Shelter Movers is a 4-star rated charity. It has an above-average results reporting score, acceptable overhead spending, and is financially transparent.  

Founded in 2016, Shelter Movers helps women and children escape abuse by providing free moving and storage services. The charity works across Canada with six main locations. Shelter Movers performs resettlements, escorted moves, and urgent exits. This allows the charity to appropriately help women facing different levels of violence. To receive help from this charity, people must be referred by professionals such as shelter staff, social workers, or police officers. 

Shelter Movers states that the need for its work has grown in recent years due to isolation from the pandemic and rising housing costs that make it more difficult for women to escape abuse. Many shelters are currently at capacity. A point-in-time study found that in April 2021, 70% of women were turned away from shelters due to a lack of space. 

Shelter Movers works to create a world where people can escape abuse with dignity and power. In F2022, the charity performed 1,468 moves. In total, it spent 29,360 hours helping people move. Shelter Movers worked with 193 different referring agencies to find clients in F2022.

Shelter Movers received $1.3m in donations and special events revenue in F2022. It also received $899k in government funding during the year, representing 40% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 16% of revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 1% of donations and special events revenue. This results in total overhead spending of 17%. For every dollar donated, 83 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending.  

Shelter Movers has $983k in reserve funding. The charity can cover 54% or around six months of annual program costs with its existing reserves.  

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to Shelter Movers for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.   

Updated on July 7, 2023 by Clive Stevens.