The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light

What The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light does

The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light is a faith-based nonprofit charitable organization (Charitable Number: 10795 1618 RR0001) operating in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside since the early 1950s as a ministry of The Salvation Army Canada Territory. The organization delivers an integrated continuum of social services targeting vulnerable populations including homeless adults, individuals with substance use disorders, federal correctional releases, and food-insecure families. Core programs comprise three 24-hour emergency shelters (Beacon, Haven, Crosswalk) providing 136 nightly beds, a licensed residential addiction treatment program (Men's Treatment and Diane Harwood Centre for Women) delivered across three 90-day phases, a Community Residential Facility accommodating 50 conditional-release clients, the James McCready Residence offering 44 affordable housing units, a community meals program serving 252,000+ meals annually across seven weekly services, an Education & Training Learning Centre, and a Spiritual Care program including chaplaincy and music therapy.

The organization operates with approximately 200 staff, of whom roughly 35% are alumni of its own programs — a structural talent moat uncommon in the sector. It is supported by 115+ volunteers contributing over 2,720 hours annually. Revenue is derived from three principal streams: government contracts (BC Housing for shelter operations, Correctional Service of Canada for CRF, Vancouver Coastal Health for licensed treatment and clinical services), charitable donations (individual, corporate, and foundation grants including Bell Let's Talk and Cadence Cares), and in-kind contributions (food, clothing, supplies). All client-facing services are provided free of charge or on a fully-subsidized basis; housing operates at welfare shelter or rent-geared-to-income rates. There is no proprietary technology platform; the operating model is human-service-intensive with documented outcomes including an 85% graduation rate for Phase 2 treatment participants.

The go-to-market model is community-led: clients access services through self-referral, walk-in, parole officer referral, and partner agency referral. Marketing is mission-driven rather than commercial, relying on the website, volunteer networks, worship services, and partner relationships. Geographic scope is concentrated in the Vancouver Downtown Eastside, within The Salvation Army's broader Canadian territorial footprint of 400 communities.

Name

The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light

Legal name

The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light

Website

https://vancouverharbourlightsa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light is a faith-based nonprofit operating in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside since the 1950s, delivering integrated shelter, addiction treatment, correctional reintegration, affordable housing, and community meal programs to homeless adults, individuals in recovery, and conditional-release clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Addiction treatment programs
• Affordable housing services
• Community meal programs
• Correctional reintegration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: BC Housing provides generous support for shelter programs. Government funding through Ministry of Social Development & Poverty Reduction for social assistance recipients in treatment programs. Correctional Service of Canada funding for CRF (Community Residential Facility) operations.
2. Charitable Donations: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from foundations. Donors can sponsor meals, contribute supplies, or make financial donations. The organization participates in holiday giving programs like Cadence Cares.
3. Donations in Kind: Food donations from farmers, producers, processors, and retailers supporting food procurement program. Material donations including clothing, books, art supplies, and musical instruments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light delivers a coordinated suite of faith-based residential and community social services in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, including 24-hour emergency shelter for up to 136 adults nightly, licensed residential addiction treatment programs for men and women, a Community Residential Facility (halfway house) for up to 50 clients on conditional release, affordable housing for program graduates, free community meals serving up to 200 people per service, education and skills training, and spiritual care integrated with 12-step recovery programming.

