Inn from the Cold Society is a 5-star charity with an above-average results reporting grade of A+. For every dollar donated, 72 cents are available to go towards the cause. Its reserve funds can cover almost 1 year and 8 months of annual program costs.

A Charity Intelligence 2025 Top 100 Rated Charity.

Founded in 1997 and operating in Calgary, Inn from the Cold (IFTC) provides families with comprehensive housing support. This includes emergency housing, meals, case management, and financial subsidies. The charity reports that approximately 3,000 individuals in families are experiencing homelessness, representing 20% of the city’s total homeless population. Children under 18 make up over 60% of those affected. It is estimated that an average of 200 families experience homelessness on any given night in Calgary.

In fiscal 2024 (year ended March), IFTC served 4,662 unique individuals of which 2,607 were children and housed a total of 172 families. In F2024, Inn from the Cold spent $5.8m on its programs: Family Shelter, Supportive Housing, Family Community Services, and Prevention & Diversion.

Family Shelter was 56% of F2024 program spending. In F2024, Inn from the Cold provided 25,433 shelter bed nights to 94 families. The average length of stay was 82 days, which is a 46% increase from 56 days in F2023. The charity served a total of 76,359 meals to families in F2024. It also completed 758 referrals to external community partners. 

Supportive Housing was 26% of F2024 program spending. Supportive Housing includes the charity’s Recovery Supports, Moccasin Pathways, and Affordable Housing initiatives. In F2024, Supportive Housing served 134 families total of which 42% were Non-Indigenous Canadians, 40% were Indigenous, and 18% were newcomers. The charity completed 1,084 community referrals for its Recovery Supports program. Affordable Housing had an average length of stay of 320 days and a 97% occupancy rate.

Family Community Services was 14% of F2024 program spending. This service offers health and wellness support to families accessing the charity’s main programs. In F2024, IFTC had 1,739 health & wellness support, 3,687 child & youth support, and 1,688 Indigenous Engagement support interactions and activities. This includes wellbeing checkups, mental health support, and domestic violence support. 

Prevention and Diversion was 4% of F2024 program spending. The program’s goal is to help stabilize familes' financial, health, or relationship challenges to prevent homelessness.

Inn from the Cold’s audited financial statements follow activity-based costing, which is a best practice. This means it clearly discloses which expenses relate to program, administrative, and fundraising activities.

In F2024, Inn from the Cold received $7.0m in donations (64% of total revenue) and $3.0m in government funding (27% of total revenue). The charity also reported an investment income of $338k. Administrative costs are 20% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 8% of donations. For every dollar donated, 72 cents are available to go towards the cause. In F2024, IFTC spent $5.8m on its programs which is 51% of total revenues.

Inn from the Cold has $9.4m in its reserve funds. These reserve funds can cover around one year and eight months of annual program costs. 

Profile updated on June 17, 2025 by Abby Stout.

Learn more: Inn from the Cold F2024 annual report