Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre

What Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre does

Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre (legal name: Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society; operating as "the DI") is a Calgary-based, federally registered Canadian charity (Reg. #11882 3459 RR0001) founded in 1961. It is a nationally accredited homeless-serving organization whose mission is to connect vulnerable adults (18+) experiencing or at risk of homelessness with housing, shelter, and health programs, with a stated goal of ending rather than managing homelessness. Operations are anchored at a single main shelter facility at 1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE, open 24/7/365 and running at an average of 812 daily occupants against an original 550-person design capacity, supplemented by a Free Goods Program donation warehouse at 3640 11a Street NE, the organization-owned Greenview Rise affordable and supportive housing building (opened 2019), and clinical addiction infrastructure (15 withdrawal management and 20 recovery transition beds launched in 2023).

The DI's service portfolio comprises housing-focused emergency shelter, housing support and case management, on-site health services (nursing, physicians, wound care, harm reduction including drug-poisoning response), a recovery-oriented system of care, meal services (691,929 meals annually), and the Free Goods Program which distributes furniture, household items, clothing, and technology at no cost via 120+ partner-agency referrals. A 2023 expansion added 35 detox and recovery beds funded by a $4 million Alberta provincial initiative. A Computers for Low Income Calgarians (CLIC) program, run in partnership with the Electronic Recycling Association, has distributed nearly 3,000 refurbished computers. The organization's "core technology" is a trauma-informed, harm-reduction service delivery model rather than a software or AI platform; there is no public API, mobile app, or proprietary technical system.

The business model is a non-profit charitable model funded by individual donations, corporate sponsorships, government grants, legacy planned gifts, gifts of securities, and vehicle donations routed through Donate a Car Canada. Meal services are unit-priced at approximately $4.22 per meal, with suggested sponsorship tiers ranging from $21.10 (5 meals) to $502.18 (119 meals), and a $25/month recurring donor tier tied to housing-exit outcomes. The organization reported 5,358 volunteers contributing 42,934 hours in its most recent fiscal year, providing a substantial labor subsidy. The go-to-market is community-led, with clients acquired via walk-in access, community referrals, and the 120+ agency referral network. Leadership is headed by President and CEO Sandra Clarkson, and the organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors under its 2024–2030 "Pathways to Home" strategic plan.

Name

Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre

Legal name

Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre Society

Website

https://calgarydropin.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre (the DI) is a Calgary-based registered Canadian charity founded in 1961 that provides low-barrier emergency shelter, housing support, on-site health services, recovery programs, and a Free Goods distribution program to vulnerable adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Community Food Services (624210), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Homelessness support programs
• Housing-focused social services
• Addiction recovery services
• Community meal programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual and corporate donations constitute a significant portion of funding. The DI accepts cash donations, vehicle donations (through Donate a Car Canada), gifts of securities, and legacy planned gifts.
2. Government Funding: Provincial government funding supports addiction support programs including withdrawal management and recovery transition beds ($4 million initiative).
3. Meal Sponsorship: Corporate and individual sponsors fund meal services at approximately $4.22 per meal. Sponsors can donate specific amounts to feed designated numbers of people.
4. Volunteer Services: Volunteer contributions including meal service, donation sorting, and administrative support supplement paid staff operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre operates a housing-focused emergency shelter and integrated social services program for vulnerable adults (18+) experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Calgary. Services are delivered at no cost and include 24/7 emergency shelter, housing navigation and support, on-site health services, an addiction recovery-oriented system of care, meal services, the Free Goods Program for household furnishings, and affordable/supportive housing. The organization is funded through donations, government grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

The Calgary Drop-In Centre operates as a housing-focused emergency shelter offering a portfolio of integrated social services. The core offering includes emergency shelter, housing support, health services, and recovery-oriented care. Related programs include the Free Goods Program (furnishing assistance), meal services, volunteer programs, and affordable/supportive housing at Greenview Rise. New addiction services include withdrawal management and recovery transition programs. The organization also runs a computers program (CLIC) in partnership with the Electronic Recycling Association. This is a unified social services model designed to support vulnerable adults through shelter, health, recovery, and housing stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Free Goods Program: An extension of the Calgary Drop-In Centre that collects new and used donations (furniture, household items, technology, clothing, hygiene items) and distributes them to low and no-income Calgarians at zero cost. Utilized by referrals from over 120 partner agencies.

