What YWCA Niagara Region does

YWCA Niagara Region is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit organization that has provided shelter, food, and support services to women, men, gender-diverse individuals, and families experiencing homelessness and poverty in Ontario's Niagara region for more than 90 years (founded circa 1930). The organization operates three 24/7/365 emergency shelter facilities in St. Catharines (183 King Street and 176 Oakdale Avenue) and Niagara Falls (6135 Culp Street), alongside off-site transitional housing programs, an anti-human-trafficking safe house, and specialized recovery programs including the Women's Addiction Recovery Mediation (WARM) program and the STOMT program for individuals involved in survival sex trade work. Skills development programming, including the FACES after-school youth program and adult workshops, addresses root-cause employment and life-skill barriers.

The organization derives revenue from four primary streams: individual and corporate charitable donations (processed via CanadaHelps and the E2rm donation platform, plus in-kind gifts and stock donations for tax-advantaged giving), charitable gaming proceeds from OLG bingo at Delta Bingo facilities in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, project-specific government grants (most notably a $9.8M Government of Canada commitment in February 2026 to convert a Niagara Falls motel into 39 transitional rental homes), and earned income from social-enterprise activities including Falls Manor Restaurant. All client services are delivered free of charge; the recipient audience is individuals and families in crisis rather than paying customers. The organization is governed by a 13-member volunteer Board of Directors under Executive Director Elisabeth Zimmermann (in role since February 2007) and is affiliated with YWCA Canada and the YWCA Ontario Coalition, the latter of which collectively serves more than 40,000 people annually across Ontario.

Name

YWCA Niagara Region

Legal name

YWCA Niagara Region

Website

https://ywcaniagararegion.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

YWCA Niagara Region is a registered Canadian charity operating three 24/7 emergency shelters and transitional housing programs in St. Catharines and Niagara Falls, serving women, men, gender-diverse individuals, and families experiencing homelessness through free shelter, food, advocacy, skills development, and anti-human-trafficking support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Transitional housing programs
• Homelessness support services
• Anti-human trafficking programs
• Women's social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Niagara Falls

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, businesses, and community organizations. Donors contribute via the CanadaHelps platform and in-kind donations of goods and services.
2. Charitable Gaming (OLG Bingo): YWCA earns funds from OLG's charitable gaming in bingo halls such as Delta Bingo in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Proceeds go to administrative and operational costs that allow the YW to provide essential services to the community.
3. Government Grants and Funding: The organization receives government funding for specific projects and programs, including capital investment for housing developments. The Government of Canada provided over $9.8 million for transitional rental homes.
4. Stock Donations: The organization accepts marketable securities as donations, offering tax advantages to donors while supporting women and children experiencing homelessness.

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

YWCA Niagara Region operates 24/7 emergency shelters and transitional housing across the Niagara region, serving women, men, gender-diverse individuals, and families experiencing homelessness. Beyond emergency beds, the organization delivers specialized programming in anti-human trafficking safe housing, addiction recovery (WARM), survival sex trade exit support (STOMT), skills development, children's services (FACES), and broader gender-equity advocacy.

Product overview

YWCA Niagara Region operates as a non-profit social services organization offering a comprehensive suite of programs and services for women, gender-diverse individuals, and families experiencing homelessness and poverty in the Niagara region. The core services include Emergency Homeless Shelters at three locations, Transitional Housing with 15 units for chronic homelessness, Anti-Human Trafficking safe housing, Skills Development programming including the FACES youth program, the WARM addiction recovery program, STOMT program for survival sex trade workers, and broader Advocacy initiatives. The organization also operates Falls Manor Restaurant as a social enterprise, and supports its mission through Donations, Fundraising, and Volunteering programs. Services are delivered through a Housing First approach, with advocates available 24/7 to provide crisis support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Homeless Shelter 24/7 emergency shelter with food and crisis advocacy for women, men, gender-diverse individuals, and families experiencing homelessness, delivered free of charge at three Niagara region locations.
• Transitional Housing

