'A long time coming': Construction breaks ground on Calgary Dream Centre's $18-million affordable housing project for women

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News 'A long time coming': Construction breaks ground on Calgary Dream Centre's $18-million affordable housing project for women The charity aims to welcome the property's first tenants in the fall of 2027 Author of the article: By Scott Strasser Published Sep 21, 2026 4 minute read Join the conversation A groundbreaking ceremony for the new Calgary Dream Centre building on 24th Avenue S.W. in Erlton, Calgary on Monday, September 21, 2026. Brent Calver/Postmedia Article content Dirt turned Monday at the site of a future affordable housing development that nearly 90 vulnerable women and children will soon call home, just south of Calgary’s downtown. Article content The development, dubbed Erlton House, is being led by the Calgary Dream Centre, a non-profit that helps individuals overcome addiction and homelessness. Article content Article content The below-market condo development at 24 28th Avenue S.W. is $17.6-million initiative that received capital funding from all three orders of government, as well as donations from Trico Homes and the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB). Article content Article content The city contributed $3 million toward the project and sold the land at book value, while the provincial and federal governments each provided approximately $4.8 million. Article content Noon News Roundup Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Trico Homes and CREB’s REALTOR Community Foundation legacy grant also supported the project, to the tune of $1 million. Article content At a news conference Monday, Calgary Dream Centre CEO Craig Hill said the project has been years in the making, but made possible after the non-profit acquired the land approximately three years ago. Article content “This has been in the Dream Centre’s heart since the day we started, so from that perspective, it’s been a long time coming,” he said. “From the moment that we first found out this land was available, we saw the land and recognized we need to jump on this.” Article content The site formerly housed Erlton Elementary School, which Hill said was demolished earlier this year. The Calgary Board of Education disposed of the…