Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter is a 3-star charity that is not financially transparent. It has a C+ results reporting grade, which is below average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 67 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.

Founded in 1983, Ernestine's Women's Shelter (Ernestine’s) provides a safe space and support services for women, gender-diverse individuals, and children escaping violence. Its three current strategic priorities are to grow its revenue, measure its impact, and expand its reach. Since founding, it has supported over 15,000 individuals and children. Ernestine's runs three main programs. The charity does not provide a breakdown of spending on its programs.

The Outreach Program helps survivors of abuse gain independence by providing food, hygiene items, transitional housing, and legal support. This program supported over 600 people and provided 50 employment services in F2023. Ernestine’s operates a 32-bed shelter with 14 private rooms, where women and children stay for up to a year until permanent housing is secured, with an average stay of five months. In F2023, the shelter had an average occupancy rate of 106%.  

The Life Without Violence Program offers a 24-hour crisis line and counselling, including goal-setting and safety planning. It provides culturally inclusive meals five days a week. Ernestine's reports that almost 90% of domestic violence survivors in Canada had their pet brutalized or killed by a partner. The charity’s SafePet program re-homes pets, helping women escape abuse. In F2023, the charity offered 101 counselling and 22 skill-building sessions, with one in three residents needing mental health support.

The Child and Youth Program supports young survivors of violence, offering counseling, group activities, and academic support to help them heal and grow. The fundamental pillars are healthy emotional expression, recognizing the impact of violence, and early prevention. In F2023, Ernestine's held 294 counselling sessions with children and youth.

In F2023, Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter received $1.3m in donations. It also received $1.8m in government funding, which is 58% of total revenues. In F2023, the charity spent $2.1m on program costs, which is 67% of revenues.

Administrative costs are 17% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 16% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 33%. For every dollar donated to the charity, 67 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range of 65 to 95 cents to the cause.

Ernestine’s has $1.8m in reserve funds. These are the charity’s cash and investments. The charity can cover 85% or ten months of annual program costs with current reserves. In F2023, Ernestine’s recorded a surplus of $256k (8% of revenues) and spent $19k on capital expenditures.

Charity Intelligence sent an update of this report to Ernestine’s Women’s Shelter for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on August 16, 2024 by Alexia Tudose.