What Yellowknife Women's Society does

Yellowknife Women's Society (YKWS) is a community-based non-profit organization incorporated in January 1990 and headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. It supports vulnerable women, families, seniors, and chronically homeless individuals through a portfolio of integrated shelter, housing, childcare, and outreach programs. Core operations include the Women's Centre (11 emergency shelter beds plus 23 single-room occupancy and transitional housing units), Housing First (rapid rehousing and rent guarantees for chronically homeless adults), Spruce Bough (permanent supportive housing with a Managed Alcohol Program for residents with severe alcohol dependency, opened May 2020), Common Ground (a temporary employment service for individuals experiencing homelessness or underemployment, launched August 2017), the Street Outreach Van (launched July 2017), and two licensed daycares — the Centre for Northern Families (22 spaces) and Raven's Nest (16 spaces, opened May 2020) — providing a combined 38 licensed childcare spaces. Support services housed at the Women's Centre include a weekly walk-in clinic and a food hamper program.

The organization's underlying technology stack is minimal and explicitly characterized as 'Not applicable' for a social services non-profit: service delivery is built on a network of five physical locations in Yellowknife, a Wix-hosted public website with donation and member sign-up capabilities, and standard program-management and case-management workflows. There are no proprietary technology products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed. The product portfolio extends beyond direct services into policy research and advocacy, including the YKWS Research Report on Unhoused Indigenous Women and the RCMP (funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada) and a co-authored GBA+ briefing note on emergency planning prepared with YWCA NWT following the 2023 Yellowknife evacuations.

YKWS is funded through a diversified mix of revenue streams: territorial and federal government grants (GNWT core funding since 1995, plus project-specific federal funding from WAGE and others), individual and corporate donations, participation in the national Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk, and general membership dues (members hold voting rights and may stand for Board elections). All client-facing services are provided free of charge. The organization is independently governed by a Board of Directors, has no parent company, and is not engaged in M&A activity. Arlene Hache serves as Interim Executive Director. The GTM motion is community-led: clients are reached through word-of-mouth, agency referrals, and direct street outreach, while donor and volunteer support is generated through events, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn), and the website.

Name

Yellowknife Women's Society

Legal name

Yellowknife Women's Society

Website

https://ykws.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Yellowknife Women's Society is a community-based non-profit in Yellowknife, NT, Canada, providing emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing, licensed childcare, employment services, and street outreach to vulnerable women, families, seniors, and chronically homeless individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Individual and Family Services (6241), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Emergency Shelter, NFIs & Winterization for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAG)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Supportive housing programs
• Licensed childcare services
• Homeless outreach services
• Women's social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Yellowknife

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on monetary donations from individuals, corporations, and community supporters. Donations can be directed to general operations or specific programs. They also participate in national fundraising events like Coldest Night of the Year.
2. Government Funding: YKWS receives government funding from federal and territorial governments. This includes core funding for operations and project-specific funding for programs. Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) funded the RCMP research report.
3. Membership Dues: The organization offers general membership to community members who wish to support and participate in YKWS activities. Members have voting rights and can stand for Board elections.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Yellowknife Women's Society (YKWS) is a community-based non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, licensed childcare, harm reduction, and community support services to vulnerable populations in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The organization operates programs including the Women's Centre, Housing First, Spruce Bough Permanent Supportive Housing, Common Ground employment services, the Street Outreach Van, and two licensed daycares. All services are delivered free of charge to clients, funded through government grants, donations, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Yellowknife Women's Society is a community-based not-for-profit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected shelter, housing, childcare, and support programs. Core housing programs include the Women's Centre (emergency shelter and transitional housing), Housing First (permanent housing without readiness requirements), Spruce Bough (permanent supportive housing with managed alcohol program), and Rapid Rehousing. Family services include two licensed daycares (Centre for Northern Families and Raven's Nest). Additional programs encompass Common Ground employment services, Street Outreach Van, food hamper program, and walk-in clinic. The organization also produces research publications on issues affecting vulnerable populations including Indigenous women and seniors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Common Ground: Temporary employment service for individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use issues and/or underemployment
• Centre for Northern Families Daycare
• Raven's Nest Daycare
• Housing First
• Spruce Bough
• Women's Centre
• Rapid Rehousing

