Finding Your True North: Affordable Housing Project

Finding Your True North is an innovative approach to reducing domestic violence in our community by offering survivors of violence a full continuum of care to heal and rebuild: increasing prevention, bolstering intervention, and creating greater long-term stability.

The Finding Your True North affordable housing project is multi-level housing that consists of thirty-six, trauma-informed housing units (a mix of studio, 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units), on-site childcare programming to support client employment & healing, integrated wraparound supports, and a community programming and workshop space that will deliver safety & wellness programming from basic needs support, employment preparation, cultural activities, community connectedness, to wellness education.

True North’s second-stage & affordable housing initiative with client-centered programming will play a vital role in addressing the intersectional challenges of intimate partner violence and homelessness. Our model – prevention, intervention, stability – is grounded in the knowledge that temporary emergency shelter can not interrupt the cycle of abuse on its own. By empowering survivors with access to wrap-around services and long-term safety, we help to break the cycle, mitigate the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences, create a community of safe & healthy relationships, and develop resilience within vulnerable children and families.

On the main floor of the project, 3 commercial units provide revenue diversification and community enhancement opportunities that support the project’s self-sustainability and community engagement. Occupancy yet to be determined, opportunities for the space include a Kickstand resource hub, doctor’s office, coffee shop, thrift store, and wellness gym. These commercial units also provide employment opportunities for the residents, further demonstrating the project’s continuum of care.

Finding Your True North breaks ground in spring of 2026 and is an expected 18-month build. 

Access to safe, affordable housing remains the single greatest barrier to a survivor of violence transitioning out of Emergency Shelter. With increased housing shortages, rising rates of inflation, and economic uncertainty, more and more of our vulnerable community members are facing crises. At True North, we know domestic violence can happen to everyone; it does not discriminate. Rates of violence are rising provincially, and rural survivors face extra barriers to accessing care; without housing solutions, survivors are forced to choose between returning to abusive & dangerous homes or facing homelessness.

Alberta's emergency domestic violence shelters are experiencing increased client length of stay, leading to a lack of shelter space (and increased turn-a-ways for those in need), reduced staff capacity to respond to complex client needs, a strain on limited shelter resources, and an overall reduction of domestic violence emergency shelters to respond to immediate crisis needs. The rising demand for crisis services, coupled with growing obstacles to sustainable exits from violent situations, signals concerning trends for long-term community safety. True North's housing project will help to alleviate this strain on emergency shelters by providing affordable housing solutions and reducing the length of emergency shelter stays for vulnerable families who are ready to take the next step in their journey towards independence.

In short, the Finding your True North housing project benefits many:

• All individuals impacted by domestic violence: True North’s model is inclusive, providing support to all regardless of sex, gender, or gender identity
• Rural individuals who have no access to nearby programming, emergency shelter, or safe housing
• Vulnerable survivors leaving emergency shelter at risk of returning to dangerous homes
• Children affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences who require safe & secure communities to heal
• Individuals at risk of houselessness
• Individuals requiring emergency shelter & emergency shelter staff: reducing strain on emergency systems creates more opportunities for improved care
• Taxpayers: preventing one case of domestic violence avoids $11,370 in social health costs
• Albertans: True North’s project aligns with Alberta’s 10-Year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence that sets out five bold priorities to reduce violence