New affordable housing in Bowness ends homelessness for 30 Calgarians

About 30 Calgarians who've struggled with homelessness will soon start moving into a new affordable housing project in the city's northwest this summer.

Federal and provincial officials teamed up on Thursday to announce the completion of the Clayton, a $5.7-million new facility located on the 7000 block of Bowness Road.

Phil Burke was homeless for 25 years. He had a look at the new space and liked what he saw.

"They are not just experimenting. This is the result of studies, a culmination of years of what works and what doesn't work," he told CBC News.

John Almas lives close to theClayton and said that he welcomes his new neighbours.

"It is needed. It is needed everywhere in the city actually, not just Bowness," he said.

"We are all human and everybody is good to start with, until proven otherwise and I think that everybody who moves in, is going to be good. Simple as that. They have got everything they need here, grocery store, library. They even have a skateboard park, Bowness Park, you have got everything you need and it's a nice quiet neighbourhood."

Calgary Centre Liberal MP Kent Hehrsaid affordable housing is important.

"The Clayton is more than just a safe and affordable place to spend the night, it is a key to a better life for the vulnerable individuals who come here when they have nowhere else to go," he said.

The Clayton is designed to meet the needs of people who have experienced long-term or frequent bouts of homelessness. It has 24-hour support services including trauma-recovery programs.

There are 30bachelor (single-room) units and three are accessible for persons with reduced mobility.

"This building will provide a stable place of belonging from which the 30 future tenants will build a better future," said Diana Krecsy, president and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation.

The Calgary Homeless Foundation collaborated with the HomeSpace Society, Jayman BUILT, the RESOLVE Campaign and Calgary Alpha House Society on the project.

The governments of Canada and Alberta jointly contributed approximately $4 million toward the Clayton under the Investment in Affordable Housing Agreement.

The project is part of the Ottawa's National Housing Strategy (NHS), a 10-year, $55billion plan to create 100,000 new housing units and meet the housing needs of 530,000families, as well as repair and renew more than 300,000 housing units to reduce chronic homelessness by 50per cent.