The Kettle Society

What The Kettle Society does

The Kettle Society is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization founded in 1976 that delivers advocacy, supportive housing, employment support, and community services to vulnerable populations across Metro Vancouver. Its core offerings span a Drop-In Centre, the Recovery Café (launched in 2019 as the first program of its kind in Canada), Peggy's Place supportive housing (opened 1997), the Kettle on Burrard building (140 units), a Health Clinic, the SEED employment program, Legal Advocacy services, the ID Bank program, and a Homeless Outreach function. The organization operates 400+ units of supportive housing and serves 6,000+ individuals annually, distributing roughly 30,000 meals per year (70–90 meals per day at $1 each) through its food programs. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is human-led, peer-supported, and grounded in a lived-experience staffing model.

As a registered charity, The Kettle Society's revenue model is donation-driven and diversified across individual donors, corporate gifts, monthly giving subscriptions (Collective Brew), securities gifts, bequests, and foundation and government grants. The organization employs 51–100 staff and operates across Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster. Leadership includes Executive Director Wayne Leslie and Director of Development Michelle VanderZon, with recent Board Chair transition following Tamara Little's term. Strategic partnerships span health authorities (Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society), foundations (Food Stash Foundation, Streetohome Foundation, 625 Powell Street Foundation), municipal bodies (City of Vancouver, Commercial Drive BIA), and cause-aligned initiatives (Bell Let's Talk, HeadsUpGuys). No AI/ML capabilities, equity funding, or technology product line are present; the value proposition is entirely service-based and community-embedded.

Name

The Kettle Society

Legal name

The Kettle Society

Website

https://thekettle.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Kettle Society is a Vancouver-based non-profit founded in 1976 that provides advocacy, supportive housing, employment, and community services to 6,000+ vulnerable individuals annually across Metro Vancouver, operating 400+ housing units, a Drop-In Centre, Recovery Café, and Health Clinic.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health and Social Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Other Residential Care Facilities (6239), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Supportive housing
• Community outreach
• Recovery support
• Social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization receives donations from individuals through one-time and monthly giving programs. The Collective Brew is their monthly donor program providing reliable recurring support.
2. Monthly Donor Program (Collective Brew): Monthly donors provide consistent, recurring funding that enables planning and reduces administrative expenses. Monthly donors receive one annual tax receipt.
3. Corporate Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsors support the organization with funding and volunteer programs. Companies can sponsor events or host kit packing events.
4. Donations of Securities: The organization accepts publicly traded securities and mutual funds as donations, processed through CanadaHelps, allowing donors to avoid capital gains tax.
5. Charitable Bequests: Legacy giving through charitable will bequests, which provide tax advantages for donors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Kettle Society provides an integrated suite of community mental health and social services for vulnerable individuals in Vancouver, including a 365-day Drop-In Centre with meals and basic needs, the Recovery Café, over 400 units of supportive housing, free legal advocacy, an ID Bank, an on-site health clinic, the SEED supported-employment program, Peggy's Place transitional housing for women, homeless outreach, and a culturally safe Women's Mobile Primary Care partnership. Services are delivered free or at nominal cost (meals $1).

