The Redwood

About The Redwood:

Having opened its doors in 1993, The Redwood is a haven for women and children escaping abuse with its 33-bed women’s shelter. Its programs and services support women and children to thrive and live independently. In 2015, the charity reports that over 80% of the women leaving the Redwood do not return to their abusive partners.

In F2015, The Redwood reports answering 434 telephone calls from women in crisis, providing crisis counselling, safety support and ensuring women know that help is available. In F2015, 58 women and 91 kids sought refuge at the Redwood (a 4% increase from 2014), staying an average of 93 days. In F2015, 41 families left The Redwood and are now living independently in the community, 71% of total women helped.

The Redwood provides a 24-hour safe refuge for women and children escaping abusive relationships, with telephone counselling, counselling for women and children, housing support services, referrals to subsidized daycare and school registration, job training, and legal support. The Redwood is active in Toronto’s High Park neighbourhood through informing women of their options and the support available through educational workshops at local schools, libraries, housing co-ops and community centres. These workshops help women plan an exit strategy if needed, like what to take from their home (passport, legal documents, keys, bank and credit cards.) The Redwood provides art and play therapy programs to help children and youth cope with their experience and break the cycle of violence. The Redwood’s Women on the Move program coached 18 women in public speaking, sharing their experience in 28 community workshops, and acquiring job skills.

Financial Review:

In addition to United Way funding, donors supported The Redwood with $723k in donations, making The Redwood a small-cap charity with donations under $1 million. Fundraising costs are 18% of donations and administrative costs are 1% of total revenues. With total operating costs in F2015 of $2.3m, The Redwood spent $41k to help each woman resident in F2015, or $15.9k per resident including children. The Redwood’s funding reserves declined by 21% since 2013 to $894k, and cover 42% of annual program costs. In 2015 The Redwood had a material operating deficit of $186k which does not include $55k in amortization charges.

Profile prepared by Kate Bahen, CFA, March 17, 2016

This profile is being reviewed by the charity; corrections and edits may be forthcoming.