Alpha House Society is a 4-star, financially transparent charity with an above-average A- results reporting grade. Its reserves can cover just under five months of its annual program spending. It has 10% overhead spending, meaning for every dollar donated, 90 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1981, Alpha House Society (Alpha House) provides short-term emergency housing, supportive housing, and detox services for Calgarians suffering from addiction. Its services are specifically tailored to helping people face alcoholism, addiction to opioids, and methamphetamine addiction. Alpha House’s outreach team also provides services to Calgary's homeless population. 

Alpha House runs four programs: Housing, Outreach, Detox, and Shelter. It spent $22.0m on its programs in the March 2024 fiscal year (F2024).

Housing was 57% ($12.5m) of Alpha House’s program spending. The charity refers clients housed at its shelter to rent-subsidized supportive housing once clients complete its detox program. According to the charity, this reduces the risk of recidivism. In F2024, Alpha House helped house 175 people in supportive housing. The charity also refers clients to more intensive supportive housing where its caseworkers provide residents 24/7 support. Alpha House did not report the number of people it helped house in supportive housing at the time of this profile update.

Outreach was 21% ($4.7m) of Alpha House’s program spending. The charity’s mobile response teams responded to 20,022 service calls and had 68,095 interactions with homeless Calgarians during F2024. In these interactions, team members provided 107,772 services (overdose response, transportation to shelter, providing food and water). Alpha House’s outreach teams helped 1,141 people living in encampments and provided 632 people transportation in F2024.

Detox was 12% ($2.7m) of Alpha House’s program spending. The charity runs a 42-bed housing facility for people on its supportive housing waitlists. In F2024, Alpha House processed 1,985 admissions into this facility. Of those admitted, 437 people progressed into long-term housing.

Shelter was 10% ($2.1m) of Alpha House’s program spending. The charity operates a 120-bed short-term housing facility for people suffering from addiction. In F2024, Alpha House’s shelter saw 64,470 visits. The charity housed 5,276 unique clients in F2024 (71% male, 28% female, and 1% transgender).

Alpha House Society’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing – a best practice. This means it clearly separates expenses into program, administrative, and fundraising activities.

In F2024, the charity received $13.2m in donations (49% of total revenue) and $11.8m of government funding (43% of revenue).

Administrative costs are 9% of total revenue excluding investment income and fundraising costs are 1% of donations. Its 10% overhead means that for every dollar donated, 90 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

Alpha House spent $22.0m on its programs in F2024 – a 15% increase from $19.2m spent in F2023.

At the end of F2024, Alpha House had $8.9m in reserves (cash and investments). Its reserves can cover 40% or just under five months of its annual program spending.

Profile updated by Julian Dranitsaris on August 8, 2025. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.

Questions? Contact jdranitsaris@charityintelligence.ca