About Us
About us

Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) is a purpose-driven organization that allocates resources to frontline agencies in Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care.
Our Role
Our Role

Explore how we serve as the vital connector that delivers unified solutions across Calgary’s homelessness response system.

Media
Media

Explore press releases, media resources, and information for journalists covering homelessness and our work in Calgary.

Reconciliation
Reconciliation

Understand our efforts in supporting Indigenous-led solutions and promoting reconciliation through genuine relationship-building.

Careers
Careers

Join our team in guiding Calgary’s fight against homelessness. Explore current opportunities and learn about working here.
- Learn About Homelessness
  Learn About Homelessness
  
  Learn about the types of homelessness, who experiences it, and the causes of it in Calgary.
- Emergency Weather Response
  Emergency Weather Response
  
  Get information about Calgary’s response program that provides spaces, supplies, and essential supports during extreme weather.
- Point-in-Time Count reports
  Point-in-Time Count reports
  
  View “snapshot” data that enumerates people experiencing homelessness on a specific night, identifying changes over time.
Our Impact
Our Impact
Our Impact

We guide Calgary’s fight against homelessness through strategic partnerships, data-driven insights, and system-wide collaboration that creates lasting pathways out of homelessness.
Agency Support
Agency Support

Learn how we support frontline agencies through training, coordination, and capacity building to maximize our collective impact.

System Innovation &  Capacity Building
System Innovation &  Capacity Building

Discover the technologies, training programs, and evaluation frameworks that strengthen Calgary’s entire homelessness response sector.

Data Gathering & Insights
Data Gathering & Insights

Explore Canada’s most comprehensive homelessness data warehouse and how we transform information into insights for effective decision-making.

Our Partners
Our Partners

Meet the governments, agencies, and community organizations we work with to guide Calgary’s homelessness response.

Reporting
Reporting

Access our annual Reports to Community, financial statements, and data that demonstrates the impact of coordinated action in Calgary.
Events
Events

We collaborate with partners on events that honour our community, build connections, and advance our shared commitment to fighting homelessness in Calgary.
Art Smith Awards
Art Smith Awards

Celebrate excellence in Calgary’s homeless-serving sector at our annual awards recognizing outstanding frontline workers, leaders, and organizations.

Data That Makes a Difference Conference
Data That Makes a Difference Conference

Participate in our data and research conference that showcases insights driving better outcomes in Calgary’s homelessness response.

Longest Night of the Year
Longest Night of the Year

Attend this annual memorial service honouring those who passed away while experiencing homelessness, bringing our community together in remembrance.
Contact

Art Smith Awards

Recognizing excellence in Calgary’s homelessness-serving sector.

Honoring the legacy of our founder and the heroes fighting homelessness today

The Art Smith Awards were created to honour the founder of Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF), Arthur R. Smith. Art was a Calgary icon known for his contributions to the community, including the creation of CHF in 1997. When he saw homelessness afflicting so many of his fellow citizens, Art acted without hesitation. These awards honour the tenacity and empathy of Art Smith, recognising that same spirit in the front-line employees and organisations who endlessly work to fight homelessness in our city.

Requirements

These awards are open to people and organizations in Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care. Individuals and organizations can be nominated by anyone who knows of their work and commitment to serving.

Selection

The awards selection committee is comprised of past CEOs and senior managers from Calgary’s homelessness response sector, including representatives from Calgary Drop-In Centre, Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary, HomeSpace, and our sponsors. The award recipients are selected based on demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation, collaboration, and impact within Calgary’s homelessness-serving system of care.

Award categories

These awards are open to employees of CHF program funded agencies. Employees can be nominated for multiple categories but cannot win in more than one category.

Project Award

The Art Smith Project Award recognizes projects that support individuals on their journey out of homelessness. This award honours initiatives that demonstrate effectiveness, innovation, and a measurable impact on housing stability and well-being.

Leadership Award

The Art Smith Leadership Award honours a senior or mid-level leader from Calgary’s Homeless-Serving System of Care whose work has had a significant impact on addressing homelessness in Calgary. The recipient has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and commitment that has created lasting, sector-wide impact.

Front-Line Leadership

The Art Smith Front-line Employee Award for Leadership celebrates front-line staff who set a new standard of excellence in Calgary’s Homeless-Serving System of Care and inspire that same excellence in others. Through collaboration, dedication, and a deep commitment to those they serve, the recipient has demonstrated leadership that creates meaningful impact for individuals at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Innovation Award

The Art Smith Front-line Employee Award for Innovation recognizes front-line staff who support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness through innovative thinking and action. The recipient has demonstrated creativity, critical thinking, and implemented new ideas that have contributed to meaningful improvements in the sector.

Collaboration Award

The Art Smith Front-line Employee Award for Collaboration recognizes front-line staff who support those at risk of or experiencing homelessness by working with others to drive positive change. The recipient has proactively built partnerships, incorporated diverse perspectives, and helped implement collaborative solutions that strengthen Calgary’s Homeless-Serving System of Care.

Indigenous Leadership Award

The Art Smith Indigenous Leadership/Collaboration award recognizes an individual or project that has demonstrated a deep commitment to supporting the over-representation of Indigenous peoples at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The recipient or project has actively worked to provide culturally grounded supports, build trust, or promote the reconciliation necessary to break down barriers by giving, receiving, listening and reaching out in love.

We encourage applicants to apply through any means that supports them. Video applications, audio recordings, written essays or other formats are welcome. The below questions may be used as guidelines when applying.