Calgary’s Disabled Community Faces Sweeping Changes – Here’s What You Need to Know
Calgarians grappling with disabilities face a turbulent period of shifting support as significant provincial changes roll out. Starting January 2025, the Alberta government eliminated funding for three key disability advocacy groups, including Calgary's own Disability Action Hall, a local organization established in 1998 to champion "enough money to live" and "a home for all" for its community.
February 2025 brought news of a $49-million reduction in Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) funding for 2025-26, alongside the introduction of the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP). Just a month later, in March 2025, it was announced that the federal Canada Disability Benefit would be treated as non-exempt income, effectively clawed back from AISH recipients by the provincial government.
The financial pressures intensify with a looming $220 per month rent increase in community housing by July 2025. This comes as Calgary continues to grapple with a significant housing affordability crisis, with over 84,000 Calgarians already in housing need and projections to exceed 100,000 by 2026. While some reports indicated a slight decline in asking rents in mid-2025 due to new supply, overall affordability remains a pressing concern for many.
ADAP's new realities include a proposed maximum monthly living allowance of $1,740, which is $200 lower than AISH's current maximum rate, pushing many Calgarians below the deep-poverty threshold. The program also significantly reduces income retention, exempting only the first $350 of earned income compared to AISH's $1,072.
In August 2025, ADAP details confirmed all current AISH clients will transition to the new program on July 1, 2026. Those wishing to remain on AISH must reapply and undergo a new medical assessment by a government-appointed AISH Medical Review Panel, whose decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Premier Danielle Smith justified these changes in September 2025 by stating the province aimed for "parity" with other provinces and to prevent people from "coming here just to take advantage of our social programs." When ADAP was introduced in February 2025, Minister Jason Nixon cited the program's goal of "greater independence" for disabled citizens. However, disability advocates, including Inclusion Alberta, have criticized the program, stating it could leave thousands in deeper poverty.
In a city known for its vibrant support networks and resilience, these transformations deeply resonate, underscoring the crucial need for ongoing discussion and community support for Calgary's most vulnerable.
