Atira Women's Resource Society

What Atira Women's Resource Society does

Atira Women's Resource Society is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia on March 10, 1983 (CRA# 106736101RR0001), headquartered in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. It is one of British Columbia's largest non-profit housing organizations, operating an integrated continuum of low-barrier housing and support services for women and children affected by violence, poverty, and systemic barriers. The portfolio spans emergency shelter (SisterSpace, Maxxine Wright Shelter), transition houses (Durrant, Shimai, Ama), second-stage housing (Koomseh), long-term supportive housing (Sorella, Secord, Margaret's/Maggie's, Síséle, Oneesan, Sereenas, Ky'í7e), and specialized housing including Aoki Ross House for Two-Spirit, Trans, and Gender-Diverse (2STGD) individuals, with 2,500+ housing units across Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, White Rock, and New Westminster.

The organization's service stack includes five licensed Early Care & Learning Centres, the Atira Community Legal Clinic (criminal law via Early Resolution; poverty/family law via Legal Advocacy), Stopping the Violence counselling, Maxxine Wright Community Health Centre (in partnership with Fraser Health and OPTIONS), ReDiscover Parenting, Pet Outreach, and SisterSpace Overdose Prevention Site. Social enterprises — Enterprising Women Making Art (EWMA), East Van Roasters, and Painter Sisters — provide training and employment for women facing barriers to work. The Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing (PCVWH), launched in 2017, hosts annual national symposiums producing policy recommendations for CMHC and the federal government. Governance is supported by an Indigenous Leadership Council ensuring cultural integrity.

Funding flows from a diversified base: BC provincial government ministries (Community/Aboriginal/Women's Services, Child and Family Development, BC Housing), federal agencies (CMHC, Status of Women Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Health Canada), the BC Gaming Authority, the Law Foundation of BC, the Vancouver Foundation, the Central City Foundation, and individual/corporate donors. Membership is available at $2/year. In 2024 the organization reported 515 women housed, 129 children sheltered, 232,971 meals provided, and 621,551 support hours delivered across programs, while 2026 brought the closure of three Early Care & Learning Centres and the opening of Tung Sam Lau supportive housing.

Name

Atira Women's Resource Society

Legal name

ATIRA WOMEN'S RESOURCE SOCIETY

Website

https://atira.bc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Atira Women's Resource Society is a Vancouver-based Canadian non-profit (founded 1983) operating 2,500+ low-barrier housing units and wraparound services — shelter, childcare, legal aid, harm reduction, and social enterprise — for women, children, and gender-diverse individuals affected by violence across BC's Lower Mainland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Housing and Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD), Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Women's housing services
• Domestic violence support
• Supportive housing programs
• Nonprofit social services
• Community legal advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Charitable donations from individuals, including one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and tribute donations (in honour or memory of someone)
2. Corporate Giving and Sponsorships: Monetary donations from businesses, employee giving programs, employer matching, event sponsorships, and in-kind donations of goods, services, or professional expertise
3. Government Funding: Funding from BC Provincial Government ministries including Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, Ministry of Child and Family Development, BC Housing, and federal agencies including CMHC, Status of Women Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada
4. Social Enterprise Revenue: Revenue from Enterprising Women Making Art (EWMA) providing training and employment for women with barriers to employment
5. Foundation and Grant Funding: Support from foundations including Vancouver Foundation, Central City Foundation, Community Foundations of Canada, Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, and others

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Atira Women's Resource Society provides low-barrier housing and integrated support services for women and children affected by violence, poverty, and systemic barriers. The organization operates emergency shelters, transition houses, second-stage housing, and long-term supportive housing across the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, complemented by wraparound programs including legal aid, licensed childcare, trauma counselling, harm reduction, health services, and social enterprises.

Product overview

Atira Women's Resource Society is a not-for-profit organization operating a portfolio of housing programs and support services for women and children affected by violence. The organization offers a continuum of care including: low-barrier emergency shelters (SisterSpace, Maxxine Wright Shelter, Ginseng); transition houses (Durrant, Shimai, Ama); second-stage housing (Koomseh, Maxxine Wright Second Stage, Miyotehew); long-term supportive housing (Sorella, Secord, Margaret's/Maggie's, Sísele, Oneesan, Rice Block, Sereenas, Kyé7e); and specialized housing for young women (Imouto) and 2STGD individuals (Aoki Ross House, The Nest). Complementary programs include Early Care & Learning Centres (The Alex, Seksik, River Run, Willow, Maxxine Wright), the Atira Community Legal Clinic, Stopping the Violence Counselling, Maxxine Wright Community Health Centre, ReDiscover Parenting, Pet Outreach, and harm reduction services. Social enterprises (Enterprising Women Making Art, East Van Roasters, Painter Sisters) provide employment opportunities. The Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing (PCVWH) is a national advocacy initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Enterprising Women Making Art (EWMA): A community economic development project and social enterprise providing training and employment opportunities for women in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Supports healing and economic empowerment through art, and has been featured at Vancouver Fashion Week.
• Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing (PCVWH)
• Atira Community Legal Clinic

Products and services

• Housing Programs A continuum of low-barrier housing programs including emergency shelters, transition houses, second-stage housing, and long-term supportive housing for women and children affected by violence, with locations including Ama, Durrant, Shimai, Koomseh, Ky'7e, Margaret's (Maggie's), Maxxine Wright, Oneesan, Rice Block, Secord, Sereenas, Sísiele, and Sorella across Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, and White Rock.
• Aoki Ross House Safe haven for 23 individuals from the 2STGD (Two-Spirit, Trans, Gender-Diverse) community, providing specialized housing with tailored support services; the only project of its kind in Western Canada.
• SisterSpace Safe overnight space for women on the streets in the Downtown Eastside, providing immediate access to shelter and basic amenities, with 16,000+ visits recorded.
• Sorella Housing for Women and Children 108 units of long-term supportive housing for women, including 12 units for women with their young children.
• Imouto Housing for Young Women Housing for up to 16 young women in the Downtown Eastside, providing trauma-informed support and safe living conditions.
• Oneesan Housing for Women Canada's first upcycled shipping container housing development with 12 self-contained units for women who are older, located at 502 Alexander Street, Vancouver.
• Early Care & Learning Centres (ECLC) Five licensed childcare centres including The Alex, Seksik, River Run, Willow, and Maxxine Wright ECLCs, providing quality inclusive childcare for children of women in housing programs.
• Atira Community Legal Clinic Legal assistance including criminal law through the Early Resolution Program and poverty/family law through the Legal Advocacy Program, funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia.
• Stopping the Violence Counselling Trauma-informed counselling services for women who have experienced violence, providing individual and group support.
• Maxxine Wright Community Health Centre Integrated health centre in partnership with Fraser Health, providing healthcare services for high-risk pregnant and early parenting women.
• ReDiscover Parenting Parenting program for women who have experienced violence/abuse, helping rebuild family relationships and parenting confidence.
• Enterprising Women Making Art (EWMA) Community economic development project providing training, employment opportunities, and gallery space for women artists in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, featured at Vancouver Fashion Week.
• East Van Roasters (EVR) Employment-based social enterprise providing training and jobs for women with barriers to employment through coffee roasting operations.
• Painter Sisters Employment-based social enterprise providing training and employment opportunities for women who have barriers to employment in painting and renovation services.
• Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing (PCVWH) National project hosting annual symposiums since 2017 to advocate for housing policies prioritizing women and children, producing Calls to Action for CMHC and the federal government.
• SisterSpace Overdose Prevention Site Supervised consumption service providing harm reduction support for women in the Downtown Eastside.
• Pet Outreach Program supporting women and children with pets, addressing barriers to housing and providing veterinary care, food, and supplies for companion animals.
• Authentic Courage Gala Annual fundraising gala to support housing programs for the 2STGD community, held at Pan Pacific Vancouver.
• Tung Sam Lau New supportive housing development in Vancouver's Victory Square, part of Atira's ongoing expansion of supportive housing projects including Olivia Skye and The Alex.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 women and children housed annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Lets RoamminorOthers · 1 January 2024Silent auction sponsor for the Authentic Courage Gala
• Silent Auction CompanyminorOthers · 1 January 2024Silent auction partner for the Authentic Courage Gala
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)coreOthers · 1 January 2017Primary funder of the Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing (PCVWH) initiative alongside Status of Women Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada; supported establishment of national women's housing symposium
• BC Provincial Government MinistriescoreOthersCore government funding partners including Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services, Ministry of Child and Family Development, BC Housing, and others providing operational and program funding
• Status of Women CanadacoreOthersFederal funder supporting the Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing initiative
• Employment and Social Development CanadacoreOthersFederal funder supporting the Pan-Canadian Voice for Women's Housing initiative
• Law Foundation of British ColumbiacoreOthersKey funder of the Atira Community Legal Clinic providing criminal, poverty, and family law services
• Vancouver Coastal Health AuthoritycoreOthersHealth authority partner providing healthcare services and support to women in Atira housing programs
• Fraser HealthcoreOthersHealth authority partner for Maxxine Community Health Centre in partnership with Ministry for Children and Family Development and OPTIONS: Services to Community Society
• OPTIONS: Services to Community SocietycoreOthersPartner organization in the Maxxine Community Health Centre collaborative
• Vancouver FoundationmajorOthersMajor community foundation funder supporting Atira's programs and services
• Pan Pacific VancouverminorOthersVenue partner for the 2024 Authentic Courage Gala event

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves17 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: National umbrella organization for YWCAs across Canada, advocating on gender equity and housing. Comparable to Atira's national advocacy role via PCVWH and its broader women's services footprint, though Atira operates direct services while YWCA Canada primarily federates chapters.

Direct peers

• YWCA Metro Vancouver: Major women's services nonprofit operating across the Lower Mainland with housing, childcare, employment, and advocacy programs. Directly comparable to Atira in mission, geography, and service mix, and is one of Atira's most cited peer organizations.
• Battered Women's Support Services: Vancouver-based feminist nonprofit providing counseling, advocacy, and support for women experiencing violence. Comparable to Atira's Stopping the Violence Counselling and Legal Advocacy programs in mission and population, though with less housing-asset focus.
• WISH Drop-In Centre Society: Operates a 24/7 drop-in centre and overnight shelter for women and gender-diverse individuals in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Directly comparable to Atira's SisterSpace and harm reduction programming serving the same population in the same neighborhood.
• Lookout Housing and Health Society: BC-wide nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and supportive housing across 30+ locations. Comparable to Atira in scale and housing portfolio breadth within BC, though serving a broader demographic mix.
• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based nonprofit providing housing and supportive services with significant Downtown Eastside presence and harm reduction focus. Directly comparable to Atira in geography, service philosophy, and population served, though broader in scope.
• Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society: Urban Indigenous nonprofit in Vancouver providing housing, cultural programs, and community services for Indigenous peoples. Comparable to Atira's Indigenous-serving programs (Waaban Housing, Aoki Ross House, AILC governance) in serving Indigenous women and 2STGD individuals.
• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society: Vancouver-based Indigenous nonprofit offering housing and support for Indigenous mothers and children fleeing violence. Comparable to Atira's Waaban Housing and Maxxine Wright Place in serving Indigenous women with children in the same geography.
• RainCity Housing and Support Society: One of BC's largest supportive housing nonprofits operating low-barrier housing across the Lower Mainland. Directly comparable to Atira's housing portfolio and harm reduction orientation, though serving mixed-gender populations.

Others

• Canadian Women's Foundation: National public foundation funding and advocating on gender-based violence, women's housing, and economic empowerment. Comparable as a national funder and policy voice for women's housing; Atira's PCVWH initiative operates in an adjacent national advocacy space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/freeofviolence
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/atiraawrs
• Facebookfacebook.com/FreeOfViolence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/atira
• Instagraminstagram.com/freeofviolence

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Atira Women's Resource Society