followed Elaine into a quiet, comfortable office for same-day counselling.

Over the next half hour, Jordan and Elaine talked about what triggered her that day what tools she could use to
stay safe over the next few days. Meghan met Jordan at Elaine’s office door and led her to another office where
they sat down.

“So,” she said “you’ve got meds for the next couple of weeks but we need to apply for emergency medication coverage so you can stay on them after they run out. I know they’re expensive normally, but it’s really important that you don’t stop taking them. This program is for people who can’t afford their medications, so they’ll be covered. Are you hungry?”

That last question took Jordan by surprise. That’s not something you hear in a doctor’s office. In fact, from everything she’d experienced so far, it was clear this place was unlike anywhere she’d been before.

“Uh, yeah” she said. “I haven’t eaten all day.” Meghan smiled, went to the fridge in another room and returned with a to-go box and a plastic fork. She encouraged Jordan to eat as they talked. Jordan opened the box expecting pasta or something like she would get from the food bank, but was pleasantly surprised to find a grilled chicken breast on a bed of fresh cesar salad.

As Jordan ate, Meghan noticed the colour returning to her face. “Where are you living right now?” Meghan asked. Jordan started to talk about her situation. She talked about how she was living in a group home, but when she turned 18 last month, it meant she had aged out of the system. Without many other options, she moved in with her birth mother.

Jordan went on about how her mother and her mother’s boyfriend Dave would disappear for days. And when they were home, Dave was not kind to Jordan – he wasn’t very happy about having another mouth to feed, and when she lost her job, he became even more upset about her being there.

“I’d like you to come back here in a couple days” Meghan said. “We’ve made a referral for intensive case management, which means you can come back and see me regularly, and we can work together to improve your situation. We can find you somewhere safer to live and you can continue seeing Elaine for counselling – and none of it will cost you anything. Will you come back on Friday?” Jordan enthusiastically agreed.

Jordan was at The Alex for one hour. Her immediate needs like her self-harm wounds and heightened emotional state were addressed first by a nurse and a doctor. She then saw a counsellor to help manage her distress in the short
term. Jordan then saw a social worker to apply for medication coverage, eat a healthy meal, and create a plan to continue getting support over the next several months.

In one hour, Jordan received holistic, wraparound care from four practitioners that covered all aspects of her health. This model prevented Jordan from costing the system more by needing emergency services. It also enabled her to work with staff in the long term on the root mental health and housing issues she was facing. It All Adds Up.

After a day of crisis, then seeing all those people at The Alex, Jordan was utterly exhausted. But as she sat down in an empty seat on the train with a full belly and an appointment set for Friday, she felt relieved. It had been a long time since she felt cared for like that and was looking forward to going back. As she settled in for the ride, she leaned her head against the train window, smiled, and thought maybe everything will be OK after all.

The post Jordan’s Story appeared first on The Alex.

A look back at our COVID reponse

We don’t just mark time in months, days and years, but also in stories, actions, and reflections on where we have been and how we will move forward.

One year into the pandemic is one year of continuous masking, one year of adjusting what social connection means, one year of tireless staff working to ensure no one slips through the cracks.

Responding to shifting guidelines, overcoming technical hurdles, building new programs, maintaining our areas of strength and ensuring our teams are safe, both physically and emotionally – this has been the drumbeat of the last twelve months at The Alex.

Here’s a look back at what we have been able to achieve because of your support.

Joy Bowen-Eyre, CEO

Assisted Self Isolation Site (ASIS)

This new program was born from a need to provide medically-supported accommodations for those experiencing homelessness who needed to self-isolate. The program and facility operates in partnership with Alberta Health Services (AHS), The Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) and CUPS. It’s a stellar example of not only system-wide collaboration, but the power of human kindness.

Since we opened in June we have provided warm shelter and hot meals for 1,093* people, supporting them during a very scary and uncertain time.

Social Dispatch

Phone banks, laptop drives and curbside visits: these were the new ways of providing social supports to our community this past year. We brought the social work teams from all our programs together to collaborate and share resources, and provided phone and online support for 4,201 youth, adults and seniors who needed help with basic needs, referrals, and human connection.

