Options Community Services

What Options Community Services does

Options Community Services (OCS) is a non-profit registered charity (BN 811786227 RR0001) headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, that delivers over 100 community social services programs free of charge to clients across Surrey, Delta, White Rock, and Langley. The organization was established on April 1, 2009 via merger of Surrey Community Services Society (1971) and OPTIONS: Services to Communities Society (1973), and today operates 35 service locations with a workforce of approximately 600 staff and hundreds of volunteers. Its service portfolio spans the Settlement and Integration Program (SIP), the BC Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP), the Home-Based Withdrawal Management and Detox Program (culturally competent in English, Punjabi, and Hindi for adults 19+), and the 24/7 Fraser Health Crisis Line operating as part of the BC Crisis Line Network.

OCS is funded almost entirely by third-party payers rather than client fees. Revenue streams consist of recurring government grants from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (PHSA), and the Province of British Columbia through the Stronger Community Services Fund, supplemented by charitable donations and grants from foundations and corporate donors including Vancouver Foundation, Surrey Homelessness & Housing Society, Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society, Fraser Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation, and Canadian Tire. The underlying technology stack is described as a social services delivery platform with crisis line infrastructure and community outreach capabilities, with no proprietary AI, app, or API products.

The business operates a community-led go-to-market model in which clients access services through self-referrals, the crisis line, and partnerships with Surrey Libraries, City of Surrey Recreation Centres, United Way BC, and other agencies. OCS holds COA (Council on Accreditation) accreditation and is supported in affordable housing development by its sister society, Habitat Housing Society, which owns or is developing Hazel Villa (12 units), Sunset Grove (25 units), Habitat@81st (100 units), a planned 65-unit building for women and children fleeing violence, and additional projects in the South Fraser Region. Leadership transitioned on July 7, 2025 when Neil Arao succeeded retiring CEO Christine Mohr (CEO since January 3, 2006).

Name

Options Community Services

Legal name

Options Community Services Society

Website

https://options.bc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Options Community Services is a Surrey, BC-based non-profit (founded 2009 via merger; roots to 1971) that delivers 100+ free social services programs across 35 locations in the Lower Fraser Valley, funded by government grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Financial Assistance & Benefits Navigation Services (BPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Crisis line support
• Newcomer settlement services
• Affordable housing development
• Withdrawal management detox

Headquarters

HQ city

Surrey

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Funded by government bodies including the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services (PHSA), and the Government of British Columbia through Stronger Community Services Fund
2. Donations and Grants: Charitable donations from individuals, corporate donors, and foundations including Vancouver Foundation, Surrey Homelessness & Housing Society, Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society, Fraser Valley Realtors Charitable Foundation, and Canadian Tire

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Options Community Services is a non-profit registered charity that delivers free community social services across the Lower Fraser Valley in British Columbia. Its portfolio spans housing assistance, mental health and addiction support (including a home-based withdrawal management and detox program and a 24/7 crisis line), settlement and integration services for newcomers and refugees, employment assistance, family and youth services, and crisis intervention. A sister society, Habitat Housing Society, develops and operates affordable housing complexes in the South Fraser Region.

Product overview

Options Community Services offers over 100 community programs delivered by 600 staff across 35 locations, primarily serving Surrey, Delta, White Rock and Langley in BC. The organization operates a multi-service portfolio including the Settlement and Integration Program (SIP) for immigrants and refugees, the BC Newcomer Services Program (BCNSP), the Home Based Withdrawal Management and Detox Program for substance use support, and the Fraser Health Crisis Line. A sister organization, Habitat Housing Society, develops affordable housing. Services span housing support, crisis intervention, employment assistance, family services, and newcomer integration, all delivered through trained staff and volunteers without a technology product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Habitat Housing Society: A sister society to Options Community Services that develops and builds affordable housing complexes in the South Fraser Region, including Hazel Villa (12-unit apartment in White Rock), Sunset Grove (25-unit housing for families), and Habitat@81st (100-unit mixed income apartment in Surrey Newton).

