Kennedy House

What Kennedy House does

Kennedy House is a Toronto-based registered not-for-profit charitable organization founded in 1971 by Ed Blazo and Doug Chin (Charitable Registration #102807245RR0001), providing residential, shelter, developmental, and community-based programs for at-risk youth across the Greater Toronto Area and Durham Region. The organization operates nine facility locations including a 30-bed Youth Shelter for youth ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness (expanded to 53 beds temporarily during COVID-19), a 12-bed secure custody and detention facility for male youth under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, multiple small family-like group homes for youth in child welfare and developmental services, after-school programs for children ages 5-13 in priority Scarborough neighborhoods, a community breakfast club, and bailiff services for secure youth transportation. Kennedy House employs over 200 full-time and part-time staff and has impacted over 14,000 young people across its 55-year operating history.

Name

Kennedy House

Legal name

Kennedy House

Website

https://kennedyhouse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kennedy House is a Toronto-based non-profit founded in 1971 that operates residential, shelter, developmental, and community-based youth programs across the Greater Toronto Area, serving at-risk youth ages 5-24 through government contracts and charitable donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Community Housing Services (62422), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Resource Centers & Wraparound Support Services (EDACALAH)

Keywords

• Youth residential services
• Emergency youth shelter
• Youth justice programs
• Developmental disability care
• Community youth programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Kennedy House receives operational funding from government sources including the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the City of Toronto, and Community Corrections & Probation Services. Government funding covers core residential, shelter, youth justice, and developmental services programs.
2. Individual and Corporate Donations: The organization accepts monetary donations from individuals and corporations. Tax receipts are issued for donations of $20 or more. Monthly giving programs are available. Car donations are accepted through Donate A Car Canada. In-kind donations of personal hygiene products, clothing, weighted blankets, art supplies, and gift cards are also accepted.
3. Major Donor and Foundation Support: Kennedy House receives significant contributions from foundations and corporate sponsors including Home Depot Canada, Rogers Foundation, Catherine & Maxwell Meighen Foundation, RBC, TD Bank, Cadillac Fairview, and others. These donors support specific programs including the Youth Shelter, After-School Programs, and holiday giving initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kennedy House provides youth-centered residential care, emergency shelter, developmental services, secure youth custody, after-school and breakfast community programs, secure transportation (bailiff) services, and educational day treatment for vulnerable children, youth, and young adults across the Greater Toronto Area. Programs are delivered free of charge to eligible clients and are accessed through government agency referrals or direct family registration for community-based programs.

