The SHARP Foundation
The SHARP Foundation is a Calgary-based registered Canadian charity, founded in 1990, providing supportive housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and palliative care to individuals living with HIV, hepatitis, or experiencing homelessness with complex needs across five to six programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The SHARP Foundation does
The SHARP Foundation (legally "THE S.H.A.R.P. FOUNDATION (SOCIETY HOUSING AIDS RESTRICTED PERSONS)") is a Calgary-based registered Canadian charity founded in 1990 by Walter Beswick to provide a continuum of care for individuals living with HIV, hepatitis, or experiencing homelessness with complex needs. The organization operates five to six programs across Calgary residential neighbourhoods, anchored by two flagship facilities: Murray's House, a 24/7 integrated care facility with 22 bachelor units and a palliative care suite opened in 2018 in partnership with Calgary Homeless Foundation, and Beswick House, providing 24-hour long-term and palliative support for up to ten individuals.
The service model combines supportive housing tiers (emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing) with harm reduction programs (including naloxone distribution and safer-use education), peer-led recovery programs staffed by individuals with lived experience of substance use, mental health counseling, case management, and palliative care. Residents are referred primarily through SORCe (Safe Communities Opportunity & Resource Centre), Calgary's coordinated access system. The stated approach is strength-based, harm-reduction-oriented, and non-judgmental, designed for populations often considered "unhousable" by mainstream systems.
SHARP is funded approximately one-third by government sources (Alberta Health Services, Alberta Government, City of Calgary) and the remainder through corporate sponsorships (Major tier partners include RBC, ViiV Healthcare, ATB Financial, TD Insurance, Norton Rose Fulbright, MAC AIDS Fund, Air Canada, and TELUS), recurring individual donors, special events, and a gift catalog including handmade resident bracelets. Reported 2024 financials show total funding of $2,800,499 CAD against expenses of $2,968,777 CAD, with a per-resident cost of $50,472/year versus an estimated $3,151,775/year in the public hospital system and a reported 80% client improvement rate within six months. The organization is led by Executive Director Stephanie Milla.
The SHARP Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The SHARP Foundation
- Legal name
- THE S.H.A.R.P. FOUNDATION (SOCIETY HOUSING AIDS RESTRICTED PERSONS)
- Website
- https://thesharpfoundation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The SHARP Foundation is a Calgary-based registered Canadian charity, founded in 1990, providing supportive housing, healthcare, harm reduction, and palliative care to individuals living with HIV, hepatitis, or experiencing homelessness with complex needs across five to six programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The SHARP Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Supportive Housing & HIV Care Services
- NAICS
- Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Other Community Housing Services (624229), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Residential Care Facilities (623990)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Skilled Nursing Care Facilities (8051), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)
Keywords
Where The SHARP Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The SHARP Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: SHARP receives approximately 1/3 of necessary funding from government sources including Alberta Health Services and Alberta Government healthcare partnerships.
- Private and Corporate Donations: Corporate sponsors at various tiers (Major $30,000-$100,000, Strategic, Core, Essential) and private individual donations support operations. Total funding from 2024 was $2,800,499.
- Resident Contributions: Residents pay a percentage of their income (including AISH cheques) to support costs of rent, groceries and utilities, similar to independent living.
- Special Events and Fundraising: Annual events including drag performances, Hot Dogs for Hope fundraiser, and other community fundraising activities.
- Handmade Bracelet Sales: Resident-crafted bracelets sold through gift catalog, with 100% of proceeds supporting residents and programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Day of Care - $100 donation |
| Usage-based | Daily | Average daily cost per resident - $140.20 |
| Usage-based | Annual | Annual cost per resident - $50,472 |
| Other | Annual | Major Partner sponsorship - $30,000-$100,000 |
| Other | Annual | Strategic Partner sponsorship - $5,000-$25,000 |
| Other | Annual | Core Partner sponsorship - $25,000-$75,000 |
| Other | Annual | Essential Partner sponsorship - up to $5,000 |
| Unit Pricing | One time | Hospital bed sponsorship - $3,000 each |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
The SHARP Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The SHARP Foundation operates supportive housing and integrated care programs for individuals experiencing homelessness in Calgary who have high complexity needs, particularly those living with or at risk of HIV and hepatitis. Its service model combines affordable housing (Murray's House 24/7 care, Beswick House palliative support, emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing) with harm reduction, peer-led recovery, mental health counseling, medical case management, and palliative care. Residents pay a percentage of their income toward rent and utilities; the remainder of operations is funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Product overview
The SHARP Foundation offers a single unified service model centered on supportive housing and continuum of care for individuals experiencing homelessness who are at high risk or affected by HIV or hepatitis. The core housing programs include Murray's House (24/7 care facility with 22 bachelor units and palliative suite), Beswick House (24-hour palliative support for up to 10 individuals), Emergency Housing, Transitional Programs, and Permanent Supportive Housing. These are supplemented by harm reduction services, peer-led recovery programs, and health and wellness support. The organization operates five to six programs across Calgary residential neighbourhoods. Additional offerings include the SORCe referral system for coordinated access and a gift catalog featuring handmade bracelets by residents. The funding breakdown shows total funding of $2,800,499 in 2024, with expenses of $2,968,777.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Murray's House: A 24/7 care facility opened in 2018 providing 22 bachelor units and a palliative care suite for individuals with high-acuity needs.
- Beswick House
- Project Kathleen
Products and services
- Murray's House A 24/7 care facility providing integrated housing and health support for chronically homeless individuals with high-acuity needs. Features 22 bachelor units and a palliative care suite, designed to help residents live independently with dignity while receiving continuous medical, mental health, and psycho-social support.
- Beswick House A SHARP residence providing 24-hour long-term and palliative support for up to ten individuals, with psycho-social, spiritual, personal care, and end-of-life services. Named after founder Walter Beswick.
- Emergency Housing Immediate support for individuals in crisis, providing temporary shelter and basic necessities while connecting them to longer-term housing solutions.
- Transitional Programs Stepping-stone programs designed to help residents transition toward independence and stability, offering structured support and skill-building opportunities.
- Permanent Supportive Housing Long-term housing with wraparound care for individuals with chronic health or social challenges, providing ongoing support while promoting independence and dignity.
- Harm Reduction Program Nonjudgmental, practical tools to reduce harm and save lives, including HIV care access, naloxone awareness and kits, safer-use education, and distribution of essential supplies such as clean needles and harm reduction tools.
- Peer-Led Recovery Program Empowers individuals with firsthand experience of substance use to step into leadership roles as mentors, providing education, outreach, support, connection, and community building for marginalized groups.
- Health and Wellness Support Wraparound services addressing physical, mental, and social health challenges including case management, connection to medical care, mental health counseling, substance use recovery support, and addressing social determinants of health.
- SORCe Referral System (Coordinated Access and Assessment) Multi-agency referral management system connecting individuals experiencing homelessness in Calgary to housing programs, including SHARP's, through SORCe's Coordinated Access and Assessment (CAA) process.
- Handmade Bracelets by SHARP Residents Handcrafted bracelets created by SHARP residents and sold through the online gift catalog; 100% of proceeds support resident education, healthcare, and living essentials.
- Day of Care Donation Package A $100 gift catalog donation product covering the average housing costs (rent and utilities) for one day of care for a resident with high complexity needs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% of clients report improved health and stability within 6 months
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The SHARP Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The SHARP Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
The SHARP Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and essential.
- Calgary Homeless FoundationcorePartnership to open Murray's House in 2018, a 24/7 care facility with 22 bachelor units and palliative care suite for chronically homeless individuals with high-acuity needs.
- Alberta Health ServicescoreGovernment healthcare partner providing healthcare support, research, and public health initiatives that enhance SHARP's ability to care for residents.
- Alberta GovernmentcoreGovernment partner supporting healthcare and housing initiatives for vulnerable populations.
- SORCe (Safe Communities Opportunity & Resource Centre)coreMulti-agency collaborative that manages referrals to SHARP's housing programs, connecting people experiencing homelessness to services.
- Calgary Housing CompanyessentialHousing partner helping navigate housing resources and access homelessness prevention programs.
- Calgary FoundationessentialCommunity foundation providing food and basic needs support for SHARP residents.
- Calgary Food BankessentialFood bank partnership helping provide nutritious meals and essential supplies to residents.
- HomeSpaceessentialHousing partner in Calgary helping secure stable accommodations for residents.
- City of CalgaryessentialMunicipal government partner supporting housing and homelessness initiatives.
- Mount Royal UniversityessentialAcademic partner for LGBTQ2S+ seniors housing and support needs assessment research project.
- University of CalgaryessentialAcademic partner advancing best practices in healthcare and social services through research and student engagement.
- Centre for SexualityessentialHealth and well-being partner enhancing quality of life through mental health support and wellness programs.
- Habitus Consulting CollectiveessentialPartner in LGBTQ2S+ seniors housing and support study, developing solutions for inclusive care.
- Rainbow Elders CalgaryessentialCommunity partner in research to ensure respectful and inclusive care for LGBTQ2S+ seniors.
- Canadian Institute of Health ResearchessentialFederal health research agency supporting public health initiatives and research.
- The Alberta CBR CollaborativeessentialCommunity-based research collaborative partnering on LGBTQ2S+ seniors and HIV aging programs.
- Safe LinkessentialHealth partner providing specialized services for residents.
- Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch (ISCCA)essentialCalgary's longest-running LGBTQ+ organization that raises funds for SHARP through annual coronation ball and other events, raising approximately $50,000 annually for HIV/AIDS organizations.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The SHARP Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Alex Community Health Centre: Calgary-based health and social services nonprofit providing primary care, housing support, and food security to vulnerable populations — directly comparable integrated health-housing model.
- AIDS Vancouver: Western Canada's largest HIV/AIDS service organization providing housing, health, and harm reduction services; comparable HIV-focused continuum of care model serving a similar client base.
- Calgary Homeless Foundation: Calgary's coordinating backbone for homelessness funding and systems planning; partnered with SHARP to open Murray's House in 2018, addressing the same high-acuity population in the same city.
- Inn from the Cold (Calgary): Calgary family-focused shelter and housing nonprofit; operates emergency, transitional, and supportive housing programs using a comparable continuum-of-care approach for vulnerable Calgarians.
- AIDS Calgary (HIV Community Link): Calgary-based HIV/AIDS support and education nonprofit serving overlapping populations (people living with HIV, LGBTQ2S+ community) with comparable harm reduction and peer-driven programming.
- Casey House (Toronto): Toronto-based specialty hospital providing HIV/AIDS care including inpatient and community programs; comparable HIV-focused continuum-of-care mission with integrated palliative and harm reduction components.
- Alpha House Society (Calgary): Calgary nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and harm reduction for individuals experiencing homelessness with substance use challenges — directly overlapping SHARP's harm reduction and supportive housing model.
- Mustard Seed (Calgary): Calgary-based nonprofit providing emergency shelter, housing, and support services to people experiencing homelessness; comparable service model and client base, broader population scope than SHARP.
Broad incumbents
- Alberta Health Services: Provincial health authority and SHARP's primary healthcare partner; provides the public-system alternative against which SHARP's $50K/year vs $3.15M/year cost comparison is measured, and refers patients to SHARP.
Regional players
- Wood's Homes (Calgary): Calgary-based nonprofit providing mental health, trauma, and housing support for children, youth, and families; comparable Calgary nonprofit social services operator with continuum-of-care approach for vulnerable populations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The SHARP Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe SHARP Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The SHARP Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The SHARP Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The SHARP Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The SHARP Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The SHARP Foundation
What does The SHARP Foundation do?
The SHARP Foundation operates supportive housing and integrated care programs for individuals experiencing homelessness in Calgary who have high complexity needs, particularly those living with or at risk of HIV and hepatitis. Its service model combines affordable housing (Murray's House 24/7 care, Beswick House palliative support, emergency, transitional, and permanent supportive housing) with harm reduction, peer-led recovery, mental health counseling, medical case management, and palliative care. Residents pay a percentage of their income toward rent and utilities; the remainder of operations is funded by government grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations.
Is The SHARP Foundation a public or private company?
The SHARP Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The SHARP Foundation founded?
The SHARP Foundation was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The SHARP Foundation based?
The SHARP Foundation is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does The SHARP Foundation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are private and Corporate Donations, resident Contributions, special Events and Fundraising and handmade Bracelet Sales.
Who are The SHARP Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Alex Community Health Centre, AIDS Vancouver, Calgary Homeless Foundation, Inn from the Cold (Calgary), AIDS Calgary (HIV Community Link), Casey House (Toronto), Alpha House Society (Calgary) and Mustard Seed (Calgary). Alberta Health Services is listed as a broad incumbent. Wood's Homes (Calgary) is listed as a regional player.
Does The SHARP Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The SHARP Foundation.
What industry is The SHARP Foundation in?
The SHARP Foundation's product category is Supportive Housing & HIV Care Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAB, Housing Assistance & Homeless Services, with a secondary code of BPAIANAC, Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services. Its NAICS code is 624221 and its SIC code is 8300.