carapace Community Response was formed in 2021 in response to a moment of crisis in Wetaskiwin. When one of the community’s shelter services closed its doors, individuals who had relied on that support were left with few options. Many transitioned from emergency shelter into encampments, navigating instability, exposure, and disconnection from essential services. carapace emerged to meet people where they were, physically, emotionally, and systemically, at a time when support was urgently needed.

From the beginning, carapace’s work was rooted in presence and relationship. Early efforts focused on outreach to individuals living in encampments, providing practical support, advocacy, and connection to basic resources. This work was not about quick fixes or compliance-driven interventions; it was about dignity, trust, and continuity of care in a community where gaps in services were deeply felt.

As the organization evolved, so did its understanding of the structural forces shaping people’s lives. It became increasingly clear that many individuals experiencing housing insecurity and instability were also navigating involvement with the criminal justice system, often as a result of unmet needs related to housing, mental health, substance use, and poverty. Rather than viewing justice involvement as a moral failing or a public safety problem to be removed from the community, carapace adopted a different perspective: that criminalization is frequently a downstream response to systemic failures.

This understanding now shapes carapace’s core mission. The organization focuses on supporting people who have, or have had, involvement with the criminal justice system, particularly in rural and underserved contexts. carapace works alongside individuals to address the underlying issues that bring them into contact with courts, probation, and corrections, recognizing that incarceration and surveillance are often ineffective substitutes for accessible housing, adequate mental health care, and meaningful addiction supports.

carapace’s approach is grounded in the belief that communities are safer and healthier when people are supported, not displaced. The organization advocates for a model that applies appropriate accountability while also applying pressure to the systems that too often fail people before they ever enter the justice system. This includes challenging gaps in rural service delivery, limited treatment access, and the overreliance on carceral responses to social and health-related concerns.

Co-Founder and Co–Executive Director Jessi Hanks has been involved with carapace since its inception, helping guide the organization through its formative years and grounding its work in community connection and responsiveness. In September 2024, Kaitlyn Knox joined carapace, bringing experience in justice and social services and a strong commitment to trauma-informed practice. Joining the organization was driven by a shared belief that people involved in the justice system deserve support that is practical, humane, and rooted in an understanding of systemic barriers rather than stigma.

Today, carapace Community Response continues to grow as a justice-informed, community-based organization committed to working with people who are often excluded from traditional systems of care. Its work reflects a clear position: involvement in the criminal justice system does not define a person’s worth, and with the right supports in place, many issues currently managed through carceral systems do not need to be there at all. 

carapace remains committed to building alternatives that centre dignity, accountability, and community-based solutions—particularly in rural settings where options are limited and the consequences of system gaps are most acutely felt.