DESCRIPTION
YWCA Banff is a social service provider operating in Banff, Alberta. It currently provides deeply affordable housing for 144 community members across five buildings, with 544 more on the waitlist. YWCA Banff is seeking operating support to strengthen tenant stability across its shelter, transitional and affordable housing continuum by offsetting daily costs such as staffing, utilities, maintenance and on‑site supports. Funds will be used to stabilize operating budgets so rents can remain deeply affordable while ensuring consistent staffing for case management, advocacy, referrals and programming. This investment in tenant stability will reduce evictions and turnover, improve safety and wellbeing, and help residents maintain their housing over the long term.
DETAILS
Affordability Framework
YWCA Banff's affordability framework for its housing programs is built on the core principle that no resident should spend more than 30% of their income on rent, aligning with CMHC guidelines and supported by donor subsidies to keep rates accessible. This applies with eligibility requiring Parks Canada's Needs to Reside requirement, Canadian citizenship or visas, and no property ownership. We are also prioritizing women, families, and vulnerable Bow Valley groups.
Target Completion Date
N/A
Populations Served
Women in Need
Total Project Cost
$18,172,990
Total Units
118
Affordable Units
109
Project Funding
Funding Required
We are seeking $70 per unit, per month, for all units throughout the next ten years to subsidize rent and support our operations of managing the affordable units.
Funds Raised
Existing debt against the completed projects: CMHC $7,878,847, CIBC Bank $552,795
Use of funds
The requested funds will be used to stabilize the daily operating costs of YWCA Banff’s shelter, transitional housing and affordable housing, including staffing, utilities, maintenance and on‑site supports that are essential to safe, dignified tenancy. By offsetting these core expenses, YWCA Banff will be able to maintain deeply affordable rents while sustaining consistent case management, advocacy, referrals and programming that help residents address trauma, build skills and increase income. This investment in operating stability is expected to reduce evictions and turnover, improve safety and wellbeing, and support tenants to successfully retain housing and move along the continuum from crisis shelter to long‑term, affordable homes.
Human Impact Story
Yoshi arrived in the Bow Valley in 2022 with the same dreams as many newcomers: a fresh start, steady work, and a place to call home. She secured a place in our affordable housing program, a shared bedroom unit that gave her an initial foothold. But in a tourism-focus town, shared housing brings its own challenges. With a transient population constantly moving through, roommate stability is hard to maintain.
Over time, Yoshi ended up sharing a bedroom with a roommate who crossed boundaries repeatedly. Her belongings were used without permission, cleaning duties went ignored, and early morning phone calls disrupted her sleep. Yoshi addressed these issues directly with her roommate, but nothing changed. With a demanding job and no private space to rest and recharge, she lived constantly on edge, her mental health quietly eroding. Moving out independently was not a realistic option. Yoshi held a closed work permit, tying her to one employer and preventing her from taking additional work to afford the Bow Valley’s private-market rents. She was not stuck due to lack of effort but constrained by a system that offered little flexibility.
When Yoshi reached out, our housing team listened closely. They saw beyond a “roommate dispute” and recognized the genuine toll on her dignity and well-being. While our waitlist follows a fair point-based system, this was a case where the human need in the moment took precedence over waiting for the next available slot. Rather than leaving her to navigate it alone or simply suggesting another arrangement, our housing team responded with compassion: in the past September, they facilitated her move into a single unit with private bedroom and bathroom where she only shared communal areas like kitchen and lounge.
The change was simple but meaningful. Having her own quiet space let her finally sleep well, think clearly, and feel settled. With rent still affordable, she stopped burning all her energy just to get through the day. She gained room to breathe, and slowly, room to grow. A few months later, during the holiday season, Yoshi wrote to express her gratitude. She shared she had already begun volunteering with a community food program, helping serve meals and connect with others in the community. She also made a donation to our Hope for the Holiday Campaign. Not because anything in particular had happened, but because she felt truly heard and understood, not left in the dark or dismissed, when she needed support most. In her words,
“In this season of gratitude, I chose to give back through a donation, hoping in a small way to pass on the sense of security and kindness I have received. I believe in ""The Cycle of Kindness"". The unwavering support I received from YWCA Banff nurtured the kindness in my heart. I wanted to do my small part to keep that cycle going.”
Yoshi’s quiet gratitude reveals the heart of our affordable housing program: like still waters running deep, steady, unassuming support can create real stability and growth without announcing itself. Our affordable housing program is not just about providing a roof; it is about creating the conditions for someone to recovery, regain their footing and, in time, give back. When kindness is extended thoughtfully, it ripples outward, strengthening dignity and connection in our community.
MAP
