Financial Assistance Resources for Families in Transition or Distress
Families in Alberta going through transition or distress (due to illness, job loss, divorce, housing insecurity, or death in the family) can access a range of financial assistance resources—government, nonprofit, and community-based. Here’s a list of key supports available in Calgary and across Alberta:
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
Alberta Supports
Alberta Supports can help you access more than 30 programs and 120 services for seniors, people with disabilities, job seekers, parents and families, homelessness, financial assistance, abuse, and family violence prevention.
Website: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-supports
Services/Assistance with: Income Support (if out of work), Child and Family Benefit, Alberta Adult Health Benefit (prescriptions, dental), Emergency Financial Assistance (eviction, utilities, food)
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families with children under 18 years of age, designed to help with the cost of raising children. The amount you receive is determined by your adjusted family net income (AFNI) and whether you have any children who qualify for the Child Disability Benefit.
Support: Monthly, tax-free payments to help with the cost of raising children under 18. Adjusted during family changes like divorce or death.
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview.html
Emergency Needs Allowance
Accessed through Alberta Supports
Purpose: One-time emergency funds for families facing eviction, utility shutoff or needing essential items.
COMMUNITY AND NON-PROFIT FINANCIAL HELP
Calgary Financial Empowerment Collaborative (CFEC)
Website: https://prospercanada.org
Services: Free help with budgeting, taxes and accessing benefits.
The Alex – Financial Empowerment Program
Website: https:www.thealex.ca
Services: Support for low-income families needing help with benefits, budgeting or facing life transitions.
Momentum Calgary
Website: https://momentum.org/
Services: Financial coaching, matched savings and programs for families looking to stabilize income or start small businesses.
Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS)
Website: https://momentum.org/
Services: Housing supports, health services, and financial stability help for vulnerable families in crisis.
HOUSING AND RENT ASSISTANCE
Rent Supplement Programs – Alberta Government
Website: https://www.alberta.ca/rent-supplement-programs.aspx
Support: Monthly rent support for low-income families
Calgary Housing Company
Website: www.calgaryhousingcompany.org
Services: Affordable housing programs and referrals to emergency shelters or transitional housing.
OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
Family and Community Support Services (FCCS)
Website: https://www.calgary.ca/community-services/fcss.html
Services: Connects families to mental health, parenting, legal and emergency services.
Catholic Family Service
Website: https://www.kindred.ca/
Services: Support for families in distress (counselling, financial coaching, parenting support)
Carya
As one of Calgary’s oldest social impact agencies, Carya supports thousands of individuals and families each year through a comprehensive offering of low-barrier programs and services that strengthen family functioning, enhance mental health, improve living conditions, and increase social connections.
Website: https://caryacalgary.ca/
Services: Supports thousands of individuals and families each year through comprehensive low or no-cost programs and services across the city
LEGAL SUPPORT
Calgary Legal Guidance
CLG is a non-profit legal organization dedicated to providing free legal guidance to those who do not have access to paid services.
Website: https://clg.ab.ca
Services: Free legal advice for low-income individuals or families who cannot afford a lawyer. Specializing in areas including wills and estates, housing law, family and immigration law, domestic violence.
Legal Aid Alberta
As a publicly funded, non-profit organization, Legal Aid Alberta provides affordable legal services in family law, domestic violence, child welfare, immigration, and youth and adult criminal defence.
Website: https://legalaid.ab.ca
Services: Free or subsidized legal services in areas including adult/youth criminal law, family law, family violence matters, mental health law, immigration and refugee law, civil law
Student Legal Assistance (University of Calgary)
Student Legal Assistance (SLA) is a pro-bono legal clinic that provides legal information and representation to low-income residents
of Calgary and the surrounding area. Student Legal Assistance offers services for several types of legal matters and SLA Student Caseworkers may make pleas, run trials, and attend Dispute Resolutions, Negotiation Proceedings, and Early Case Resolutions for their clients.
Website: https://slacalgary.com
Services: Low cost legal help from law students (under supervision) in areas of Criminal, Civil, Family, Traffic & Bylaw, Landlord-Tenant matters, notary, U of C Student Appeals.
Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary
Elizabeth Fry Society has worked for almost 60 years providing support to individuals who have been systemically criminalized. Working from the context of Siim Ohksin and Wahkotiwin (Indigenous natural laws), the Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary supports individual pathways to healing by restoring harmony, reparation of harm, and regaining relationships. Through a restorative justice lens, Indigenous relatives are supported towards improving their lives through their own resiliency and the consistency of supports which lead to their own personal levels of achievement.
Website: https://elizabethfrycalgary.ca/
Services: Legal advocacy and support for women in justice, including help with court navigation and bail.
Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA)
Pro Bono Law Alberta (PBLA) is a non-profit charitable organization that promotes access to justice in Alberta by creating and promoting opportunities for lawyers to provide pro bono (free) legal services to persons of limited means.
Website: https://www.pbla.ca
Services: Matches low-income includes with volunteer lawyers for free legal representation.