Drop-In Centre see more clients, and new faces, at Thanksgiving

The downturn in the economy means the Calgary Drop-In Centre is seeing more clients, and new faces, at its annual Thanksgiving dinner.

"I saw a young lady — early 20s — go into our building rolling a suitcase, never looked like she stepped foot in a homeless shelter before," said spokesperson Jordan Hamilton, who estimated they would feed 1,800 people on Thanksgiving Monday.

"On the exact same day I also met somebody who was in her mid-50s, who also didn't look like she had ever walked into a homeless shelter before. Both of them were scared. Both of them were very alone."

Johnny MacKenzie, a client at the shelter, says many people don't realize a lot of the centre's clientele have jobs.

He says he went to look at rental housing on Sunday and the landlord was asking for $1,500 for a one-bedroom.

"The rent in this city is way too high," he said.

Kayla Harden, another client, agrees.

"People are losing their jobs left, right and centre, but there's nobody helping people with housing," she said.

"They're seeing more and more people coming because of the fact that people not necessarily don't have a job, they just can't afford where they're living."

Hamilton says it's not just the clients who are suffering.

"Something we're seeing in this economic slowdown is a number of companies whose support has been very generous to us are finding it difficult to continue that level of support," he said. "So I'm encouraging all Calgarians, if you have something to give, please give generously because, of course, as they know, a lot of people are struggling."