Now that we have been able to safely re-open our drop-in spaces and re-engage our mobile buses, the Social Dispatch staff have been redeployed back to their respective programs, but the energy of this collective spirit remains.

539

referrals to benefits / emergency benefits

2833

counselling and support sessions

2555

check-ins with at-risk youth to make sure they’re OK

Community Food Centre

As the pandemic began, The Alex Community Food Centre in Greater Forest Lawn became one of few places where our community could safely gather. Making use of our large parking lot and outdoor garden space, our team prepared thousands of takeout meals and curbside meal kits, and provided affordable produce markets and resource fairs so that Calgarians could safely access healthy food and stay connected.

We also transformed our community program delivery models, shifting to online cooking classes (where ingredients could be picked up and brought home). We hosted Zoom meetings for our Indigenous Knowledge Sharing program and coffee chats with peer advocates, and started an outdoor walking group to keep community members physically active and socially supported.

Business as (un)usual

While ASIS, our Social Dispatch Team and the Community Food Centre were all dealing with new issues that came from the pandemic, our existing programs all stayed open and accessible to our community, addressing the social and environmental factors that can shape people’s lives at any time, including financial housing instability, addiction and mental health, and social and community inclusion.

With your support we were also able to adjust our holiday activities to safely deliver totes of basic needs, celebratory treats and gift cards to over 1,000 members of our community.

Here are updates on how the rest of The Alex has been working to maintain a welcoming presence in people’s lives:

What’s next for The Alex

We have been through a deeply collaborative experience, drawing on compassion, understanding, adaptability and commitment. We have learned that together, there is nothing but possibility. We can strengthen our community. We can tackle tough health and social issues, walking alongside people from crisis to wellness and from challenge to change.

With vaccinations schedules on-going, our entire global community is seeing the first glimpses of a brighter future. Here at The Alex, we are looking forward to in-person social connection, community meals, group programming, yoga & art therapy classes, and hugging. Lots of hugging.

We also are excited to continue to connect with you! Our fall virtual fundraiser Press Play brought us (and Dave Kelly) into hundreds of living rooms to celebrate our youth programs, and we aim to continue to deliver opportunities for online engagement with webinars and other events in the coming months. Stay tuned and thank you for being part of the Alex family!

The post Our Pandemic Year appeared first on The Alex.

But the people at The Alex wouldn’t give up on him. For every appointment he missed, they’d call again, just as polite and welcoming as the first time, with new days and times to reschedule. Despite his anxiety and skepticism, Colin mustered the courage to make the intake appointment and he was glad he did. They treated him with respect, and they have a kitchen so they always had food.

Dr. T had been helping Colin get his asthma under control which had been a game-changer. He’d forgotten how normal he could feel when it was managed, but the medications were expensive. He had been purchasing them using money he earned from temp work, but there wasn’t much work available lately, and last week he had to forgo his meds to afford food.

Colin mentioned this while Dr. T was taking his blood pressure. She paused briefly, looked up at him, then slowly removed the cuff from his arm. “You know,” she said as she took the stethoscope out of her ears, “we actually have people here that might be able to help with that, and other things. They’re social workers who specialize in helping people get basic needs met, like housing, food, and meds.”

‘Here we go’, Colin thought as he rolled his eyes. Since he was a teenager in foster care, he had his fair share of negative experiences with the system. And when he first became homeless two years ago he reached out for help and found himself being tossed from one person to the next, having to tell his story over and over again, only to be told there was nothing they could do for him.

It was exhausting and made him angry just thinking about it. As if to hear his thoughts, Dr T. said, “They’re a little different than what people usually think about when they hear ‘social worker’. If you meet with them once and you don’t like it, you won’t have to again. Just trust me.” Colin shocked himself by realizing that he did trust his doctor, wholeheartedly. She’d gone above and beyond what a typical doctor would do with no strings attached. It was a strange, terrifying, almost child-like feeling that he couldn’t remember the last time he felt. Dr. T said she could get him in with a social worker right now, so despite his apprehension, Colin agreed. In thinking about it later, if he had to schedule an appointment for another time or at a different place, the anxiety would’ve returned, he probably wouldn’t have gone, and his whole life would’ve been different.