Products and services

• Settlement and Integration Program (SIP) Helps immigrants and refugees build a new life in Canada by offering personalized support, community orientation, and access to essential services delivered in their language. Targeted at Permanent Residents, Protected Persons, and Convention Refugees.
• BC Newcomer Services Program (BC NSP) Assists Work Permit Holders, Study Permit Holders, Naturalized Citizens, and certain individuals without valid work/study permits — including Refugee Claimants, CUAET visa holders and BC Provincial Nominees — to access settlement, immigration, and support services.
• Home-Based Withdrawal Management and Detox Program Provides culturally competent, free at-home medical detox support delivered by doctors, nurses, outreach workers, and clinical counsellors for individuals aged 19 and older in English, Punjabi, and Hindi.
• Fraser Health Crisis Line Provides immediate, free, and confidential 24/7 emotional support, crisis intervention, and community resource information to people of all ages through trained volunteers, responding to calls throughout British Columbia.
• Habitat Housing Society (Sister Society) Sister society to Options Community Services that develops and builds affordable housing complexes in the South Fraser Region, including Hazel Villa, Sunset Grove, and Habitat@81st properties, jointly developing affordable housing projects to address community homelessness and housing instability.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Habitat Housing SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister society that develops and builds affordable housing complexes in the South Fraser Region. Jointly developing affordable housing projects including a 65-unit building and second housing build.
• United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with United Way BC for community support initiatives.
• BC Crisis Line NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fraser Health Crisis Line is part of the BC Crisis Line Network and Crisis Line Association of BC, responding to calls throughout British Columbia.
• Surrey LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide settlement support services at Surrey Library locations.
• City of Surrey Recreation CentresminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide settlement support services at City of Surrey Recreation Centres.
• High Fashion & High Tea Event SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors include Schmunk Gatt Smith, Fortis BC, Skye Avenue-Kitchen & Lounge, The Feminine Fellowship Outreach Society, Art of Thread, Armaan DBG, Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade, ICONS Media, Entertainment Magazine, Surrey NOW-Leader, and Drishti.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS): Vancouver-based non-profit specializing in settlement services for immigrants and refugees - overlapping newcomer service mandates with OCS's Settlement and Integration Program and BC Newcomer Services Program.
• DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society: Fraser Valley-based non-profit delivering settlement, employment, and language services to immigrants and refugees, with overlapping newcomer and family programming for similar ethno-cultural communities in Surrey.
• YWCA Metro Vancouver: Regional non-profit providing housing, women's services, and family support programs, including women's transition housing - directly comparable to OCS's services for women and children fleeing violence.
• Family Services of Greater Vancouver: Non-profit delivering counselling, family support, and community-based services across the Lower Mainland - overlapping family services and community support mandates in the same region.
• Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS): BC-wide non-profit providing social services including youth, family, and community programs with a comparable multi-service, multi-site operating model and community-based service delivery.
• Sources Community Resources Society: Non-profit serving White Rock, South Surrey, and Delta with social services including counselling, housing, and community programs - direct geographic overlap with three of OCS's four core service areas.
• Surrey Urban Mission: Surrey-based faith-rooted non-profit providing crisis intervention, housing, food security, and community outreach to vulnerable populations - highly overlapping client base and direct service delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• United Way British Columbia: Provincial funder and convenor for community services across BC, including a long-standing partnership with OCS - comparable scope in funding and convening capacity at a regional level.
• Fraser Health Authority: Provincial health authority that operates the Fraser Health Crisis Line through OCS and provides public health funding - a major partner/funder with overlapping crisis, mental health, and substance use mandates across the same region.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast BC: Regional youth services non-profit operating clubs and programs across the Lower Mainland, including Surrey - comparable community-anchored service delivery model with substantial youth/family program overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OptionsBC
• Facebookfacebook.com/OptionsCommunityServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/optionsbc
• Instagraminstagram.com/optionscommunityservices

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Options Community Services