A New Home for Families
About Trellis
Trellis Society (“Trellis”) is a registered non-profit dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages, backgrounds and experiences.
We work alongside those affected by homelessness, poverty, social isolation, and other challenges by providing a range of services that include housing, community hubs, employment readiness, cultural connection, and clinical supports.
Our organization is driven to create generational impact and grow communities where everyone can flourish. Trellis was formed in 2020 as a merger of two organizations (Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary and Aspen Family and Community Network Society).
Since then, we’ve grown to better serve children, youth, families, homeless or vulnerable persons, newcomers, Indigenous communities, the 2SLGBTQIA++ community, and all those who walk through our doors.
To deepen the services Trellis provides, we are looking to expand our housing programs by building and managing our own affordable family housing units. This will help alleviate the serious need for affordable housing in Calgary while also supporting the families we serve to have a safe place to call home.
A home is the foundation that every family needs to succeed as it provides the foundation to grow from and achieve your dreams.
In 2022-2023, Trellis
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Served 7,020 individuals across through our programs and services.
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Supported 2,058 individuals out of homelessness or prevented from experiencing homelessness.
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Improved 89% of families experiencing homelessness their financial stability through employment and other income supports.
OUR PROGRAMS
After School Clubs
Shelter + Housing
Group Homes
for Youth
Stay in School Programs
Therapy Programs
Pre-School
Indigenous Initiatives
Family Resource Network
Group Homes
Employment Training
Family + Parent Programs
A New Home for Families
GROWING TRELLIS HOUSING SUPPORTS
Trellis provides services across all quadrants of Calgary and surrounding communities. We operate family and community hubs, run Calgary’s only emergency shelter for youth, offer preschool and afterschool programs, and support individuals of all ages in finding and maintaining stable housing.
Our goal is to continually enhance and expand our support services. We are now ready to address one of Calgary’s most pressing challenges: the lack of affordable housing. We are expanding our housing services in the Bowness community to meet this need.
By the Numbers (2022-2023)
14
# of buildings owned or operated by Trellis, housing up to 116 people
500
# of families supported out of homelessness through our programs and services
200
# of monthly calls from people seeking housing support in Calgary
WHY BOWNESS?
Over 50 years in Bowness
Trellis has been part of the Bowness community since 1976. Trellis staff work across Bowness connecting residents with resources like rental assistance and food, and we support youth in our group home to connect back to their families.
The Bowness Hub
Our Hub is a safe place that helps build a positive sense of self through supportive adult mentors and engaging activities that challenge and enrich the body, mind and spirit of each member. We offer direct programming for children and youth (ages 6-17), while also ensuring that their families have the support needed to thrive in the community.
Commitment to Community
Trellis is deeply invested in the community and in ensuring that the work we do contributes back to our neighbours in positive ways. With staff who work, live, and play in Bowness, we know that it is a wonderful family-oriented, friendly, and active community: a perfect place for families to grow and thrive together.
WHO WILL LIVE IN THE BUILDING?
Trellis will own and operate the building, offering all units at subsidized rental rates to the families we serve. This includes single-parent and multigenerational families who will have the opportunity to live in these units long-term, allowing their children to thrive in one of Calgary’s best communities. Many of these families already live and work in Bowness, seeking stable homes close to schools and amenities.
In 2023, Trellis’ Bowness Hub identified 27 families at risk of homelessness. Every one of these families were Bowness residents, our neighbors, and were supported by Trellis to ensure their safety. These families will continue to receive support through the Bowness Hub and access to other Trellis and community-based services as needed.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CALGARY
To support our growing population, the City of Calgary believes we must increase and diversify our affordable housing options. The city defines a household in need of affordable housing if it earns less than 65% of the median income (currently $63,700) and spends 30% or more of its before tax income on shelter costs.
Despite adding 308 units per year since 2011, the city needs 2,000-2,500 new units annually to meet the demand.
Trellis will update this website as Trellis' New Home for Families evolves -
please check back regularly for updates.
Site Development
Trellis explored several options for our New Home for Families building. We looked for a site in a family-oriented neighbourhood that was near to one of our existing Trellis Hubs.
OUR SITE
The new building will be located at 6623 Bowness Road NW, ideally situated in a residential area with both single-family and multi-family homes. Currently zoned as R-CG (Residential - Grade Oriented Infill), the site is an empty lot with a small playground owned by the City of Calgary.
