Contact Us
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For media and stewardship enquiries, please contact our Main Office reception at 403-266-4566 or [email protected]
FAQ
Do we have emergency housing? How can they get into our housing?
Our housing is a part of SORCe. To have access to it (or to get on the list for housing in Calgary) clients have to go to SORCe in person – 316 7th Ave SE (North side of the City Hall C-Train Station) to fill out an NSQ (Needs and Services Questionnaire). They have drop-in hours from 9-4:30 Monday to Friday, and by appointment Tuesdays from 9-12.
I am in jail, and need a place to live in order to be released
All housing clients are referred by the Scorce and the CAA (Coordinated Access and Assessment Table) and anyone trying to access needs an NSQ assessment completed and do regular check-ins. If you have your NSQ assessment completed, you will have to wait until you are placed with an agency. You can request to get your NSQ completed by the Distress Center mobile team.
Do you provide employment or I need work tickets?
While we don’t have jobs to provide, we do have Employment Developers that can work one-on-one to work with your employment goals to help find jobs and keep them. We also have LEEP or the Learning Enhanced Employment Program. LEEP is a three week in-person learning opportunity. Over the three weeks you will learn computer skills, interview skills, resume writing, job search strategies, and how to navigate looking for work with a criminal record, get training for work tickets and more. Call 403-226-4566 for more information.
Does CJHS have work boots?
The Calgary John Howard Society does not have the ability to store or purchase work boots. The best place to find low cost or donated work boots is The Salvation Army Calgary Community Support Services (403-410-1111). They give free work boots to people with job confirmation. 420 9th Ave SE. Alberta Works may also provide funding for work boots if you have a job offer.
Can CJHS help pay for or help me to get legal representation?
We do not have legal services or have the ability to cover the cost of legal fees including paying bail. There are a few other options. Legal Aid Alberta (Legal Aid Alberta) offers affordable legal help for many different needs. UCalgary Law (Legal Services | Faculty of Law | University of Calgary (ucalgary.ca)) is home to several low and no-cost legal clinics. Pro-Bono Law (Pro Bono Law Alberta – Free Legal Assistance for Albertans (pbla.ca)) Provides access to free legal aid for civil matters.
Can we help pay for or obtain a pardon or record suspension?
Pardons and Record Suspensions are no longer one of the services we offer at The Calgary John Howard Society. Instead, please contact the 7th Step Society (Alberta Seventh Step – Finding Strength & Purpose in Freedom (ab7s.ca)) at 403-228-7778 ext. 106.
Do we have beds or a referral program?
Specialized addiction beds are not available through The Calgary John Howard Society. There are many recovery centres around Calgary. Some examples include Alberta Health Services for their Adult Addiction Services (Adult Addiction Services | Alberta Health Services), Simon House Recovery Centre (Simon House Recovery Centre), or Fresh Start (Home page | Fresh Start Recovery).
I want to get some support for my Youth who is at risk of or already engaged in criminal behavior
You can complete an online application using the link at the bottom of this page: Outreach, Advocacy and Support – Calgary John Howard Society (cjhs.ca)
Do we provide counselling services or have a referral program?
Counselling services are not a part of our program. Instead, you may want to try Calgary Counselling Centre (Affordable Counselling Services | Calgary Counselling Centre). CCC offers no barrier help based on income and they take other circumstances under consideration. Their appointments are available in-person and online. The Distress Centre (Crisis Services in Calgary & Southern AB | Distress Centre) offers 24-hour phone, text and online help as well as professional face-to-face counselling. The Insight Centre (https://insightcentre.org/) offers a sliding-scale basis. Sheldon Chumir Health Clinic offers free mental health screening as well as single session therapy appointments through urgent care.
Financial Services
We are not able to access bank accounts for people in custody. We do however offer a Financial Empowerment program to help people better manage their money when they are no longer in custody.
I keep getting turned away by banking institutions due to my criminal record. What can I do?
The bank will not open an account if:
- It believes you plan to use the account for illegal purposes.
- You have a history of illegal activities at the bank within the past seven years.
- It believes you knowingly gave false information in the information you provided
- It believes opening the account would subject other customers or bank employees to harassment, abuse or physical harm.
- You refuse to allow the bank to check and copy the identification you provided.
If a bank refuses to open an account, they must provide a letter stating why.
If you are looking to file a complaint, options are outlined through the FCAC, below:
Filing a complaint about financial products and services – Canada.ca
Recommended banking locations that we know to be more understanding of the population John Howard serves:
- Scotiabank (3403 17 Ave. SW)
- ATB Stephen Ave.
Can we provide funding for bail, bills, or otherwise?
The Calgary John Howard Society is unable to provide emergency funding. Please call 2-1-1 or Alberta works if you are in need.
Volunteering or doing a Field Placement at the Calgary John Howard Society
Volunteering – You can find all available positions within our agency here on our website: Work With Us – Calgary John Howard Society (cjhs.ca) Please apply to these positions directly from the website by clicking on the position you are interested in. Other volunteering inquiries can be sent to [email protected]
Field Placements – Please go to the : Work With Us – Calgary John Howard Society (cjhs.ca) section of our website and fill out the form and sent it to [email protected] along with your resume and cover letter outlining which programs you are interested in.
ID Services
If you have a criminal record and are looking for support in getting identification. Please call and make an appointment with our intake coordinator, and we can support with getting birth certificate and picture ID.
Intake services at The Calgary John Howard Society can help you obtain picture ID or your birth certificate. It does take the standard two to three business weeks for it to arrive. You can also get help with ID and your Alberta Health Care Card through the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre ID clinic. They offer walk-in services from 8-12 Monday to Friday.
Didn’t find the answer to your question?
Contact us at 403-266-4566 or [email protected]
