Advertise on podcast: Hope Stories

Edmonton city council has approved rezoning for CarePoint South, a planned 120-bed emergency shelter in the Girard Industrial area. So what happens next? Tim Pasma talks about what Hope Mission is planning for the site, why another 24/7 shelter is needed, and what the organization has learned from operating smaller shelters outside downtown. He also explains what services will be available at CarePoint South, why Hope Mission chose this location, how concerns from neighbouring businesses are being addressed, and what still needs to happen before the shelter can open. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Michael had reached one of the lowest points of his life. He was writing a suicide note when an unexpected interruption stopped him. Months later, he graduated from Breakout, Hope Mission’s year-long faith-based addiction recovery program for men. His journey didn’t change all at once. It began with a meal—and a connection that opened the door to the next step. In this special summer episode of Hope Stories, hear Michael’s story and how responding to an immediate need can become the beginning of lasting change. Plus, get a preview of what’s coming this fall, including stories about Hope Mission’s next emergency shelter and the landlords helping more people find a place to call home. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs or donate, visit hopemission.com.

More women are seeking shelter at Hope Mission than ever before. Five years ago, one in four people accessing shelter were women. Today, it's one in three. And daily shelter occupancy for women has doubled in just three years. In this special summer episode of Hope Stories, you'll hear Michelle's journey from the Karis Centre to her own home, where she's rebuilding her life. You'll also hear a preview of an earlier episode that explores why women's homelessness is often less visible—and why the need has reached a breaking point. To learn more, listen to “Rising Demand for Women’s Shelter” on Apple or Spotify—or click here to read the story. Plus, we look ahead to upcoming episodes this fall, including stories about Hope Mission's next emergency shelter and the landlords helping more people find a place to call home. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

For some youth, finding work feels intimidating or out of reach. Hope Mission’s food truck gives youth a first job alongside ongoing mentorship. In this episode, Dawson Summerfield, 17, shares how working has shifted his perspective and built his confidence. Director of preventative programs Jared Jorstad and food truck team lead Oyin Awolusi explain how the food truck builds on years of relationships with youth and prepares them to pursue their goals. Plus, you’ll get their insider recommendations on which gourmet grilled cheese sandwich is the tastiest option on the food truck’s menu. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

A new platform is helping Hope Mission staff coordinate the right care at the right time by connecting information across its growing continuum of services. Hope Mission's innovation hub developed Rest, a new platform that reduces administrative tasks, helps staff build on previous interactions, and creates more time for direct support. In this episode, innovation hub manager Chad Verity and senior director Tim Pasma explain why Hope Mission built its own platform, how it helps prevent people from falling through the cracks, and what it could mean for the future of homelessness services. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

What happens when someone is well enough to leave hospital, but still needs support and has nowhere else to recover? That question led to the creation of Hope Mission’s health shelter. In this episode, director of health services Beth Klingenberg and health shelter coordinator Valerie Recamadas discuss the gap between hospital care and independent living, and how the health shelter helps people experiencing homelessness continue recovering after discharge. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Communities in British Columbia are facing growing demand for street-level support, transportation, and connections to care. Hope Mission's rescue van teams in Victoria and Metro Vancouver provide transportation, wellness checks, bag lunches, and connections to shelter, housing, addiction recovery, and mental health services. In this episode, director of recovery and women's programs Minyoung Choi and Victoria rescue van manager Steven Scott explain why Hope Mission expanded into B.C., how the rescue van model works, and how relationship-based outreach helps connect people to longer-term support. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Business owners are noticing cleaner streets in Chinatown. The community revitalization team recently narrowed the focus of its neighbourhood cleanup efforts, so sidewalks near the two largest shelters are getting more frequent pressure washing. In this episode, Kat Luu with the Edmonton Chinatown BIA and Hope Mission’s Thomas Ogigbah share how changing the team’s approach to pressure washing is helping preserve Edmonton’s historic Chinatown district and supporting the health of community members and staff. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Ethan Quon never thought he’d work at a homeless shelter. Today, he helps respond to medical emergencies as part of Hope Mission’s 24/7 rapid response team after graduating from the Christian Training Institute (CTI). In this episode, Ethan shares how an overdose response during a field placement taught him valuable lessons about mental health self-care and inspired him to pursue a career in emergency response. To learn more about CTI, go to hopemission.com/cti.

For people trying to access supports, navigating a complex and constantly changing system can be difficult—and sometimes they end up in the emergency room looking for help. Health navigators embedded in the Royal Alexandra Hospital connect community members with shelter, housing, and other supports once they no longer need medical care. In this episode, director of health services Beth Klingenberg and manager of community initiatives and partnerships Thomas Ogigbah explain how the health navigator program works and how a well-connected navigator can be the difference between a missed connection and a warm handoff. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Transitional housing bridges the gap between emergency shelter and long-term housing or recovery. Located in historic Immigration Hall, it provides a stable, supportive environment for up to 52 people at a time—creating space to rebuild daily routines, strengthen independence, and prepare for what comes next. In this episode, Beth Klingenberg, director of health services, and Ryan Meester, transitional housing supervisor, explain how transitional housing works and how it builds confidence and community for people exiting homelessness. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

More women are turning to shelter than ever before. Hope Mission’s daily shelter occupancy for women has doubled in three years. In this episode, Minyoung Choi, director of recovery and women’s programs, and Meron Kasahun, manager of women’s programs and aftercare services, investigate what’s behind the increase and explain how full-service women’s-only shelters like the Karis Centre help women move from the streets to stability. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

When Hope Mission began operating an emergency shelter in Red Deer, it included an on-site social worker from day one. Janea Dressler connects shelter guests to the right supports and helps them navigate systems that can otherwise slow progress. In this episode, Adina McKinnon, manager of community initiatives and partnerships, and Janea share how the social worker role meets a critical need for vulnerable people trying to navigate complex systems. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Hope Mission’s emergency shelter in Red Deer is now open. On April 1, guests were greeted with a hot meal, new shelter beds, and a blend of new and continuing wraparound supports. In this episode, leaders Ade Adeoye and Adina McKinnon explain how the transition went on day one and what the community can expect to see in Red Deer going forward. To learn more about Hope Mission’s programs and to donate, go to hopemission.com.

Hope Mission begins operating a 24/7 emergency shelter in Red Deer as of April 1. Ade Adeoye, director of emergency care and housing, explains how the shelter, meals, health services, housing, and other wraparound supports will provide continuity as well as a fresh start. To learn more about Hope Mission or to donate, go to hopemission.com.