Covenant House Toronto

20 Gerrard Street East
Toronto, ON M5B 2P3
Executive Director: Bruce Rivers
Board Chair: Ken Morell

Website: www.covenanthousetoronto.ca
Charitable Reg. #: 10699 0195 RR0001

Sector: Social Services - Homeless (Shelter)

Operating Charity

Charity Rating

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Results Reporting

Grade: A-

The grade is based on the charity's public reporting of the work it does and the results it achieves.

Financial Transparency

Audited financial statements for current and previous years available on the charity's website [Audited financial statement for most recent year]

Need for Funding

Funding Reserves Program Costs

Spending Breakdown

Cents to the Cause

♦	♦	♦
			95¢



			75¢
			avg
			65¢


			50¢

2016	2017	2018

For a dollar donated, cents funding the cause after fundraising and admin costs, excluding surplus.

Impact Rating: Low

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Full-time staff #188

Avg. Compensation $75,055

Top 10 Staff Salary Range

$350k +	0
$300k - $350k	0
$250k - $300k	1
$200k - $250k	2
$160k - $200k	2
$120k - $160k	5
$80k - $120k	0
$40k - $80k	0
< $40k	0

Information from most recent CRA Charities Directorate filings for F2018

About Covenant House Toronto:

Founded in 1982, Covenant House Toronto (COVT) works to protect at-risk, homeless and trafficked youth. At any point, up to 18% of the homeless population in Canada are youth and 40% of those youth were first homeless before the age of 16. Many homeless youth are escaping trauma or face mental health issues. Left on the streets, kids can become involved in drugs, sex trafficking, or gangs.

In F2018, COVT allocated 47% of program spending to the crisis shelter. A total of 743 youth used the shelter, a 20% decrease since F2017. COVT notes that this is due to a record high daily number of youth staying in the shelter for longer periods of time, which is attributable to the lack of stable, affordable housing and sustainable employment opportunities for youth. The on-site health centre provided 4,843 healthcare visits in F2018. There are emergency beds reserved for young women who have experienced sex trafficking or exploitation.

Long-Term Transitional Housing received 17% of program funding in F2018. This program prepares youth for living independently by offering workshops on budgeting, laundry, and grocery shopping. Job training and career counselling services are also available. If youth stick to a personal plan including work or school, they are allowed to live in an apartment while paying a third of the market-rate rent. Covenant House Toronto has recently opened Avdell Home, its second supported housing program for victims of sex trafficking.

Covenant House Toronto allocated 21% of program funding to Community Support Services and Outreach. Support Services help youth who are homeless or low-income but live outside of the crisis shelter. Kids can access a COVT foodbank, get clean clothes, or access counselling. In F2018, 140 youth received support for mental health and addiction issues, 90 victims of sexual exploitation had specialized support, and 42 youth were matched with mentors.

In F2018, 7% of program spending was allocated to educating the public about youth homelessness and sex trafficking, 5% covered healthcare costs for youth, and 3% was allocated to program evaluation and research.

Results and Impact:

1-800-435-7308

Financial Review:

Covenant House Toronto is a Major 100 charity, receiving $24.4m in donations in F2017. Its administrative costs are 5% of revenues and fundraising costs are 28% of donations. For every $1 donated, 66 cents go to the cause. This is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. COVT has $18.8m in funding reserves, which can cover program costs for just over one year.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Covenant House Toronto for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 7, 2019 by Caroline McKenna.

Financial Ratios Fiscal year ending June	2018	2017	2016
Administrative costs as % of revenues	5.5%	5.6%	5.8%
Fundraising costs as % of donations	28.1%	28.5%	33.0%
Program cost coverage (%)	103.2%	109.2%	92.2%

Summary Financial Statements All figures in $000s	2018	2017	2016
Donations	24,375	22,717	19,505
Government funding	1,585	1,018	1,007
Fees for service	2,675	2,917	2,620
Investment income	463	375	165
Other income	192	97	94
Total revenues	29,289	27,124	23,391
Program costs	18,216	15,799	14,730
Administrative costs	1,571	1,502	1,341
Fundraising costs	6,844	6,485	6,441
Cash flow from operations	2,657	3,338	879
Funding reserves	18,798	17,260	13,581

Note: Ci adjusted for deferred cap contributions to report on a cash basis, affecting revenues by ($332k) in 2018, ($107k) in 2017, and ($507k) in 2016. Ci has adjusted amount due from Toronto Hostel Services affecting revenues by $206k in F2017 and ($2k) in F2016. Ci has adjusted amortization of capital assets affecting expenses by ($543k) in F2018, ($808k) in F2017, and ($788k) in F2016. Amortization has been allocated to program, administrative, and fundraising costs on a pro-rata basis.

Comments added by the Charity:

Reserves: Covenant House maintains reserves equivalent to up to six months of annual operating revenue to ensure it can deliver services to youth and maintain its operation in the event that donations decline. Unlike other not-for-profit service delivery organizations in the country, CHT relies on fundraising as its primary source of income. Over 80% of every dollar spent to support our services to youth and our operations comes from donations. Given our substantial reliance on donations, it is critical, both from a legal and an accounting perspective, that we have sufficient reserves to ensure uninterrupted services which include costs associated with our facilities, staff, and delivery of programs to as many as 250 youth daily.