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CUPS Community Health Centre provides programs in the areas of health care, social services and educational to a population that struggles with issues of poverty and are marginalized in society. Each program has developed over time based on the needs and requests of the people served.
In the late 1980s the downtown churches met to develop an ecumenical project in response to the people arriving at their doors in search of help. These Churches, including physicians who attended them, came together to provide referral services and basic medical care for those in need.
In 1988, the Central United Church purchased a building on 7th Avenue to house the Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS). Referral Services and health care were provided entirely by volunteers. The first major funder was Alberta Health; this was the beginning of the development of a Community Health Centre. The people of vision who founded CUPS understood the significance of combining social services and health care.
In 1994, the present building located at 128 7th Avenue was purchased by CUPS as it was accessible to the population served. The building had been used as a bar and "strip club" so the conversion to a social services/health care facility was a dramatic change. Initially two other agencies rented space in the building; however, CUPS' programs now occupy the entire space as the programs have had to expand to meet the needs of a growing population.
Expansion has continued over time. In 2002, CUPS built a second location to house the One World Child Development Centre.
The volunteer spirit remains strong and staff who are committed to work with this population are attracted to CUPS. A holistic approach has continued to develop and the Spiritual component is recognized as vital. Care, education and research are dimensions that are integrated into the daily work. Please read about each of the CUPS programs to see how programs have developed as a result of this foundation.
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