Products and services

• Women's Centre Provides emergency shelter (up to 11 beds), single-room occupancy units (15 units upstairs plus 8 basement transitional units), second-stage housing, a weekly walk-in clinic, and a food hamper program for adult women experiencing violence, eviction, or housing barriers. Located at 5610 50th Ave.
• Housing First Program Supports chronically homeless adult individuals to access and retain private market housing without requiring sobriety or housing readiness. One team lead and three service coordinators assist with finding housing, furnishing, income support, and goal setting. Reached goal of supporting 20 participants by December 2017.
• Spruce Bough Permanent Supportive Housing Permanent supportive housing opened May 2020 for the most vulnerable Yellowknife community members with complex needs who cannot live independently. Tenancy is not time-limited with no expectation of graduation. Houses the Managed Alcohol Program for residents with severe alcohol dependency.
• Common Ground (Work Ready Program) Temporary employment service designed to provide work opportunities to individuals experiencing homelessness, substance use issues, and/or underemployment.
• Centre for Northern Families Daycare Licensed daycare serving up to 22 children: 8 children aged 8-24 months and 14 children aged 2-5 years. Provides full-time, part-time, drop-in, and free respite childcare spaces with developmental skill-building activities.
• Raven's Nest Daycare Childcare facility opened May 2020 accommodating 16 spaces (8 infant, 8 toddler) at 5020 47th St. Licensed by GNWT Department of Education, Culture, and Employment and the City of Yellowknife. Operates under a Family Support Model.
• Rapid Rehousing Program
• Street Outreach Van Mobile outreach service reaching individuals experiencing homelessness and connecting them with resources, shelter, and support services across Yellowknife.
• Coldest Night of the Year Fundraiser (Yellowknife)
• RCMP Research Report on Unhoused Indigenous Women Research report documenting the relationship between unhoused Indigenous women in Yellowknife and the RCMP, based on sharing circles and stakeholder interviews. Funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada through their Women's Program.
• GBA+ Emergency Planning Briefing Note Briefing note co-authored with YWCA NWT on the necessity of a GBA+ approach to risk assessment and emergency planning, informed by experiences during the 2023 Yellowknife evacuation and challenges supporting vulnerable clientele during wildfire season.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20 participants supported in Housing First program by December 2017
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• YWCA NWTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored a briefing note on 'The Case for a GBA+ Approach to Emergency and Disaster Planning' with YWCA NWT. This was informed by experiences during the 2023 evacuation and challenges supporting vulnerable clientele during wildfire season.
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint statement between YKWS, RCMP, and CRRF on ReconciliACTION published December 11, 2025. This represents a collaborative effort toward reconciliation and improved relationships between Indigenous communities and law enforcement.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCMP participated in YKWS research project on unhoused Indigenous women. A joint ReconciliACTION statement was issued in December 2025 between YKWS, RCMP, and CRRF addressing systemic issues and working toward positive change.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YWCA NWT: Direct peer in Yellowknife/NWT delivering women's shelter and social services; already co-authored the GBA+ emergency planning briefing note with YKWS, indicating closely aligned mission and regional mandate.
• Elizabeth Fry Society of the NWT: Northern Canadian chapter of the Elizabeth Fry Society network serving women and gender-diverse people in contact with the justice system, including housing and outreach supports; direct overlap with YKWS's vulnerable-women mandate in the same territory.

Regional players

• NWT Association of Communities: Territorial-level peer organization working on community and social service delivery in the Northwest Territories, overlapping with YKWS in serving vulnerable populations in northern communities.
• Canadian Mental Health Association - NWT Division: NWT division of CMHA delivering mental health, housing, and community support services in the Northwest Territories; adjacent peer serving overlapping client populations including those with complex needs like Spruce Bough residents.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: National federation of YWCAs providing women's shelter, housing, and community programs across Canada; serves as the broader umbrella under which YWCA NWT operates and shares advocacy platforms relevant to YKWS.
• Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC): National Indigenous women's organization advocating for and delivering services to Indigenous women, including those experiencing homelessness; comparable mission focus that intersects with YKWS's work on unhoused Indigenous women.
• Canadian Women's Foundation: National funder and convening body for women's shelters and gender-based violence programs across Canada; operates at a policy and funding level that materially influences YKWS's funding landscape.
• Salvation Army Northern Territorial Resource Centre: Large national nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and harm reduction programs across Canada, including in northern regions; broad overlap with YKWS's shelter and food programs but at national scale.

Emerging players

• Coalition to End Homelessness NWT: Advocacy and coordinating body focused on ending homelessness across the Northwest Territories; operates in the same ecosystem and competes for related territorial and federal housing funding alongside YKWS.

Others

• Government of Northwest Territories - Department of Health and Social Services: Territorial government department that funds and contracts social services, housing, and child and family services programs; not a direct operator peer but a key ecosystem partner and primary funder for YKWS programs.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/yk_women
• Facebookfacebook.com/ykwomen
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/ykws
• Instagraminstagram.com/yk_women

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Yellowknife Women's Society