Eva's Initiatives

About Eva's Initiatives:

Founded in 1989, Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth (Eva’s) works to address and prevent youth homelessness through providing shelter and support services. By fulfilling short-term needs and working to address the root causes of homelessness, Eva’s hopes that eventually all youth will have a place to sleep.

A Charity Intelligence 2017 Top 10 High Impact Charity

In F2017, 53% of spending was allocated to programs giving youth the skills and tools to avoid homelessness. In F2017, 306 youth and family members participated in the Family Connect counselling program, working to build healthier relationships. Eva’s operates the Harm Reduction program for youth with substance abuse issues, providing counselling, education on safer drug use, and access to safe drug supplies. In F2017, Youth received over 5,000 training sessions on living independently, financial literacy, and healthy living. Eva’s also offers employment training and education programs.

In F2017, Eva’s allocated 47% of program spending to operating its three shelters. During the year, 948 youth were housed in Eva’s shelters. Eva’s Place is an emergency shelter with 40 beds. This location houses the Family Reconnect program and works with psychiatrists to address residents’ mental health needs. Eva’s Satellite is the second emergency shelter. This location has 33 beds and operates the Harm Reduction program. The third location, Eva’s Phoenix, houses 50 youth for up to one year. The longer-term housing works to transition youth from homelessness to independence and successful housing. Youth at Eva’s Phoenix are prepared for employment in graphics or printing through working at Eva’s Print Shop, a full-service digital printer.  

Results and Impact: Charity Intelligence has found Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth to have Good impact, based on low cost relative to impact (see image in lower right). Eva’s reports that it spends $3,670 per month to provide a young person with shelter, food, and support.

Eva's follows up with youth who have left its shelters to track whether they return to homelessness. The charity has found that youth who participated in the Family Reconnect program are more likely to remain successfully housed than youth who did not. In F2017, 39 youth moved home from a shelter, 27 youth at risk of homelessness remained housed with family, and 12 homeless youth moved into transitional or independent housing with family involvement.

Eva’s reports that over 70% of students who complete training through the print shop find full-time work.

Financial Review:

Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth is medium-sized, with donations of $3.0m in F2017. Eva's received significantly higher donations of $8.2m in F2015 through a campaign to raise money for a renovation to Eva's Phoenix. The renovation was completed in F2016. 

The charity received $6.1m in government funding, representing 65% of total revenues. Administrative costs are 8% of revenues and fundraising costs are 30% of donations. For every $1 donated, 62 cents go to the cause, falling just below Ci’s reasonable range. Eva’s has $1.6m in funding reserves which could cover program costs for less than four months. This indicates a need for funding.

F2016 figures reflect a nine-month period ending September 30, 2016 as Eva’s moved its year-end date from December to September.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Eva’s Initiatives for Homeless Youth for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 25, 2018 by Madison Kerr.