Hopehill

What Hopehill does

Hopehill Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1951 in Vancouver, British Columbia, that provides affordable housing and assisted living services for low-income seniors. Operating five residences (Dogwood, Beechwood, Bentall-Oaks, Aspen Green, and The Cedars), Hopehill serves more than 350 residents through a three-tier portfolio: independent living with subsidized rents, life lease arrangements at Aspen Green, and assisted living at The Cedars under a Vancouver Coastal Health partnership. The organization was originally established as Beulah Garden Homes by the Canadian Baptists of Western Canada and continues to operate under faith-based governance with a Board of Directors chaired by Rev. Jack Borchert.

The business model combines recurring rent from subsidized housing units (priced based on qualifying income and ability to pay), one-time life lease payments for Aspen Green residences where residents prepay the lease in full, and ongoing donations from individuals, monthly recurring givers ($10/$50/$250 tiers), gift-of-securities donors, corporate gala sponsors, and foundation grants. Distribution occurs through direct inquiry (website forms and phone) for independent living and through the VCH referral pathway for assisted living. Fundraising is amplified by an annual gala (over $80,000 raised in 2025), a $520,000 Double Your Impact campaign matched by the Jim Pattison Foundation, and ESG-focused grants such as the VanCity enviroFund. Hopehill is not a technology company and operates no digital platform, mobile app, or proprietary software.

Operational scale includes 50+ staff, a leadership team headed by new CEO Sam Nakai (appointed December 2025) and CFO-COO Calvin Stepaniuk, and an active capacity expansion underway. The Dogwood Residence opened August 27, 2025 with 64 new units, and the 64-unit Rupert Building is under construction. The organization has earned the Radicle Climate Smart Certified designation and pursues intergenerational programming with Emily Carr University under the Pathways for Creative Futures program.

Name

Hopehill

Legal name

Hopehill Society

Website

https://hopehill.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hopehill Society is a Vancouver-based non-profit founded in 1951 that provides affordable housing and assisted living for low-income seniors across five residences, serving 350+ residents through subsidized rents, life leases, and a Vancouver Coastal Health partnership for assisted living.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Senior Living and Affordable Housing

NAICS

Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE), Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Affordable senior housing
• Assisted living services
• Senior independent living
• Life lease residences
• Non-profit elder care

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, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Subsidized Housing Rents: Affordable studio and one-bedroom suites for low-income seniors with rent determined based on qualifying income and ability to pay.
2. Donations and Fundraising: General fund donations, monthly recurring donations ($10, $50, $250 tiers), and major fundraising events including annual gala.
3. Life Leases - Aspen Green: One and two-bedroom open-concept floor plans up to 1,057 square feet. Residents pay the entirety of their lease upfront and are guaranteed a home without fluctuating market payments.
4. Securities and Shares Donations: Gifts of publicly traded securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) as tax-effective way to support mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hopehill Society provides subsidized affordable housing and assisted living services for low-income seniors in East Vancouver. Across five residences (Dogwood, Beechwood, Bentall-Oaks, Aspen Green Life Leases, and The Cedars), it offers independent living suites, 24-hour assisted living care in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health, life-lease units paid upfront, and wellness programming. Operations are funded through resident rents set by ability to pay, donations, life-lease payments, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Hopehill offers a three-tier senior living portfolio: Independent Living across four residences (Dogwood, Beechwood, Bentall-Oaks, Aspen Green Life Leases) providing affordable housing with varying amenities; Cedars Assisted Living offering comprehensive care with 24-hour support; and Wellness Programs including garden clubs, chapel services, and social activities. All residences operate on a subsidized pricing model based on residents' ability to pay, serving low-income seniors in East Vancouver.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Independent Living Affordable housing for low-income seniors with full kitchens, walk-in showers, ample storage, and access to transit and local shopping, across four residences: Dogwood, Beechwood, Bentall-Oaks, and Aspen Green Life Leases.
• Cedars Assisted Living Assisted living residence providing private one-bedroom suites with full kitchen, bathroom, and living room, plus 24-hour personal security, dining services, housekeeping, laundry, and care aide support, in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health.
• Dogwood Residence Newest Hopehill residence offering subsidized studio and one-bedroom suites for low-income seniors based on qualifying income, with mountain views from balconies and a rooftop deck.
• Aspen Green Life Leases One- and two-bedroom open-concept floor plans up to 1,057 square feet with in-suite laundry, storage, and fully equipped kitchens. Residents pay the entirety of their lease upfront and are guaranteed a home without fluctuating market payments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% increase in how concerned residents were about environmental issues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECU)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2024Intergenerational photography project bringing together ECU students and Hopehill seniors. Part of Pathways for Creative Futures program. Students guide seniors through photography experience while seniors share stories and memories.
• Canadian Baptists of Western Canada (CBWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded Hopehill in 1951 under the name Beulah Garden Homes as a not-for-profit organization. CBWC continues to have representation on the Board of Directors through Rev. Jack Borchert (President, CBWC Foundation retired).
• Vancouver Coastal HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Vancouver Coastal Health for assisted living at The Cedars Residence. Residents must be approved by VCH and meet eligibility requirements including low to moderate income and need for assistance with daily living activities.
• Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with BHER supporting the Pathways for Creative Futures program that enables ECU photography collaboration with Hopehill seniors. Funded with support from Government of Canada.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Revera Inc. One of Canada's largest for-profit senior living operators with retirement communities and long-term care homes across multiple provinces. Comparable offerings but as a large incumbent across a wider portfolio rather than a focused nonprofit.
• Amica Senior Lifestyles: Canadian operator of premium retirement residences including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Comparable continuum-of-care offerings but at the higher end of the market rather than the subsidized segment.
• BC Housing: Provincial crown corporation that develops and manages subsidized housing across BC, including for low-income seniors. Comparable affordable housing mission and BC market overlap, but operates at provincial scale rather than as a single operator.
• Sienna Senior Living: Major Canadian senior living provider operating retirement residences and long-term care communities across multiple provinces. Overlaps with Hopehill's assisted living and independent living offerings at national scale.
• Chartwell Retirement Residences: Largest Canadian owner-operator of senior living residences with a national footprint. Provides retirement and assisted living options similar to Hopehill's, but as a publicly traded for-profit chain.

Direct peers

• Louis Brier Home and Hospital: Jewish faith–based nonprofit senior care provider in Vancouver offering independent living, assisted living, and complex care. Operates a comparable nonprofit continuum-of-care model in the same Vancouver market.
• Baptist Housing: Faith-based nonprofit senior living operator in British Columbia providing independent living, assisted living, and long-term care. Most directly comparable to Hopehill given shared Baptist heritage, BC focus, and full continuum-of-care model.
• Yaletown House: Vancouver-based nonprofit seniors' residence offering subsidized housing and care. Comparable size, mission, and Vancouver geography, with a similar focus on low-income seniors.

Regional players

• Providence Health Care: Large faith-based nonprofit healthcare provider in Vancouver with residential care and assisted living services for seniors. Comparable faith-based nonprofit mission and Vancouver geography but operates as part of a broader healthcare system.
• McKenzie Health Care: BC-based provider of long-term care, assisted living, and independent living services for seniors. Comparable service mix and BC regional focus, primarily serving the Vancouver Island and Lower Mainland areas.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Hopehill
• Instagraminstagram.com/hopehillvancouver
• TikToktiktok.com/@hopehillvancouver
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopehill---living-in-community

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

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 Hopehill