Homes First Society is a four-star financially transparent charity. It has a B- results reporting score, which is below average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 79 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1983, Homes First Society (HFS) provides transitional and permanent housing for Toronto’s chronically homeless population through its nine shelters and 17 supportive housing locations. It follows a Critical Time Intervention model where case management workers help those who have moved into long-term housing adjust to their new environment. HFS also runs community events and provides both meal and healthcare services for its clients. According to the charity, over 11,000 people experience homelessness on any given night in Toronto. The charity’s core programs are its shelter services and Follow-Up Worker transitional housing program. Its other programs include its food bank, health clinic, and community events. The charity spent $56.0m on its programs in the fiscal year ending December 2023 (2023).

Core programs include its shelter services and transitional housing program. In 2023, HFS supported 2,200 people across its shelters and provided the following client demographic breakdown: 65% refugees, 46% identify as Black, and 57% are chronically homeless. Its Follow-Up Worker subprogram helped 530 people transition into and maintain long-term housing. The charity also reported helping 17 clients manage eviction orders in 2023.

Other programs include its commercial kitchen, clinic, and events it runs for its clients. In 2023, the charity provided 1,832,675 meals across all of its facilities. The charity also created the Centralized Food Program in 2023. According to the charity, 300 people benefited from the personalized meals and kitchen training workshops offered by this program.

Homes First Society (operating charity) receives grants from the Homes First Foundation (foundation), a separately registered charity established in 2002. Charity Intelligence consolidated the operating charity’s and foundation’s audited financial statements for the following analysis.

In 2023, Homes First Society received $1.7m in donations which is 2% of revenues and a 10% increase from $1.6m in 2022. The charity also received $60.8m in government funding which is 95% of revenues. Administrative costs are 14% of revenues and fundraising costs are 7% of donations. This results in 21% total overhead spending, meaning that for every dollar donated, 79 cents are available to go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range.

In 2023, the HFS spent $56.0m on its programs which is 87% of revenues and a 9% increase from $51.2m in 2022.

At the end of 2023, HFS had $13.2m net reserve funds which covers 24% or slightly under three months of its annual program spending. Ci backed out $3.9m worth of interest bearing debts from HFS’s 2023 gross reserve funds.

Profile updated by Julian Dranitsaris on August 8, 2024. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.