Serving Families – East Campus

Our East Campus, based in Forest Lawn, provides services and programs with a focus on literacy and education for families. 

No two families are exactly alike and our programming is structured to recognize this diversity and accommodate the various needs of every family unit we serve. 

It is our mission to help strengthen families so that they can thrive and grow beyond just meeting their basic needs each day.  

Architectural rendering

New location opening soon!

 

Programs Offered 

 

Ukrainian Welcome Centre:

 
This program is specifically designed to offer support and guidance to Ukrainian evacuee families dealing with both the physical and emotional challenges of their sudden change in circumstances.  Although access to basic needs is offered, the program focuses on guidance and support through educational programming and opportunities to build connections with others with shared experiences while encouraging engagement with local culture and communities as well. 
 

Financial Literacy Program:

Managing finances is an important life skill.  This program offers support to low income individuals and families and provides tools that will help them to manage and improve their financial situation. Clients learn about everything from assets, budgeting, banking, credit, and consumerism, along with the technical and behavioural components of financial literacy. 

Client Tax Return Program:

For many families at our East Campus, income tax services are costly, unaffordable and stressful. Through this program we want to help individuals attain government financial support and subsidies, mitigate poverty and remove any barriers to filing, ultimately helping to bolster overall household finances.  

Food Distribution Program:

We provide emergency food hampers and other aids to help those struggling with food security.  By relieving the burden and stress of figuring out where their next meal is coming from, we give individuals and families the freedom to focus on other areas where growth and support may be needed.  We support in the moment, but also offer proactive and preventative solutions to the variety of barriers many low-income Calgarians face.  

English as a Second Language (ESL) Program:

By helping our clients enhance their English language skills it’s our hope that they will be able to further their careers, education, financial security, social stability, and day-to-day lives in Canada. 

Youth Engagement:

Youth of all ages living in low-income households often struggle with literacy, adding to the variety of barriers that make them vulnerable to bullying, mental health issues, isolation, addiction and more.  We provide physical aids (Backpack program) and engagement and education programs to help youth develop pre-reading skills, language and comprehension skills, social skills, self- esteem and confidence. We want to support youth of all ages to stay in school, make healthy choices and access opportunities for further education and career development. Healthy, happy, supported youth can become the future leaders their communities need.

 
Life in Canada orientation class with instructors and several attendees

Outreach:

Separate from our family focused programing, we also have an outreach team at our East Campus. They spend their time on the streets, in back alleys and off the beaten paths in the Greater Forest Lawn area, getting to know the men and women who live in encampments and learn what their unique needs are. Once relationships are established, we support them in accessing housing and transitional resources.

This past winter our Outreach Team also ran the Mobile Warming Station which set up tents and served hot food at C-train stations across the city.  This program was a significant aid to many of the city’s most vulnerable and we hope to bring it back next year.   

Mobile warming station tent on Calgary street corner in winter

To learn more about any of these programs, please call 403.220.0432 or email: CSCalgary.CFSInfo@salvationarmy.ca

East Campus

(403) 220-0432

* We are still offering remote services. New location is coming soon.