Product overview

Kennedy House is a not-for-profit social services organization offering a portfolio of residential and community-based programs for youth in the Greater Toronto Area. The organization operates multiple distinct service lines including the Kennedy House Youth Shelter (emergency housing for ages 16-24), Developmental Services (residential placements for ages 12-24 with disabilities), Kennedy House Youth Centre (secure custody for youth under the Youth Criminal Justice Act), Bailiff Services (justice system transport), After School Programs, Breakfast Club, and Residential Services for Adolescents. Programs are designed to provide individualized care-planning for diverse clients with unique needs including those who have experienced trauma, family estrangement, mental health challenges, and conflicts with the law.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kennedy House Youth Shelter Emergency shelter and supportive care for youth ages 16-24 experiencing homelessness in the GTA. The 24/7 shelter accommodates up to 30 youth (expanded to 53 beds during COVID-19) and provides meals, clothing, financial literacy, cooking classes, art therapy, one-on-one counselling, substance abuse and harm reduction support, sexual education, employment assistance, and housing support — free of charge to clients.
• Developmental Services Residential placements for individuals ages 12-24 with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities, including the D-STAY program for ages 17-24 (Manse Road, Brock Road locations) and the Galloway Road residential home for youth ages 12-17 with intellectual disability, autism spectrum, or complex needs. Each home provides a family-like environment with private bedrooms for up to six individuals and supports individuals waiting for funded adult beds.
• Kennedy House Youth Centre 12-bed secure custody and detention facility in Ajax for high-risk male youth detained or sentenced under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Provides a 24/7 safe, highly structured environment with a 1:5 staff-to-youth ratio, plus on-site educational programming (Toronto District School Board / Durham District School Board) and vocational training including a Shop Teacher.
• Residential Services for Adolescents Residential care for youth ages 12-18 referred through Child and Family Services, including the Kennedy Road co-ed home for up to nine youth (which includes the Loft Program for young women providing gender-specific transition-to-independent-living support) and the Kingston Road co-ed home for up to eight youth. Both deliver family-like environments with individualized support, routines, goal-setting, and life-skills development.
• Bailiff Services Secure transportation of youth in the care of the Eastern Region Justice System, including interagency transfers and transport to court appearances and medical appointments.
• After School Programs Free recreational and play-based after-school and summer programming for children ages 5-13 living in high-priority neighbourhoods in Scarborough. Includes healthy snacks, social development, physical activity, and homework help. Capacity: 75 children. Operates Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at East Scarborough Storefront locations.
• Breakfast Club Free nutritious breakfast program for school-aged children from underserved communities, providing sit-down breakfasts based on the Canadian Food Guide or healthy grab-and-go options, plus a safe welcoming space with caring staff. Capacity: 50 children.
• Day Treatment Educational and therapeutic programming for youth in care, partnering with Toronto District School Board and Durham District School Board to provide on-site schooling for youth at Kennedy House Youth Centre.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 14,000 young people impacted since founding
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ministry of Children, Community & Social ServicescoreOthersPrimary government funder and regulator. Provides funding and licensing oversight for child welfare, developmental services, and youth justice programs. Operates under mandates of CYFSA and YCJA legislation.
• City of TorontocoreOthersMunicipal government funder providing support for shelter services and community programs. Operates Toronto Central Intake for shelter bed allocation.
• Home Depot Canada FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor and annual campaign partner for Orange Door Project. Committed $50 million by 2022 to improve housing options and support life-skills development for youth. Charity Partner at 3 local stores (Scarborough, Curity, Morningside) raising over $15k in 2020 campaign.
• Children's Aid Society of TorontocoreOthersPrimary referral agency for residential child welfare services. Kennedy Road and Kingston Road programs serve youth referred through CAS.
• COTA HealthcoreOthersReferral agency for developmental services. Clients from COTA are placed in Kennedy House residential programs for transitional youth.
• Durham Family Court ClinicminorOthersCommunity partner providing family court and justice-related services in Durham Region.
• Michael Garron HospitalminorOthersCommunity health partner providing healthcare services and referrals for youth in Kennedy House programs.
• Toronto District School BoardcoreOthersEducation partner providing on-site schooling at Youth Centre. Partners with local school boards to provide educational programming for detained youth.
• Durham District School BoardcoreOthersEducation partner serving youth at Kennedy House Youth Centre location in Ajax.
• Grove School BoardcoreOthersProvided funding to hire a Shop Teacher for the 14 youth detained at Kennedy House Youth Centre, enabling vocational programming.
• Centennial CollegeminorOthersStudent placement partnership offering field placement opportunities for students from various programs.
• York UniversityminorOthersStudent placement partnership offering field placement opportunities for students.
• Seneca CollegeminorOthersStudent placement partnership offering field placement opportunities for students.
• OADD (Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities)minorOthersProfessional membership association for developmental disabilities sector. Provides networking and professional development resources.
• OARTY (Ontario Association of Residences Treating Youth)minorOthersProfessional association for residential youth services. Provides advocacy and best practice standards for member organizations.
• TSN (Toronto Shelter Network)coreOthersMembership organization for Toronto shelter providers. Coordinates shelter bed allocation through Toronto Central Intake.
• United Way of Greater TorontomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor donor and community partner providing funding support for youth services. Listed as $25,000-$39,999 tier supporter.
• Second HarvestminorOthersFood rescue organization donor at $5,000-$9,999 tier providing food support for Kennedy House programs.
• Danforth BIAminorOthersBusiness improvement area partner for community events and outreach in Danforth neighbourhood.
• East Scarborough StorefrontminorOthersCommunity partner location where Kennedy House After-School Programs operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
• Youth Justice OntariocoreOthersProvincial organization coordinating youth justice services. Referral partner for youth involved with Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Youth Without Shelter: Toronto-area emergency shelter and transitional housing provider for youth ages 16-24. Operates as a directly competing GTA youth shelter with similar referral-based intake and government funding model.
• Yonge Street Mission: Toronto-based charity providing shelter, community programs, and youth-focused services (including the Youth LIFE Program). Comparable to Kennedy House in serving vulnerable GTA families with a multi-service, community-based model.
• Covenant House Toronto: Toronto-based charity providing emergency shelter, housing, and wraparound services for youth facing homelessness and trafficking. Directly comparable to Kennedy House Youth Shelter in mission, client population, and GTA service footprint.
• Children's Aid Society of Toronto: Mandated child welfare authority in Toronto that refers youth to residential placements like Kennedy House's Kennedy Road and Kingston Road programs. Operates overlapping child welfare and family services mandates under CYFSA.
• Reena: York Region-based not-for-profit providing residential programs, day services, and clinical supports for individuals with developmental disabilities. Comparable to Kennedy House's Developmental Services and D-STAY program in mandate and funding structure.
• Eva's Initiatives: Toronto-based not-for-profit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and training programs for youth experiencing homelessness. Closely comparable to Kennedy House's youth shelter and transitional residential programs.
• Safehaven Project for Community Living: Toronto-area provider of residential and community-based support for children and adults with developmental disabilities. Directly comparable to Kennedy House's Developmental Services program in population, model, and funding sources.

Regional players

• Akin Community Trust: Toronto-area community services organization supporting youth through programs similar to Kennedy House's After-School Programs and Breakfast Club in priority neighbourhoods. Comparable as a regional community-services peer.

Broad incumbents

• JVS Toronto: Large Toronto employment and social services agency offering employment training, refugee resettlement, and youth services. Overlaps with Kennedy House's employment support and developmental services pathways but at significantly broader scale.
• Flemingdon Health Centre: Toronto multi-service community health organization serving vulnerable populations including youth. Comparable in the community-health/wraparound support overlap with Kennedy House's community programs, though more health-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kennedyhouseyou
• Facebookfacebook.com/116288711724901
• Instagraminstagram.com/kennedyhouse1971

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 Kennedy House