Program for low-income Calgarians to apply for city discounts grows by 34% in 2023

Tens of thousands more Calgarians signed up for the city's Fair Entry program this year.

Fair Entry allows low-income Calgarians to fill out a single form to qualify for subsidized rates for seven different city programs.

That includes things like cut-rate transit passes, reduced fares at city recreation facilities, property tax assistance and no-cost spay/neuter services for pets.

Access to the program is limited to those on provincial income supports, people with Canada Revenue Agency-verified low income levels or those with a letter from a social worker. 

A city official confirmed to CBC News that there has been a 34 per cent increase in participation in the program this year, compared to 2022 levels.

The team lead for social supports, Lisa Davis, said there were 113,000 Calgarians enrolled in the program in early December. 

That's up from 84,000 people in October and 97,000 in November.

Specifics not tracked

The reasons for the increase aren't exactly clear. 

Davis said it may be related to more people being on provincial support programs like Alberta Works or AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped).

It could also be related to growing numbers of people migrating to Calgary from elsewhere in Canada and from other countries.

She said, while the increase in applications likely isn't connected to any single factor, the reasons people apply are not being tracked by the city.

"We never want to transfer a burden to the person living with low income in gathering additional information or making that application process more difficult," said Davis.

The city program has been in place since 2015 and is designed to reduce the financial burdens on applicants who are seeking access to subsidized programs.

"They can do everything through a single point of entry, really preserving their dignity and reducing the barrier to application." 

Not a surprise

The executive director of Vibrant Communities Calgary, Meaghon Reid, said she's not surprised by the increase in applications.

The organization stewards Calgary's poverty reduction strategy, known as Enough for All.

Reid said increasing numbers of Canadians are under economic pressure due to things like higher interest rates, rising rents, inflation, as well as higher utility bills and food bills.

"Increasingly, we're hearing that a lot of Calgarians can't square the circle like the way they used to. They used to be able to meet all their basic needs, maybe have some money left over. That's simply not the case anymore," said Reid. 

"So Fair Entry may be a way they can reduce costs so they can put that money into other things."

Greater awareness

With more people reaching out to food banks or calling 211 for help dealing with tight budgets, Reid said it's possible there's also a growing awareness of the Fair Entry program through referrals and that's resulting in more applications.

She said her organization did a recent study on homelessness and found about 115,000 Calgarians are in danger of losing shelter. 

With the subsidized rates that are accessible through Fair Entry, Reid said helping people find a way to save $100 or $150 a month could help them stave off homelessness.

For comparison, Reid said the Fair Entry program had more than 106,000 people enrolled prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is another number or reference point that we have to the number of people that are struggling with some of that income poverty in our city," said Reid.    

Information about the Fair Entry program can be found on the city's website.