Also, Cathy had a gentle presence and warmth that made Colin feel comfortable, so he was honest in his answers. He mentioned a drug possession charge and how that had been affecting his relationship with his brother’s friend and his housing situation. Cathy was writing notes and as they talked, she mentioned a lot of things he wasn’t familiar with, like disability, financial, and housing support programs.

She noticed him getting overwhelmed, so she paused, smiled again and said matter-of-factly, “Most importantly for today, is that we get you your medication. I’ve arranged for emergency medication coverage so you can pick it up here at our pharmacy before you leave today. I will fax in your application for ongoing medical coverage and a food bank referral. I know all of this can be overwhelming and we can’t cover everything in one meeting, so if you would like we can meet again. Then we can look at your housing and financial assistance needs.

45 minutes later…

Colin was standing outside The Alex doors holding a few pieces of paper, his medication, a bagged lunch and some bus tickets someone handed him on his way out. It was a nice sunny day in early spring so the air felt fresh and the birds were singing. After a cold winter he was relieved he could spend his days outside without worrying about frostbite. And after many years of feeling like his life was spiraling out of control, he felt a sense of calm. He closed his eyes and let the feeling wash over him. He knew there was a long journey of hard work ahead, but for the first time in years he felt strong enough to take it on. It was a day like any other day. But today, he didn’t feel alone. He felt supported and he felt hope.

The post Social Work at The Alex: Colin’s Story appeared first on The Alex.

At the very beginning of this crisis, we saw a surge in need and a shortage of resources. It was challenging to keep current on which other community supports had closed their doors, who was allowing phone intakes vs walk ups vs virtual, and it changed daily. Since The Alex had kept our doors open and our teams fully staffed, we took on overflow, experiencing a high demand from our existing clients, who came to us when other resources weren’t able to respond to their needs.

Some places, like the Calgary Food Bank, were able to re-organize and re-open quickly, but other agencies that provided services like furniture referrals or job training stayed closed. As the government buildings shut down, people were forced to move to phone and online, and were often met with long wait times and frustrating or confusing instructions.

As layoffs continued through the city, demand also grew. We started getting phone calls from people who had never used our services before and had heard that The Alex was here to help. Many of these folks previously had steady employment, and experiencing this level of need was completely new, and very, very scary. They didn’t know how to navigate the systems and ask for help. Fear and despair were evident in every call, and we spent a lot of time on what we call “emotional first aid,” comforting and supporting where we could.

Throughout this crisis, people have stepped up in incredible ways. We saw an outpouring of donors who wanted to help. We had volunteers clamouring to support. We sent healthy food and grocery cards into the community as people were stuck in their homes. The federal government’s fast response with CERB was a huge relief to many. But this emergency response was just that—and the long-term needs are continuing to grow.

For many of our community members who are on Alberta Works,* there are now additional barriers if they had received CERB benefits, and those who no longer qualify for new financial supports are afraid things will get harder.  The outpouring of early support was wonderful, but many ask what will be available through the next six months, the next year?

Apart from financial concerns, we are also seeing a growing need for community connection. Many of our community struggle with social isolation and face technological barriers to connecting in these new ways. Harry, a senior living in supportive housing speaks to Terry four times per week, on average. Terry makes sure Harry is going to his doctor’s appointments, keeping his house clean, and eating well. Every time they talk, Harry asks “When will I be able to come back to The Alex?” He misses coming to our community space to do a crossword puzzle, have a coffee or meal, and to talk to the staff here.

As the weather changes, we are worried for people like Harry who already find it difficult to leave their homes, who have lost access to some of the simple ways to connect with friends, and who may feel even more isolated as the winter moves along. And for those who are living in sobriety, staying connected to support groups has been an on-going challenge.

There have been some silver linings that COVID-19 brought into focus.  Many of our community have discovered a self-resiliency that they didn’t know they had. We’ve seen incredible collaboration across agencies, and flexibility from staff who are going above and beyond to smooth the pathway to support. Our own Alex team rose to the challenge in a really incredible way. Our leadership team let us on the front lines do what we needed to do and supported and collaborated with us as we all explored this new way of working. The creation of our Social Dispatch team was a great example of focusing on problem-solving, and getting the work done.