Products and services

• Housing-Focused Emergency Shelter 24/7/365 low-barrier emergency shelter at 1 Dermot Baldwin Way SE in Calgary providing temporary accommodation and connections to housing, health, and recovery support for vulnerable adults (18+) experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Originally built for 550 people and now sheltering an average of 812 daily.
• Housing Support Coaching, landlord liaison, and move-in assistance to help individuals exit homelessness and secure permanent housing; supports an average of 50 housing placements per month.
• Health Services On-site health care for shelter clients including nursing, physician services, wound care, referrals, and harm reduction programs such as drug poisoning response. Reached 356 drug poisoning reversals in two-thirds of 2021.
• Recovery-Oriented System of Care Integrated addiction support including addictions counselling, connections to treatment centres, withdrawal management, and recovery transition beds serving individuals working toward recovery and housing.
• Withdrawal Management Program Medically supported, abstinence-based safe space with 15 beds where clients can withdraw from alcohol, drugs, or other substances. Part of the new addiction support programs with potential to support 1,000 people annually.
• Recovery Transition Program Supports individuals continuing their recovery journey as they work toward treatment, recovery, and housing goals. 20 beds.
• Free Goods Program & Donation Centre Provides new and used household items, furniture, clothing, technology, and essential goods at no cost to low- and no-income Calgarians, distributed via referrals from 120+ partner agencies at 3640 11a Street NE. Provided 1,235 items to 80+ households in a recent fiscal year.
• Meal Services Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bagged lunches for people on the move, served 691,929 meals in the most recent fiscal year to nearly 8,800 Calgarians. Meal sponsorship opportunities are offered to donors.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups across 21 roles including meal service, donation sorting, community outreach, and educational event support; 5,358 volunteers contributed 42,934 hours last fiscal year.
• Affordable & Supportive Housing (Greenview Rise) Affordable and supportive housing building with units at near-market value, affordable value, and supportive housing for individuals exiting homelessness, paired with on-site case management.
• Computers for Low Income Calgarians (CLIC) Program Refurbishes donated computers and provides them at no cost to low- and no-income Calgarians; operated in partnership with the Electronic Recycling Association and has provided nearly 3,000 computers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 4,000 people housed since 2017 housing-focused transformation began
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for housing programs and transitional housing initiatives. In 2020, the DI partnered with CHF on a 6-month Transitional Housing Program that housed 126 community members during COVID-19. CHF funding supports housing operations and programs.
• The AlexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on COVID-19 vaccination clinics in shelters. The Alex provided support for vaccine rollout to shelter residents who faced barriers accessing mainstream vaccination sites.
• Electronic Recycling Association (ERA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for electronics recycling and computer donations. DI's Computers for Low Income Calgarians (CLIC) program has provided nearly 3,000 computers to low/no-income Calgarians. Working electronics are assessed, refurbished, and unusable equipment is recycled.
• Calgary Catholic Immigration ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferring agency for the Free Goods Program. Helps connect immigrants and refugees settling in Calgary with essential household items and furniture.
• Centre for NewcomersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferring agency for the Free Goods Program. Connects newcomers to Canada with essential items to help them settle into new homes.
• Calgary Immigrant Women's AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferring agency for the Free Goods Program. Helps immigrant women access essential household items and support services.
• Immigration ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferring agency for the Free Goods Program. Connects immigrants and refugees with essential items needed to establish homes in Calgary.
• City of CalgaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Community Cleanups program. The DI's Free Goods Program participates in City-organized cleanup events to collect donated items from Calgarians decluttering their homes.
• Safeworks Harm Reduction Program (Alberta Health Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity harm reduction initiative addressing the toxic drug crisis. DI refers clients and collaborates on overdose response and education efforts.
• Each + EveryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-led initiative addressing the opioid crisis. Works with organizations like the DI to provide harm reduction resources and education.
• Donate a Car CanadaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation partnership allowing donors to easily donate cars, trucks, RVs, boats, or motorcycles. The partner handles all logistics including free towing and provides tax receipts to donors.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Mustard Seed: The Mustard Seed is a Calgary-based nonprofit operating emergency shelters, housing programs, and community services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. It is one of the DI's most direct local peers and was co-recognized alongside the DI for COVID-19 shelter response.
• Alpha House Society: Alpha House provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and addiction recovery services in Calgary, with a focus on adults experiencing homelessness and substance use issues. Direct overlap with the DI's shelter and recovery-oriented system of care.
• Inn from the Cold: Inn from the Cold operates family-focused emergency shelter and housing programs in Calgary. Direct peer in the Calgary emergency shelter ecosystem with comparable housing-focused mission and referral-based service model.
• The Alex Community Health Centre: The Alex provides integrated health, housing, and social supports to vulnerable Calgarians. Direct peer on the health-services side and an active DI partner on COVID-19 vaccination clinics and harm reduction.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army (Calgary): The Salvation Army operates emergency shelters, transitional housing, and recovery programs across Canada including Calgary. Broader incumbent with national footprint but overlapping shelter and rehabilitation services for the same target population.

Regional players

• Boyle Street Community Services: Boyle Street is Edmonton's largest homeless-serving agency, offering shelter, housing, health, and community integration programs. Comparable integrated service model to the DI but operating in a different Alberta city.
• Union Gospel Mission: Union Gospel Mission operates emergency shelters, addiction recovery, and meal programs in Vancouver and across BC. Comparable service portfolio (shelter, recovery, meals) to the DI but in a different Canadian market.
• Old Brewery Mission: Old Brewery Mission is a major Montreal-based emergency shelter and housing provider serving people experiencing homelessness. Comparable integrated shelter-and-housing model but in Quebec.
• Covenant House Toronto: Covenant House Toronto provides shelter, housing, and health services to homeless youth and adults. Comparable service model focused on vulnerable populations, but with a youth emphasis.

Others

• Calgary Homeless Foundation: Calgary Homeless Foundation is a system-planning funder that partners with the DI on transitional housing and housing-focused initiatives. Not a direct service competitor but a core ecosystem partner funding and coordinating the broader homeless-serving sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/calgarydropin
• Facebookfacebook.com/calgarydropin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calgary-drop-in-&-rehab-centre-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/calgarydropin

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre