Homeless persons, as defined by the City of Calgary, are those who do not have a permanent residence to which they can return whenever they so choose. It’s nearly impossible to determine the number of homeless persons in Calgary since a population census is only counted among households. The homeless population too often is unaccounted for.

It is estimated that of the thousands of homeless persons in our city, over 30% have a mental health disorder. Often unjustly stigmatized, these individuals are forced to endure unhealthy environments without the benefit of access to services that would allow appropriate care and transition toward improved health and self-sufficiency.

The plight of the homeless is one that affects us all. Creating a healthy and vibrant community means understanding the needs of all people and acting responsibly to ensure supportive services are available to those in need.

October 16 2003 marked the official opening of the Bob Ward Residence in Calgary, a 61-unit apartment building designed to provide affordable housing for persons coping with mental health issues or brain injuries. A collaboration of The Calgary Home Builders Foundation, The Calgary Homeless Foundation and Horizon Housing Society, The Bob Ward Residence proves that supporting the needs of homeless persons begins with a single step ñ the desire to make a difference.

Opened two months ahead of schedule and $400 thousand under budget, the Bob Ward Residence will house up to 70 residents in a supported environment. Apartments range from 354 square-feet studio suites to a 1608 square-foot, four-bedroom brain injury unit and are each designed with the special needs of residents in mind. Included among the variances are wheel-in shower rooms and open area layouts for easy wheel-chair access. The brain-injury rehabilitation unit provides a cost effective home environment where residents can regain life management skills and transition back into society.

The Residence also features laundry facilities, a resident manager’s office, a resource center, public washrooms, storage rooms and three convenience lounges. The Bob Ward Residence is located on the northeast corner of Glenmore and Sarcee Trails on land donated by the City of Calgary.

Sandy Cameron, current president of the Calgary Home Builders Foundation, says “Everyone involved in the planning, fundraising and construction process wanted the Bob Ward Residence to be beautiful as well as practical. We never anticipated it would be such a resounding success on every level.”

John Apfeld, president of Summa Management, the project’s general contracting firm credits the generosity of Calgarians, especially those involved in donations of labour and building materials that made it possible to complete the project under budget.

“It says a lot about the commitment of everyone concerned and it’s been a privilege for Summa to participate,” he says.

The list of major contributors and donors is indeed extensive from among many of the Calgary’s reputable home builders, suppliers in the building industry, industry associations, corporate donors, municipal, provincial and federal governments and caring individuals.

This much needed residential building is named in honour of Major Robert (Bob) Ward who was one of the first directors of the Calgary Home Builders Foundation and who was active in real estate development and as a Realtor in Calgary for many years. Major Ward’s charitable work in the community inspired the Calgary Homeless Foundation and the Calgary Homeless Foundation to launch the project  in 2001.

The Calgary Home Builders Foundation was incorporated in 1986 as a charitable arm of the building industry with a focus to assist, through construction or construction initiatives, in providing adequate housing for those in need. The Bob Ward Residence is one of the Foundation’s many efforts that have made a lasting impression by serving the needs of homeless persons in Calgary.

The Calgary Homeless Foundation is now entering its sixth year of operations since its inception. As a partner in the planning and development of the Bob Ward Residence, the Foundation upholds its mission to serve as a community partner by identifying the causes of and solutions to homelessness and by working in conjunction with the community to provide homeless persons with appropriate access to affordable housing. Fund raising is an important element in the Foundation’s success as is its ongoing collaborative relationships with other agencies who are dedicated to helping the homeless in Calgary, past, present and future.

Horizon Housing Society, the organization that will manage the Bob Ward Residence, was established in 1976 with the support of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Horizon Housing’s primary focus is to ensure shelter is provided for persons with special needs, particularly those with a mental illness or brain injury. Blending tenants with varying special needs reduces any stigma attached to any particular group and serves to promote community integration that enhances quality of life for all. Supporting persons with special needs extends beyond providing adequate shelter to include counseling, life skills training, crisis intervention, leisure and recreational opportunities and resources that lead to greater understanding of those in need, their families and the community as a whole.

The Bob Ward Residence is already making a difference since the first tenants moved in November 2003. For those of us who have a permanent place to return to whenever we choose, the challenge to fight against the cold and help those in need continues. Bob Ward’s charitable spirit lives on in his memory. The residence named in his honour is an apt reminder of how every person can make a difference to ensure a warm and healthy environment for all.