The potential closure of a key social service agency could lead to a significant increase in crime and social disorder in Calgary's downtown core, its chief executive officer has warned.
Impending Eviction from City-Owned Building
BeTheChangeYYC, an organization that provides critical support to the city's vulnerable and homeless populations, has been ordered to leave its home of five years. The city of Calgary confirmed in a letter last July that the agency must vacate its premises at 316 7th Ave. S.E. by December 31. The city later extended the move-out deadline to mid-January, but the agency will be forced to suspend its operations at the end of this year.
The building, which once housed the Calgary Police Service administration, is one of three social agencies facing displacement as the city seeks to sell the property. Tenants were first notified of the city's intentions in March.
A Vital Safety Net for Downtown Calgary
CEO and founder Chaz Smith stated that efforts to find suitable alternative accommodations downtown have so far failed. He emphasized that an extended shutdown would severely impact the area's social fabric and public safety.
"The work we do is vital on the streets of Calgary—we're a public safety partner," Smith said. "If we don't find new accommodation, it'll drastically impact downtown. We'll see the results almost immediately. It sets up people to resort to crime when your social safety nets begin to crumble."
BeTheChangeYYC operates by sending outreach teams directly onto the streets. They provide essential items like food, clothing, and hygiene kits, while also connecting individuals with community services. Smith reported that in the past year alone, the agency has served the vulnerable population 19,000 individual times.
Search for a New Home and Broader Consequences
The agency estimates it has saved local emergency services approximately $500,000 by diverting cases away from police, courts, and healthcare systems. Despite looking at spaces smaller than their current 2,500 square-foot location, they have been unable to secure a new base.
Smith expressed a strong preference to remain located on the downtown CTrain line for accessibility, but stated it is not mandatory. "Being on the CTrain line has made things very central and accessible but we could be anywhere downtown," he noted, adding that the organization is "nimble for the amount of people we're able to serve."
With time running out, Smith is publicly appealing to landlords, property owners, and managers who might have space to rent at a reasonable cost or who can offer temporary accommodation. The clock is ticking to prevent what he describes as an inevitable decline in downtown safety and stability.
