The Alex is transforming healthcare in Calgary by offering holistic health, housing, and food programs aimed at vulnerable communities. Through various services, including mobile health and specialized clinics, it addresses the interconnected issues of physical, mental, and social well-being. Its approach is community-centered, focusing on prevention and support to reduce reliance on emergency services and enhance quality of life.

1. Changing Health. Changing Lives.

2. Welcome to The Alex
The Alex is changing how we look at health care in Calgary. Our
health, housing and food programs support our most vulnerable
neighbours, tackling tough health and social issues head-on.
We know that whole health is the complete state of physical,
mental, emotional and economic well-being. We cannot enjoy
whole health when we are hungry, when we are in chronic pain,
when we don’t have a roof over our head, when we feel
disconnected from our community, when we are living in
poverty. And fixing one of these issues while ignoring the rest is
just a band-aid solution.
When we stop treating symptoms and focus on the cause, our
vision of a community of healthy individuals is within our reach.
The Alex: Changing Health, Changing Lives
Our mission
Delivering
innovative and
accessible
health and
social solutions
Our vision
A community of
healthy
individuals

3. Health Services
We offer whole health care that goes above and
beyond traditional services, including:
chiropractic care, psychiatrists, psychologists,
chronic disease nurses (e.g. hypertension,
diabetes), massage therapy, physiotherapy and a
wellness centre.
Our clinics are never “one problem- one visit” –
we spend as much time with our clients as
needed to provide whole health care.
# of visits to Alex Health Services in 2016
62,853 # of visits to Alex Health Services in 2017
61,671

4. Family Health Centre
Our Family Health Centre is an open door to improve
quality of life in our communities.
We address our clients’ needs through a community-
minded, cost-effective approach, reducing congestion in
emergency rooms, mental health facilities and the
justice system.

5. Family Health Centre
Cost to visit
Alex FHC
$69 $483
Average cost of
Emergency
Room visits
18,319
Visits to the
Alex FHC
94%
Clients require
assistance w/
basic needs

6. Youth Health Centre
Our Youth Health Centre (YHC) is an open door
for street-connected youth aged 12-24 to get
physical and mental supports, allowing them to
recognize their worth and claim the life they
deserve.

7. Youth Health Centre
Of YHC clients
do not have a
permanent
place to call
home
56% 305
21,290
Visits to The
Alex YHC
888
Identification
documents
provided
Children under
the age of 12
served

8. Mobile Health
Going The Distance For Those Who Can’t
Why Mobile Health?
The Alex recognized a significant gap in access to health
and social services for vulnerable populations and
responded to the need by building the first of its kind
mobile clinic on wheels.
The Alex Mobile Health Fleet breaks down barriers to
important health, social and dental care by building
bridges to services that change lives.
Every time I see the
bus roll up, I know
that help is within
my reach”
- Alex Client

9. Community Health Bus
The Community Health Bus (CHB) is an
innovative, effective and proactive health
service solution for Calgary’s homeless
community.
“The honest truth is
without the CHB I
wouldn’t have gotten
the medication and I
wouldn’t have had
what I needed to get
back on a healthy
track”
– Alex Client

10. Community Health Bus
The bus makes weekly visits to the Women’s
Shelter, Kerby Centre, Calgary Dream Centre,
Centre of Hope, and Sunrise Addictions Society,
offering check-ups, testing, medications and
referrals.
2,840
Visits to the
Alex CHB
79%
Did not have a
family doctor
1,139
Visits with an
outreach worker
for social support
598
New patients in
2015

11. Youth Health Bus
The Youth Health Bus (YHB) brings
health on wheels directly to youth who
may otherwise face challenges accessing
these services.
“I like that I can talk
to a nurse and
doctor without
feeling judged or
uncomfortable with
them”
– Alex Client

12. Youth Health Bus
The YHB helps youth stay in school and graduate on
time. Our services reduce the number of missed
days due to doctors appointments while providing
non-judgmental support for adolescents who often
have no one to turn to.
8
CBE High
Schools served
2,350
Visits to the
YHB
“I love the support
for the students.
Students feel safe to
go and speak to the
people on The Alex
Bus.”
– Teacher
30%
Of clients had
mental health
concerns
700
New patients in
2015

13. Dental Health Bus
The Dental Health Bus (DHB) provides essential,
preventative care for children in identified high-
needs areas. Dental Access Clinics partner with
volunteer dental clinics to provide restorative
care.
“What we saw at out
first clinic brought
tears to the eyes of
my team…we simply
can’t let kids live with
this kind of risk and
pain.”
–Dr. Matt Karavos

14. Dental Health Bus
There is a waitlist of almost 200 children for the
DHB and clinics, and the need continues to grow.
The majority of our clients are working poor,
unable to access low-income supports and
without dental coverage at work.
80%
Of tooth decay
is found in 25%
of children
9,643
Appointments
provided at no
cost to clients
26,456
Teeth sealed
$1.3 M
In treatment
providedDHB stats from 2013-2017

15. Housing Programs
“Housing is a human
right, not a reward for
clinical success.”
- DESC
The Alex is an integral part of the Calgary
Homeless Foundation’s 10 Year Plan to End
Homelessness. The Alex has almost 450 clients
housed annually through our four housing
programs Pathways, HomeBase, Abbeydale and
Prelude utilizing a Housing First Model.
The Housing First Model works to move a
person quickly into appropriate housing with the
necessary supports to address the root cause of
the issues which led them to homeless.
Meeting our most vulnerable population in a
recovery-oriented approach helps find lasting
solutions to very complex social issues.

16. Housing First Benefits
• Decrease in the number of days and stays within
hospitals, institutions and the justice system.
• Increasing personal recovery success.
“A client-driven strategy
that provides immediate
access to an apartment
without requiring initial
participation in
psychiatric treatment or
treatment for sobriety”
- National Alliance to
End Homelessness
Cost to public
system for
every homeless
individual*
$134K $29K
Cost per client per
year in Pathways
program
*Calgary Homeless Foundation data

17. Seniors’ Health Centre
The Seniors Health Center (SHC), located in the
East Village, is a welcoming, community-centered
approach to health care for some of our most
vulnerable seniors.

18. Seniors’ Health Centre
Cost to visit
Alex Seniors
Health Centre
$46 $483
13,060
Visits to the
Alex SHC
559
Marginalized
seniors served
Average cost of
Emergency
Room visits

19. Community Food Centre
The Community Food Centre (CFC) provides access
to high-quality food in a dignified setting. Though a
mix of programs with food at their core, the CFC is a
bright and welcoming place to empower people
affected by poverty to work together to find
solutions that can create a solid foundation for
lasting change.
“The Community
Food Centre is one of
those forward-
thinking models
pointing the way to
the future of good
food.”
– Mark Bittman,
Food columnist,
The New York Times

20. Community Food Centre
Good Food is just the beginning…
The CFC offers community meals, cooking and
nutrition classes, community gardening, and after
school care, all at no cost to participants.
10,000 Meals served
since the CFC
opened in
October, 2016
800
Program
participants in over
a dozen food and
nutrition programs.

21. Questions?
thealex.ca @thealexchc