No. Mandela House serves men of African descent, which includes anyone from the African diaspora — whether you're from East Africa, West Africa, the Caribbean, or have mixed heritage. If you're unsure whether this includes you, just call or message us. We'd rather you ask than not reach out.

Call the 24-hour crisis line directly: 587-352-9422. Don't wait to fill out a form — just call. The line is available around the clock, and a real person will help you figure out next steps, including whether emergency housing is available.

When a man first comes to Mandela House, he meets with a caseworker for a private intake assessment — no judgment, no pressure. From that conversation, a personalised support plan is created just for him. He won't be put in a group or a program before he's ready.

Your donation goes directly toward providing emergency shelter, counselling, and community programs for men of African descent in Calgary. Giving starts at $15. If you'd like to direct your gift to a specific area — such as the Brotherhood Program or mental health support — reach out to us at info@mandelahouse.ca and we'll make sure it gets there.

Yes — professional referrals are welcome and appreciated. Use the Contact form on the website, select "Community Programs" or "Emergency & Housing" as your topic, and briefly describe the situation. A caseworker will follow up with you directly. For urgent situations, call the crisis line.

Mandela House welcomes practicum students, particularly those studying social work, counselling, community development, psychology, and public health. Send an email to info@mandelahouse.ca with your program, institution, and what you're hoping to learn. Placements are assessed based on current team capacity.

Partnerships can take many forms — co-programming, service referrals, funding, in-kind support, or sharing resources and space. There's no single model. Fill out the Partnership Inquiry form on the Get Involved page and describe what you have in mind. Dee or a team member will respond to explore what makes sense.

Emergency stays are typically 30 days or longer, depending on individual need — there's no rigid cutoff. When a man is ready to transition out, Mandela House supports him in securing stable housing and employment so the move is planned, not abrupt. Follow-up support continues after exit to reduce the risk of returning to crisis.

Absolutely. There are many ways to contribute beyond clinical support — event coordination, facilitation assistance, administrative help, driving, mentorship, and more. Fill out the Volunteer form on the Get Involved page and tell us a bit about yourself and your availability. We'll match you to where you can make the most difference.

Mandela House is a program under Ruth's House Society, which has been serving Calgary families since 2019. Ruth's House primarily supports women and children. Mandela House was created specifically to fill the gap for men of African descent — a population that was falling through the cracks of existing services. Same organisation, different but complementary missions.