Victoria Cool Aid Society

What Victoria Cool Aid Society does

Victoria Cool Aid Society is a registered charitable non-profit organization headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, operating since 1972 across the Capital Regional District. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of social services spanning three divisions: Housing & Shelter (affordable market rentals at Crosstown, The Chestnut, and Mount Edwards; subsidized housing; recovery housing; supportive housing; and emergency shelters); Health & Dental (the Dr. Joe Haegert Community Health Centre and dental services); and Wellness & Support (food and nutrition programs serving over 1,000 meals per day, a casual labour pool for workforce reintegration, and outreach and addiction support via the REES Centre). Combined, the housing portfolio comprises approximately 154 units at the Crosstown development alone (54 supportive and 100 affordable family units), with co-located daycare and an upcoming onsite pharmacy.

The business model is hybrid and donor- and government-dependent. Revenue is derived from three streams: charitable donations and community fundraising (anchored by the Crosstown Campaign, the Health + Homecoming Gala 2026, and the Support Long-Term Recovery initiative), rental income from affordable market housing, and government-funded healthcare delivery at the Community Health Centre. Services are provided free or at subsidized rates to clients experiencing homelessness, poverty, substance use, and food insecurity. Distribution is entirely direct service delivery through owned facilities; there is no product, software, or technology platform. The organization produces peer-reviewed health research, particularly on nurse-led hepatitis C treatment for substance users in partnership with BC Corrections, which has influenced community health practice beyond the region.

Governance is by an independent Board of Directors under BC society law (Charity Registration no. 12820 5069 RR0001), with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital involvement. The organization has between 101 and 250 employees and serves thousands of clients annually. Operational scale signals include over 1,000 meals prepared daily, 154 housing units at Crosstown, and ongoing expansion of the community health centre, pharmacy, and supportive housing kitchen as final phases of the Crosstown development.

Name

Victoria Cool Aid Society

Legal name

Victoria Cool Aid Society

Website

https://coolaid.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Victoria Cool Aid Society is a Victoria, BC-based charitable non-profit providing integrated housing, healthcare, and wellness services — including affordable and supportive housing, community health and dental care, daily meals, and addiction outreach — to thousands of people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and health challenges each year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services (Affordable Housing & Community Health)

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Food Services (624210), Individual and Family Services (6241), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Community health services
• Emergency shelter services
• Supportive housing programs
• Nonprofit social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Giving: The organization relies on community donations to fund operations, as evidenced by prominent 'Donate' call-to-action on website and donation-focused campaign pages like 'Crosstown Campaign' and 'Support Long-Term Recovery'.
2. Housing Rentals: Affordable market rentals at Crosstown, The Chestnut, and Mount Edwards provide rental income from tenants in affordable and supportive housing units.
3. Health Services: Community Health Centre providing healthcare services including hepatitis C treatment, dental, and other medical services.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Victoria Cool Aid Society provides integrated social services including affordable and supportive housing, emergency shelters, recovery housing, primary healthcare through a community health centre, dental services, food and nutrition programs serving over 1,000 meals daily, workforce reintegration via a labour pool, and addiction outreach and support. The organization serves individuals experiencing homelessness, people with low income, and those facing health and substance use challenges in the capital region of British Columbia.

Product overview

Victoria Cool Aid Society operates as a comprehensive social services organization offering a unified portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a technology platform. The core offerings span three service divisions: Housing & Shelter (affordable market rentals, subsidized housing, recovery housing, supportive housing, and emergency shelters), Health & Dental (community health centre and dental services), and Wellness & Support (food and nutrition programs serving 1,000+ daily meals, labour pool for workforce re-entry, and outreach support including addiction services). Major initiatives include the Crosstown Development combining housing with a health centre and daycare. Health research publications focus on hepatitis C treatment and housing-health intersections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Market Rentals Affordable rental housing units at Crosstown, The Chestnut, and Mount Edwards providing individuals and families in the capital region with stable housing at below-market rates.
• Subsidized Housing Reduced-cost housing programs providing subsidized rental options for individuals and families in need.
• Recovery Housing Specialized housing designed to support individuals in recovery from addiction or substance use challenges.
• Supportive Housing Housing with on-site support services for vulnerable individuals who need assistance to maintain stable housing.
• Emergency Shelters Emergency shelter facilities providing temporary housing and safety for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Community Health Centre Primary healthcare services delivered through the Dr. Joe Haegert Community Health Centre, including hepatitis C treatment, HIV PrEP, and medical care for underserved populations.
• Dental Services Dental services providing oral health care to individuals with low income or facing homelessness.
• Food and Nutrition Program Local and rescued food programs preparing and serving over 1,000 meals per day to people with low income or facing homelessness, providing nourishment and community connection.
• Labour Pool Casual labour program supporting individuals overcoming homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges by helping them re-enter the workforce through temporary work opportunities.
• Outreach and Addiction Support Free, community-driven addiction support along with accessible services through the REES Centre to help individuals build wellness and connect with resources.
• Community Health Research Nurse-led research initiatives and peer-reviewed publications influencing best practices in community health, particularly hepatitis C treatment for substance users and the housing-health care intersection.

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Corrections Partnership (BC Corrections)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovative nurse-led community health centre partnership with corrections for hepatitis C testing and treatment in Victoria, BC. The organization conducts hepatitis C testing and treatment for incarcerated individuals and those transitioning from corrections.
• Pharmacy PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch on barriers to pharmacy-based identification and treatment of hepatitis C. Planned onsite pharmacy at Crosstown development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Our Place Society: Victoria, BC-based non-profit providing integrated housing, meals, and support services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Operates as a near-twin to Cool Aid in the same regional ecosystem, serving overlapping populations with similar integrated-service delivery.
• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based non-profit operating supportive housing, harm reduction, and health services for marginalized populations. Highly comparable integrated housing-plus-health model with nurse-led programs and long operating history in BC.
• Lookout Housing and Health Society: Lower Mainland non-profit providing housing, health, and emergency shelter services across BC. Comparable portfolio of supportive/transitional housing combined with health services for vulnerable populations.
• RainCity Housing and Support Society: Vancouver-based non-profit offering housing, harm reduction, and supportive services for people with mental health, substance use, and homelessness challenges. Directly comparable service model with integrated housing-plus-health programs.
• Atira Women's Resource Society: BC non-profit providing supportive and affordable housing for women and children fleeing violence. Comparable in operating supportive housing, advocacy, and integrated support services within BC's non-profit housing ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• BC Housing: Provincial crown corporation that funds, develops, and manages social and affordable housing across BC. A key funder and indirect operator that shapes the ecosystem in which Cool Aid delivers housing services.
• Canadian Mental Health Association - BC Division: Provincial non-profit providing mental health and housing programs across BC, including supportive housing and rehabilitation. Operates a wider portfolio of mental health services overlapping with Cool Aid's outreach and recovery housing work.
• The Salvation Army British Columbia: National charitable organization operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, addiction recovery, and food programs across BC. Overlaps with Cool Aid across housing, food, and addiction recovery services but at a much larger national scale.

Emerging players

• March of Dimes Canada: National non-profit providing disability services, vocational rehabilitation, and accessible housing. Comparable in operating employment-support and independent-living programs that intersect with Cool Aid's labour pool and supportive housing work.

Others

• United Way British Columbia: Provincial funder and network coordinator for non-profit social services across BC. Not a direct service competitor, but a critical funding and convening partner for organizations like Cool Aid operating in the same social services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VicCoolAid
• Instagraminstagram.com/viccoolaid/?hl=en
• Xx.com/VicCoolAid
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/victoria-cool-aid-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Victoria Cool Aid Society