Product overview

The Kettle Society is a non-profit mental health services organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs for vulnerable individuals in Vancouver. Core services include the Venables Drop-In Centre (providing meals, showers, and basic needs 365 days/year), the Recovery Café (a community healing space for recovery from substance use and mental illness), Supportive Housing (400+ units), the Legal Advocacy Program, ID Bank, Health Clinic, and the SEED employment program. Specialized housing includes Peggy's Place for women and Kettle on Burrard. The organization serves approximately 6,000+ individuals annually through these integrated services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venables Drop-In Centre Mental health drop-in centre open 365 days a year providing food, showers, fresh clothing, hygiene kits, and basic needs to vulnerable individuals; serves nearly 30,000 meals annually and operates as the low-barrier entry point to housing and employment services. Open Monday-Friday 8:00am-7:00pm and Saturday-Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm.
• Recovery Café A community of healing and transformation providing free meals, coffee, recovery circles, computer lab access, and a drug/alcohol-free environment for people recovering from substance use, mental illness, and homelessness. Located at 620 Clark Drive, Vancouver. Open to members Monday-Friday 9:30am-4:30pm.
• Supportive Housing Programs Over 400 units of supportive housing for vulnerable people living with mental illness, substance use, poverty, and/or homelessness, ranging from 24/7 supported care to independent living options.
• Legal Advocacy Program Free legal information, advocacy, and representation for low-income individuals including those with mental illness or experiencing homelessness. Covers poverty law, income assistance, disability benefits, and housing/tenancy issues. Located at 1725 Venables Street, 2nd floor.
• ID Bank Assists low-income, homeless, and marginally housed individuals with obtaining and safely storing identification documents including Canadian birth certificates, replacement Canadian Citizenship Certificates, replacement Permanent Resident Cards, and BC government-issued photo ID. Free service on a drop-in basis.
• Kettle Health Clinic On-site health clinic providing treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, wound care, immunizations, health education, women's health care, and referrals to other healthcare providers. Staffed by a Registered Nurse in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health.
• Meal Program Provides nutritious hot lunches for $1 to 70-90 individuals daily at the Venables Drop-In. Includes tea, coffee, snacks, fruit, and rotating hot meals. Members may also complete small chores after lunch instead of paying.
• SEED Program (Skills, Esteem & Employment Development) Supported employment program helping individuals with mental illness barriers transition to meaningful paid employment. Offers janitorial, kitchen, customer service, street cleaning (SEED Clean Team, which collects 2,500+ bags of garbage from Commercial Drive annually), and program facilitation positions. Includes tuck shop operations at the Drop-In and Taylor Manor.
• Peggy's Place Transitional home for women suffering from mental illness who have experienced domestic violence, homelessness, and/or substance abuse. Provides 24/7 professional support with stays of 6 months to one year. Canada's first of its kind when opened in 1997.
• The Collective Brew (Monthly Donor Program) Monthly donor community providing reliable, recurring support for The Kettle's operations. Donors receive one annual tax receipt and can easily modify or cancel contributions.
• Homeless Outreach Program Street-level outreach providing food, clothing, water, blankets, and connections to social assistance and shelter services for individuals experiencing homelessness not yet ready to access the Drop-In.
• Women's Mobile Primary Care Program Partnership with Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society providing low-barrier, culturally safe healthcare to women-identifying clients using a Medicine Wheel approach. Team includes Program Manager, Doctor, Nurse, Cultural Worker, Social Worker, and Administrative Outreach Worker; VAHS visits the Drop-In monthly.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ individuals served annually across all programs
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Streetohome FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreetohome Foundation invested in The Kettle Society as the partner to establish the first Recovery Café in Canada. This foundation focuses on ending homelessness and provided crucial funding and support to bring the evidence-informed Recovery Café model to Vancouver.
• 625 Powell Street FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with The Kettle to establish the first Recovery Café in Canada, providing funding and support alongside Streetohome Foundation.
• Vancouver Aboriginal Health SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Mobile Primary Care Program partnership. VAHS visits the Drop-In monthly to offer low-barrier, culturally safe healthcare to women-identifying clients using a Medicine Wheel approach. Team includes Program Manager, Doctor, Nurse, Cultural Worker, Social Worker, and Administrative Outreach Worker.
• Food Stash FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood donations support the meal program. The Kettle was the first organization approached by the founder of Food Stash Foundation. Their continued donations of fruits, meat, dairy, and baked products ensure improved food security for members.
• Commercial Drive Business Improvement AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the SEED Clean Team program. Workers clean up streets of the Commercial Drive neighborhood, collecting over 2,500 bags of garbage annually and removing hazardous materials.
• City of VancouverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Vancouver for the SEED Clean Team program. SEED workers clean Commercial Drive streets as part of community beautification and safety initiatives.
• Vancouver Coastal HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the on-site health clinic. Vancouver Coastal Health provides support for the health clinic located on the 2nd floor of the Drop-In, providing easy access to primary health care services.
• HeadsUpGuysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide members with access to holistic recovery and mental health supports. QR codes posted throughout the café link to their resources including online mental health self-check tools. Organization focuses on suicide prevention and men's mental health across US, Canada, and UK.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Recovery Café Network: U.S.-based network of Recovery Cafés providing the evidence-informed model The Kettle adopted in 2019. Directly comparable in Recovery Café model and recovery-support mission.
• Lookout Housing and Health Society: Lower Mainland nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. Comparable in housing portfolio and population served.
• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based nonprofit providing low-barrier housing, harm reduction, and community health services. Closely comparable in low-barrier drop-in model and Downtown Eastside service delivery.
• RainCity Housing and Support Society: Vancouver nonprofit operating supportive housing, shelter, and harm-reduction services for people experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. Operates in the same geographic and service category as The Kettle.
• Coast Mental Health: Vancouver-based nonprofit providing mental health housing, employment, and community support. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and service mix (housing + recovery + employment) to The Kettle Society.
• Directions Evidence & Support Foundation: Vancouver-area nonprofit providing psychosocial rehabilitation and supported employment for people with mental illness. Comparable in mental health recovery and employment programs (overlap with Kettle's SEED).

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Mental Health Association - BC Division: Provincial branch of Canada's largest national mental health nonprofit. Operates more broadly across BC with overlapping programs in housing, recovery, and advocacy — broader scope but less concentrated community presence.
• A Way Home Canada: National nonprofit focused on preventing and ending youth homelessness. Operates more broadly across Canada with research and policy focus, less concentrated direct-service delivery.

Regional players

• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society: Vancouver-based Indigenous nonprofit providing housing and support for Indigenous women and children experiencing homelessness. Comparable in mission and geography with specialized population focus.

Emerging players

• Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society: Indigenous-led health organization providing culturally safe primary care, including the Women's Mobile Primary Care Program in partnership with The Kettle. Comparable in serving vulnerable populations with culturally informed care.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kettlesociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/thekettlesociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-kettle-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

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 The Kettle Society