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90 years of continuous service to the Niagara community
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Delta Bingo (St. Catharines and Niagara Falls)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYWCA earns funds from OLG's charitable gaming in Delta Bingo halls in Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Proceeds go to administrative and operational costs that allow the YW to provide essential services including keeping shelters heated, lights on, and food on the table for hundreds of women and children. Delta Bingo has been a long-time supporter enabling success stories like Sarah's.
• PenFinancial Credit UnioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPenFi launched their 'truly local commitment' to reinvest 10% of pre-tax profits back into the community. They were recipients of YWCA proceeds from their Community ATM, came on board as Lead Sponsor for Niagara Leadership Summit for Women, participated in the Compassion Wheel donating to partner organizations, and joined as Presenting Sponsor for YW FACES campaign.
• Rotary Club of GrimsbyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-time supporter of West Niagara Affordable Housing program. Participates as route marshals during Coldest Night of the Year walk-a-thon and recognizes YWCA as recipient of their Fantasy of Trees fundraising.
• Reif Estate WineryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated $2000 to help ensure mothers at YWCA doors receive three nutritious meals a day, safe shelter, and skills development workshops to help families achieve self-sufficiency.
• Young's Insurance BrokersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollected and delivered back-to-school essentials for the youngest guests staying in YWCA programs, setting children up for success for the entire school year.
• AlectraCaresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlectra employees Dave and Sam delivered an abundance of tasty breakfast items to the emergency shelter in St. Catharines, providing meals for shelter residents at King Street, Culp Street, and Oakdale.
• Royal Canadian Legion Branch 479minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollected Christmas gifts for children staying in shelter and donated $2,000 to ensure every child at YW shelters has a magical Christmas morning.
• Niagara Heritage Quilters' GuildminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGuild members crafted beautiful quilts and pillowcases for YWCA clients over countless hours, with a simple pattern taking at least 10 hours to complete.
• Crystal D'CunhaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaunched a Christmas fundraiser rallying community to contribute $35 each to provide Christmas meals for families experiencing homelessness, feeding over 150 families and purchasing pajamas for children in shelters.
• YWCA Ontario CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial coalition of YWCA Member Associations serving more than 50,000 people each year across Ontario, offering housing, employment, child care and violence against women programs. YWCA Niagara participates in coalition pre-budget submissions and advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Canada: YWCA Canada is the national federation that YWCA Niagara Region is affiliated with, coordinating policy, advocacy, and shared programming across local YWCAs nationwide.
• Niagara Region Housing Services: Niagara Region's municipal housing authority provides subsidized housing and homelessness programs in the same service area, often partnering with or referring clients to YWCA Niagara's shelter network.

Direct peers

• YWCA Ottawa: YWCA Ottawa delivers women's shelter, housing, and support services under the same YWCA Ontario Coalition umbrella, with comparable programs addressing homelessness, gender-based violence, and skills development.
• YWCA Toronto: YWCA Toronto is a fellow Canadian YWCA offering emergency shelter, transitional housing, and women's support services, with a similar feminist-mission operating model and YWCA Ontario Coalition affiliation.
• Good Shepherd Hamilton: Good Shepherd operates emergency shelters, transitional housing, and homelessness programs in the broader Hamilton-Niagara area with comparable Housing First and harm-reduction service models.
• YWCA Hamilton: YWCA Hamilton provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, and women's empowerment programs in Ontario, sharing the same YWCA Ontario Coalition membership, governance model, and target population focus.
• Salvation Army Niagara Community Ministries: The Salvation Army operates emergency shelter, food, and transitional housing programs in the Niagara region, directly competing for similar client populations and government/donor funding.
• Interval House (Hamilton-Wentworth): Interval House Hamilton provides emergency shelter and support for women fleeing violence in the greater Niagara-Hamilton area, directly overlapping with YWCA's anti-human trafficking and women's shelter services.

Emerging players

• Anduhyaun (Toronto): Anduhyaun is an Indigenous women's shelter in Ontario offering emergency housing and culturally-grounded support, comparable to YWCA Niagara's gender-focused shelter model and target demographic.

Regional players

• Family and Children's Services Niagara: FCS Niagara is a regional social services agency in the same geography serving families and children in crisis, including overlapping family shelter and child welfare responsibilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NiagaraLSW
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ywca-niagara-region
• Facebookfacebook.com/NiagaraLSW

Compliance3 records

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 YWCA Niagara Region