As COVID-19 continues, people like Harry are going to need connection even more, and we have to find new ways to provide this safely. Our phone calls are his lifeline, and there are thousands of Harrys in Calgary needing that support.

Problem solving, navigating, listening, listening, listening. This is what we have always done, and what we will continue to do throughout this crisis. And we could not do it without the support of our funders and partners. Thank you, United Way of Calgary and Area.

– Catherine, Terry, and Ailene

The post Challenges and silver linings: How COVID-19 has shaped the everyday lives of front-line staff appeared first on The Alex.

I think the first time it hit me that life had radically changed was when I took my wedding band off permanently. The cherished piece of jewelry that my husband gave me had belonged to my husband’s grandmother and was really important to me. But it had many crevices that could harbour harmful germs, including the Coronavirus.

The first time I set foot into the somewhat dated hotel in the north-east of Calgary that served as the Assisted Self-Isolation Site (ASIS) I thought I would spend a few weeks in the empty ballroom where we all sat on plastic chairs and folding tables. Working at ASIS seemed dreamlike, even magical. Time didn’t exist – 11, 12 or even 13 hours felt like the blink of an eye. We called it the ASIS ‘time warp’. The workload was immense and the energy in the building was frenetic but it was also euphoric and maybe even a little addictive.

I felt a full range of emotions every day: fear, joy, belonging, connection. Things formerly important to me became a faint afterthought – who pays attention to color-coordinated clothing and make-up during a pandemic?! Things I had never thought about before became all-consuming, like how to get rid of the rash the mask is causing. My life turned into a cycle of sleep-work-eat and little else. My ever-supportive husband had meals on the table and my laundry washed and ready to go, allowing me to conserve any extra energy I didn’t have anyways.

Working at ASIS seemed dreamlike, even magical. Time didn’t exist – 11, 12 or even 13 hours felt like the blink of an eye. We called it the ASIS ‘time warp’.

I distinctively remember a pivotal moment during my time at ASIS. It was the visceral anxiety I felt when I heard that the first COVID-19 cases had popped up at the largest homeless shelter. The day (a Sunday) was spent in meetings trying to figure out what this meant. It was estimated that potentially 800 clients had been exposed. Since we had moved so quickly to pull the program together, a million thoughts crossed my mind: Do we have enough staff? (No). Are all policies and procedures in place? (No). Do we have enough mental health support? (Also, no).

I talked to my elderly parents frequently during this time. They live in Germany, dangerously close to northern Italy where hospitals ran out of room in the morgue and (often unidentified) bodies were taken to ice rinks to keep cool. Healthcare providers over there were likening their experience to working in combat zones. I had visions of ASIS clients passing away. I racked my brain to come up with a plan how to protect staff but also how to accept a large amount of clients in a very short period of time. But then test results started coming back and they were negative. More came back; all negative. The few clients that came to ASIS who were COVID positive were not that sick. Many were completely asymptomatic.

We knew we could do what had seemed impossible. We had figured out how to provide good care to vulnerably housed individuals…

In the meantime the team pulled together and did the work that needed to be done: hiring staff, developing protocols and procedures, working out kinks in the process with transportation, medication management, dealing with clients eloping and supporting the needs of the ones using substances.

There was a second turning point. After a few incredibly busy days in which we were admitting up to 14 clients in a day, all of a sudden there was a calm to our operation that was palpable. The frantic, anxious energy had dissipated and there seemed to be a confidence to our work. We knew we could do what had seemed impossible. We had figured out how to provide good care to vulnerably housed individuals who are accustomed to congregate living, and spending time with their street family while dealing with mental health and addiction issues, boredom, and trauma.

I don’t know what the future challenges of COVID has in store for us but I am so proud of how we all banded together to problem-solve and do things we haven’t done before. COVID has changed all of us – for the better.

The post Notes from the Front Lines: Fear, joy, belonging, connection. appeared first on The Alex.