The China Mail - East Calgary Councillor Urges City-Wide Distribution of Home Space Facility

Calgary Ward 9 Councillor Harrison Clark has urged the city council to distribute future facilities for high-complexity homeless individuals across all quadrants of Calgary, arguing that East Calgary neighborhoods have already borne a disproportionate share of this responsibility. His comments follow the recent rejection of a proposed Home Space facility in his ward and serve as a public appeal for broader municipal equity.

Clark, who represents the International Avenue corridor and surrounding inner-city neighborhoods including Forest Lawn, Dover, Southview, Albert Park, and Radisson Heights, acknowledged the validity of concerns raised by former city councillor Courtney Walcott regarding the lack of 24-hour care options in the city. He confirmed that Calgary currently lacks a dedicated facility for the approximately 250 individuals identified by the Calgary Homeless Foundation as having high-complexity needs.

"He is right that Calgary has no 24-hour care option for the roughly 250 people the Calgary Homeless Foundation counts as high-complexity," Clark wrote in a statement. "He is right that finding a site took two and a half years of serious effort. And he is right that I voted to delay."

However, Clark explained that his decision to delay the vote was driven by direct feedback from residents who report increasing social disorder and a loss of safety on their streets. He cited data from the City’s transit disorder dashboard, which shows a 57 per cent increase in Ward 9 from September 2025 to September 2026. Over the same period, overdose responses by the Calgary Fire Department in the ward rose by 93 per cent.

Clark also noted that the International Ave Business Improvement Area’s safety team has recently identified 60 "new" people in the area who are unfamiliar to local businesses and residents. He argued that while downtown receives focused attention for these issues, the challenges migrate eastward rather than disappearing.

The councillor emphasized that trust between the city and East Calgary communities has eroded because residents feel they have not yet received a meaningful response to the increased crime and disorder in their neighborhoods. "While residents are still waiting for that response, I have a hard time asking them to trust me that this time will be different," Clark stated. "Trust is built by showing up first."

Clark highlighted that East Calgary has repeatedly agreed to host social services. Local data from the 12 Community Safety Initiative (12CSI) suggests that the neighborhoods have welcomed more than 30 organizations and program providers over the last two decades. He described these communities as having deep ties, a strong culture of volunteerism, and genuine care for vulnerable residents.

"But after more than 30 yeses, it is more than fair to ask the rest of the city to step up now and help shoulder this responsibility," Clark said. "I’ll say that plainly on behalf of these neighbourhoods."

Addressing Walcott’s suggestion that council could have supported one facility per quadrant, Clark agreed with the principle but criticized the timing and location. He proposed that if four facilities are needed to serve 250 people, they should be planned for distribution across the city, with the first built in a location where the "load hasn’t already been carried for decades."

Clark affirmed his commitment to seeing the Home Space project succeed, stating he will remain at the table for future work and wants both Home Space and its proposed operator, The Alex Community Health Centre, to thrive. However, he stressed that the current proposal placed an unfair burden on neighborhoods that have long lived under stereotypes labeling east of Deerfoot Creek as the "appropriate" place for such services.

Underneath this perception, Clark argued, are vibrant communities practicing compassion for decades. What they are now asking for is partnership: a city that responds to street-level issues and ensures every part of Calgary carries its share of the responsibility.

E.Lau--ThChM