Product overview

The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light operates as a faith-based social services organization offering a coordinated suite of residential and community programs designed to meet individuals where they are in their recovery and wellness journey. The core program portfolio centers on emergency shelter (The Beacon, Haven, and Crosswalk shelters for up to 136 adults), a licensed residential addiction treatment program (Men's Treatment and Diane Harwood Centre for Women) delivered in 90-day phases, a Community Residential Facility (CRF) supporting correctional reintegration for up to 50 clients, and the James McCready Residence providing 44 units of affordable housing for program graduates. These residential programs are complemented by the Community Meals Program serving up to 200 people per meal, the Learning Centre offering education and skills training, and Spiritual Care providing chaplain services and 12-step faith integration. The organization operates from 119 East Cordova Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Community Meals Program Provides free, nutritious meals for up to 200 men, women, and children at each of seven weekly meal services, open to everyone regardless of background or religious participation.
• Shelters (The Beacon, Haven, and Crosswalk) 24-hour emergency shelters providing safe refuge for up to 136 adults nightly at 108 East Hastings Street, offering caseworker support, outreach services, and resources for housing, mental health, employment assistance, and social service referrals.
• Addiction Treatment Program (Men's Treatment and Diane Harwood Centre for Women) Licensed residential addiction treatment program building foundations for long-term recovery through a 90-day structured Phase 1 program followed by Phase 2 living skills and Phase 3 independence building, incorporating 12-step principles, group and individual counselling. Men's Treatment offers 28 fully-funded beds plus 20 beds accepting various funding sources; Diane Harwood Centre for Women offers 12 fully-funded beds.
• Community Residential Facility (CRF) Halfway house providing support for up to 50 clients, including men in recovery from addiction, those with mental health diagnoses, and individuals with long-term or high-risk supervision needs, facilitating transition from federal correctional institutions to community living under Correctional Service of Canada contracts.
• Education & Training / Learning Centre In-house training programs supporting adult basic education, literacy, computer skills, job readiness, and skills training including Food Safe, WHMIS, and Occupational First Aid certifications to enhance employability for residential clients.
• Spiritual Care Program Chaplain services providing daily Reflections, interactive Spirituality groups, Step Groups exploring faith and 12-step recovery principles, individual pastoral care, and recreational activities including music, art, hikes, and Men's Camp.
• James McCready Residence (Housing) Affordable apartment housing providing 39 bachelor suites and 5 one-bedroom units at welfare shelter rate or rent-geared-to-income rates in a safe, alcohol- and drug-free environment, allocated to Treatment and Correctional Program graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of clients who enter Phase 2 of Treatment Program graduate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 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 minor and core.

• Bandage and Beyond (Student Group)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent-led group from UBC and SFU partnering with Vancouver Harbour Light to provide wound care kits and education to residents. Team members include Joy Yang, Vanesse Li, Raj Saini, and Jane Tjandra. Kits include wound wash, soap, antimicrobial dressings, gauze pads, tensor bandage, and tape with infographic guides.
• Vancouver Coastal HealthcoreOthersLicensed community care facility with Vancouver Coastal Health. Nursing team provides services at shelters. Public Health Outreach Clinic at 320 Alexander Street provides TB testing.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Union Gospel Mission: Faith-based nonprofit in Vancouver's DTES offering emergency shelter, addiction recovery programs, community meals, and affordable housing. Closest direct competitor to Harbour Light with an overlapping service portfolio and similar faith-rooted 12-step approach.
• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver nonprofit operating shelters, supportive housing, and harm-reduction services in the DTES. Closely comparable in service mix and DTES footprint, though with a secular/harm-reduction orientation versus Harbour Light's faith-based model.
• The Mustard Seed: Faith-rooted nonprofit operating shelter, addiction recovery, and affordable housing across Alberta and Western Canada. Strongest direct peer outside Vancouver, sharing the faith-based recovery-and-housing integrated model.
• Lookout Housing and Health Society: One of BC's largest nonprofit providers of emergency shelter, supportive housing, and outreach services for homeless and at-risk populations across the Lower Mainland. Directly comparable shelter and housing scale to Harbour Light's BC Housing-funded operations.
• Atira Women's Resource Society: Vancouver-based nonprofit providing shelter, supportive housing, and advocacy for women and children impacted by violence and poverty. Comparable in operating DTES programs and BC Housing contracting, with a gender-specialized niche paralleling the Diane Harwood Centre.
• RainCity Housing and Support Society: Vancouver nonprofit delivering housing-first shelter, supportive housing, and outreach services across the Lower Mainland. Directly comparable service model and BC Housing contracting structure, with a harm-reduction orientation.

Regional players

• Dixon Hall: Toronto-based charity providing shelter, supportive housing, and community programs for vulnerable populations. Comparable service portfolio in a different geography; useful peer for understanding scale and government contracting in other major Canadian cities.
• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society: Vancouver-based Indigenous-led nonprofit supporting housing, recovery, and cultural reconnection for Indigenous women and families. Comparable DTES presence and housing/recovery programming with an Indigenous-cultural specialization.

Emerging players

• Directions Youth Services: Vancouver nonprofit providing shelter, housing, and drop-in services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. Partial overlap with Harbour Light's adult-focused services; relevant peer for understanding next-generation shelter and recovery models in the same city.

Broad incumbents

• John Howard Society of Canada: National nonprofit network providing reintegration, housing, and community-based services to people in conflict with the law. Directly comparable to Harbour Light's CRF (halfway house) program, with a broader national footprint and secular positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SAHarbourLight
• Facebookfacebook.com/VancouverHarbourLight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-salvation-army-harbour-light

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Salvation Army Vancouver Harbour Light