WHAT WE DO

creating a hunger-free community

Providing food to the cities most vulnerable

The Hampers for the Homeless Program was created in 1999 as a response to agencies’ concerns regarding the homeless population’s access to food. Some Calgarians living rough were falling through the cracks of the food resource system. These hampers provide short-term relief of hunger with easy to open, ready to eat, shelf stable food for one to two days. Food is a catalyst to supporting anyone in need, and this hamper program gives the qualified agencies who serve the homeless population a starting point for conversation with those in crisis.

On a given night, 3,430 Calgarians experience homelessness, putting a strain on taxpayers and social agencies. The cost of emergency shelters, social services, health care, and corrections costs the Canadian economy $7 billion annually.

The estimated market value for a hamper is $30. While this provides financial relief for the recipient and the agency, the value of the hamper goes far beyond the dollar amount. When agencies aren’t focusing on food, they can focus on their core programming and use their resources to connect and work more closely with their clients, increasing their chances of being transitioned out of homelessness.