The Safe Haven Foundation, a Calgary-based non-profit, has opened a new facility to support women and girls at risk of homelessness. The Safe Haven Community Hub and Haven Harbour Residences, located in southwest Calgary, combines transitional housing with wellness programming and life-skills support. It expands the organization’s capacity by 150%, offering more than 3,285 supported bed nights annually. Residents typically stay for two years while pursuing education and employment.
The space was designed to meet the needs of alumnae from Safe Haven’s original supportive living program, Haven’s Way, who wanted continued support as they transitioned to independent living. The new hub offers wellness workshops, Indigenous-led healing circles, coaching, and community meals to build belonging and resilience.
Founded in 2000 by Karen and John Sherbut, Safe Haven was inspired by Karen’s own experience with youth homelessness. Their work has focused on prevention and long-term change, making Safe Haven the only program of its kind in Canada.
The project, years in the making, overcame pandemic delays with the help of local donors. At the launch, alumna Melissa Wheeler, the first Safe Haven resident, spoke about how the program gave her a safe, stable foundation. CEO Krystyna Lloyd emphasized the importance of continued community support to sustain the new space.
Read the full story on CBC: