A Place to Heal: How Raven is Creating Stability and Hope

By combining stable housing with consistent relationships and recovery supports, Raven is helping create hope and new possibilities for some of Calgary’s most vulnerable youth.

Launched in 2022, Raven is a housing program with recovery supports for young adults. Rather than requiring young people to navigate systems separately, Raven staff help coordinate housing, recovery, health, and other supports at the same time. Having stable housing and consistent people who remain alongside them through setbacks and successes gives young people the foundation and encouragement they need to keep moving forward.

This coordinated approach is changing the life trajectory of the youth we serve and creating the long-term stability that many of them never imagined would be possible.

From High Risk to Hope for the Future: Leslie’s Story

At 18, Leslie* was in search of a place to land. Struggling with substance use and mental health issues born out of past traumas, she needed a more than just a roof over her head. She needed a home that would help her heal.

When Leslie moved into Raven in 2023, she was guarded and distrustful. For staff, Leslie’s early days of living at the Raven were all about creating predictability, gaining Leslie’s trust and establishing clear boundaries. Before healing could begin, staff knew they needed help Leslie feel safe enough to stay.

Over time, this consistency mattered. Leslie began to build relationships with staff and slowly became more open and reflective. She started taking a more active role in conversations about her choices and how they affected her and others.

Raven’s Recovery Coach helped Leslie access treatment for her opioid addiction. There were periods of progress and periods of relapse, but when setbacks happened, she remained housed and connected to staff. Maintaining that connection allowed her stay linked to care instead of returning to unsafe environments.

Another important part of Leslie’s journey at Raven was reconnecting with family members after several years of minimal contact. Raven staff helped facilitate safe, structured visits, and supported Leslie as she rebuilt relationships at her own pace. Having people in her life who she trusted became an important part of her stability.

In 2025, during a period of relapse, Trellis staff helped Leslie enter detox, followed by a residential treatment program. After treatment, she chose to move to an apartment in a sober living environment so she could continue her recovery while living more independently.

Today, Leslie remains housed, continues to access the support she needs to stay healthy, and is managing both her mental health and substance use recovery. She still checks in with Raven staff from time to time, not because she has to, but because those relationships remain important to her. Leslie’s journey reflects the reality that recovery rarely happens in a straight line. Even through her ups and downs, the connections Leslie built at Raven created the stability needed for change and growth to take root. Her progress was built through consistent housing, patient relationships, and enough time to make different choices.

*Name has been changed to protect confidentiality