The City acquired the property in 1973 for an infrastructure project that never progressed. Now, select City-owned parcels are available for non-profit affordable housing at below market value. Council approved the sale of this property in October 2022, and Trellis was chosen as the successful applicant in March 2023.
While the site may be used as a park, it is not designated as such within the Bowness Area Redevelopment Plan. A portion of the proceeds will be reinvested into other park infrastructure in Bowness, with two nearby locations proposed by the City.
PERMITTING STAGE
LAND USE REDESIGNATION APPLICATION & DEVELOPMENT PERMIT
Our building design aligns with the Bowness Area Redevelopment Plan, approved in 2019 with community input. The ARP designates this property as Neighbourhood Mid-Rise, allowing buildings up to six storeys.
Trellis has applied for a land use redesignation to MU-1 (Mixed Use - General District) with modifiers, including:
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Height of 20.5 m (~5 storeys)
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Maximum density of 50 units
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Floor area ratio of 3.0
We plan to complete a concurrent Land Use Application and Development Permit, allowing Bowness residents to see what the building will look like rather than relying on descriptors in the land use bylaw.
As with all projects seeking a Land Use Amendment, there will be opportunities to provide feedback directly to the City of Calgary during the review process. City Council will consider community feedback in their decision to approve the Land Use Redesignation.
Trellis is not a private developer - this building will provide affordable housing for the families we serve.
New Building Concept
The New Home for Families building will provide Trellis with the opportunity to increase the availability of affordable housing in the city, particularly for families.
Design Stage - Schematic Design
The building is currently in the schematic design phase, the first stage of the architectural design process.
During this phase, initial concepts and layouts are developed to establish the overall direction, understand building needs and requirements, and identify potential constraints and opportunities.
Benefits of this Development
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Provide much needed affordable housing within Calgary's NW
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Create an energy efficient building while maintaining comfortable and practical living space
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Empower pride, independence, and a strong sense of community.
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Activate the western end of Bowness Road
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Integrate sustainable design, including energy efficiency features
Design Guidelines
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Accessible units & buildings
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Durable materials with longevity in mind
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Aesthetics aligned with neighborhood character
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Community & connection between residents & neighborhood
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Family focused & friendly, including multigenerational homes
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Comfortable, trauma-informed design
Preliminary Design Concepts
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A five story building - height of 20.5 m
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Up to 50 units - mix studio, three-bedroom, and connected three-bedroom-studios
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Parking above grade on the main level
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Accessible building with 20% barrier free units
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Design considerations to maximize privacy and decrease overall scale of building
Target date for New Home for Families building completion is Fall 2026.
Community Engagement
As active members of the Bowness community, engaging with our neighbours is a critical part of Trellis' New Home for Families.
What We Heard
To begin our engagement process we met with the Bowness Community Association and several residents at a regularly scheduled meeting in June 2024. At that time, we had no plans. The goal was to better understand community concerns and opportunities for Trellis' New Home for Families building.
In September 2024, Trellis hosted two in-person events at the Bowness Community Association. These events displayed 18 informational boards and a large project team to answer resident questions and concerns.
Here are the common concerns shared with us by residents from June to September:
Greenspace
Residents feel Bowness is losing greenspace due to development
Infrastructure Strain
Concerns on cumulative impact of densification on infrastructure
Parking
Residents shared parking is a real problem for the neighbourhood
Support for Building
Recognized the need for affordable housing for families
Community Character
Bowness is characterized by existing 1-3 storey buildings
Crime and Security
Concern that affordable housing would bring crime and drugs
Please click on the documents below to review the posters at the September Open House events, as well as the What We Heard Report.
SEPTEMBER
OPEN HOUSE
POSTERS
WHAT WE HEARD
REPORT - PART I
(SEPTEMBER)
WHAT WE HEARD
REPORT - PART 2
(SEPTEMBER)
Trellis is committed to incorporate the issues into our planning and design to try to deal with the concerns raised with unique design solutions. We appreciate the many Bowness residents who came out to learn more about the project, talk to our project team, and shared their feedback with us.
Upcoming Events & Engagement
City of Calgary Planning
You can give direct feedback to the City of Calgary using this link: LOC2024-0196
Trellis Directly
Fill in the form below to share feedback with the Trellis project team
City of Calgary Public Hearings
City Council Meeting
Dec 3, 2024 @ 9:30 am
Municipal Building