Winter in Calgary: Surviving the Cold Without a Home

The Harsh Realities of Calgary Winters

Calgary winters routinely push people to their limits. Conditions swing quickly, with temperatures dropping below –20°C and windchill pushing it further below. The city sees frequent cold spells and heavy snowfalls throughout the season, with long distances to walk where sidewalks, transit access points, and outdoor sleeping areas become hazardous. For housed residents, winter can be uncomfortable. For those without a home, it becomes a continuous test at survival.

The cold can increase the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and respiratory illness. In low temperatures, the only solution to survival is space indoors to warm up. The challenge they face is that these spaces are often limited, crowded, or inconsistent. These harsh conditions do not ease up on anyone and for people without shelter, every hour spent outside in those temperatures adds to the strain on their bodies and energy.

What It’s Like to Be Unhoused in Freezing Weather

Living without stable shelter in the winter means constantly risking exposure. There is no predictable warm place to wake up in, no dry space to return to, and no reliable way to keep clothing or bedding from being taken or soaked by the cold snow. Even minor tasks like, warming up your hands, access to electricity, drying clothes or eating unfrozen food becomes difficult.  

People often group up and set up their tents in low wind exposed areas, they use wool blankets and propane tanks for small heaters. Many rely on doorways, heated transit stations, or temporary warming centers until they close for the night. Clothing gets wet from snow or slush, and once wet, it loses insulation, which increases the risk of frostbite. Mental health also takes a hit. Continuous cold makes it difficult to sleep, and lack of rest leads to confusion, irritability, and higher vulnerability to illness. Physical and emotional strain deepen as winter drags on, creating a cycle that is hard to break without support. 

How Local Shelters and Organizations Step In

Calgary’s shelters and outreach groups work hard to reduce harm during the winter. Organizations like Alpha House, the Mustard Seed, the Calgary Drop-In Centre, and the Salvation Army provide overnight beds, warming stations, hot meals, clothing, detox programs, and case management services. Calgary Police travel across the city to check on people in need of shelter, they offer rides to shelters, or a place in their shop to warm up, they distribute harm-reduction supplies, and provide emergency winter gear such as gloves, blankets, and insulated socks. The Alberta Homeless Foundation will also work with their outreach team to hand out kits during winter seasons as well. 

Shelters rely on community support to operate at full capacity, especially during cold snaps when demand spikes. Donations help supply winter jackets, thermal layers, hygiene kits, and food. Volunteers make distribution events possible, whether they are handing out essentials, preparing meals, or helping staff manage the surge of people seeking warmth. 

The Importance of Community Support

How can you help? A single winter coat can keep someone safe during a cold night. Donating a pair of mittens may prevent frostbite. Contributing to food programs helps someone stay energized while their body works extra hard to fight the cold. Volunteering for distribution events creates a welcoming environment for people who are often met with judgment or indifference.

Awareness also matters. Talking about homelessness with compassion, advocating for accessible warming spaces, and challenging harmful stereotypes helps build a community willing to protect its most vulnerable residents. Support does not have to be complicated. What counts is consistency and willingness to act when it’s needed most.

Building Long-Term Solutions Beyond the Winter

Winter survival should not determine someone’s chance of living through the season. Short-term responses like warming centers are essential, but they do not address underlying issues. Long-term solutions require stable and affordable housing, better access to healthcare, improved mental health and addiction services, and stronger social safety nets. 

Transitional shelters give a more stable long-term solution to those moving away from substance abuse and homelessness. Expanding these models, increasing funding for supportive housing, and strengthening partnerships across government and community organizations would reduce the number of people forced to survive outdoors each winter. Long-term change also means addressing root causes like unemployment, trauma, systemic barriers, and the lack of consistent transitional supports.

Call to Action  

You have the power to make a difference. At the Alberta Homeless Foundation (AHF), we believe every person deserves dignity, support, and a place to call home. Donations go directly toward delivering vital care kits, warm clothing, and essential hygiene supplies to those experiencing homelessness across Alberta. Volunteers help us bring these items directly into communities, making a tangible impact on lives.

There are many ways you can take part. You can donate new winter gear, assemble hygiene kits, join one of our outreach events, talk to friends and family about homelessness, or spread awareness on social media. 

Winter in Alberta is harsh, but together we create hope. With community support, the Alberta Homeless Foundation is building a stronger, more compassionate province. Your involvement can help move us beyond seasonal responses toward long-term change. 

Sources 

• Alberta Climate Information Service (ACIS)

• Health impacts of cold exposure among people experiencing homelessness: A narrative systematic review on risks and risk-reduction approaches

• How the homeless battle the cold

• What it’s like to be homeless during a Calgary winter

• Alberta's homelessness response | Alberta.ca

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