North York Women's Shelter

What North York Women's Shelter does

North York Women's Shelter (NYWS) is a registered Canadian charitable nonprofit organization (Charitable Registration 129819512RR0001) founded in 1984 and headquartered in North York, Toronto. It operates a 17-bedroom emergency shelter with capacity for approximately 45 women, trans, and non-binary adults, their children, and their pets, delivering 24-hour crisis accommodation 365 days a year. Since inception, NYWS has supported more than 11,000 survivors of gender-based violence; in fiscal year 2025-26 it served 42 women and 77 children, with children comprising approximately 60% of shelter residents.

Its service portfolio comprises the Emergency Shelter, the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective (a wrap-around services hub opened in 2020), Transitional Housing Support (approximately six months of post-shelter follow-up), Crisis Support Services via a 24/7 crisis line (416-638-7335 ext. 101) and partnership with the Assaulted Women's Helpline, Pet Services (Toronto's first pet-friendly GBV shelter model), a Food Justice & Food Security Program, and trauma-informed Adults' and Children's Programming. Operational partnerships include Black Creek Community Health (on-site primary care), Toronto Humane Society (pet welfare), the Anne Marie D'Amico Foundation, and numerous corporate donors and volunteer partners across the Greater Toronto Area.

NYWS operates as a non-revenue-generating charity: all shelter, crisis, and community services are provided at no cost to residents. Its funding model is diversified across individual donations, monthly giving, corporate contributions, foundation grants (including a documented $50,000 gift from the Anne Marie D'Amico Foundation in 2026), securities donations (stocks, bonds, mutual funds), and legacy/planned giving through wills and life insurance. Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Carol Latchford, with a senior management team overseeing HR, Fund Development, Finance & Administration, and Programs & Services.

Name

North York Women's Shelter

Legal name

North York Women's Shelter

Website

https://nyws.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North York Women's Shelter is a Toronto-based registered charity founded in 1984 that operates a 17-bedroom emergency shelter and wrap-around support services for women, trans, and non-binary survivors of gender-based violence, their children, and their pets across the GTA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence and Gender-Based Violence Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230)

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
• Gender-based violence support
• Crisis intervention services
• Transitional housing programs
• Community health clinic

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. This includes one-time donations, monthly giving programs, and special event fundraising. The organization also accepts in-kind donations of hygiene items, clothing, food, and gift cards.
2. Securities Donations: Accepts donations of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds as a financially effective way for donors to give, allowing them to skip capital gains taxes.
3. Legacy/Planned Giving: Accepts legacy gifts through wills, life insurance beneficiary designations, and RRSP balance sharing to create long-term charitable impact.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North York Women's Shelter operates a 17-bedroom Emergency Shelter providing 24/7 crisis accommodation for women, trans, and non-binary adults, their children, and pets, alongside the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective offering wraparound community services (health clinic, counselling, system navigation) and a Transitional Housing Support program. All services are provided free of charge to survivors of gender-based violence across Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.

Product overview

North York Women's Shelter operates as a unified shelter and gender-based violence support agency offering emergency residential services and community-based programs. The core offering is the 17-bedroom Emergency Shelter providing 24-hour crisis accommodation for women, trans, and non-binary adults, their children, and pets. Complementing the shelter is the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective, which provides wraparound services to survivors in the broader North York community, including a Trauma-Informed Community Health Clinic partnered with Black Creek Community Health, and Transitional Housing Support. Additional support programs include Pet Services (making NYWS Toronto's first pet-friendly GBV shelter), the Food Justice & Food Security Program, and Adults' and Children's Programming featuring workshops such as sharing circles, creative expression, and mindful movement. The organization has provided safety and support for over 11,000 survivors since 1984.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective: A wrap-around services hub offering trauma-informed support, health clinic, counselling, system navigation, wellness supports, and transitional housing for survivors of gender-based violence in the North York community.

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter A 17-bedroom emergency shelter providing 24-hour crisis accommodation for women, trans, and non-binary adults, their children, and pets. Features include outdoor gardens for culturally specific foods and indigenous medicines, living rooms, a tech lounge, meditation room, two full kitchens, a gym, and indoor and outdoor play areas. Operates 24/7/365.
• Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective Wraparound services for survivors of gender-based violence within the North York community, providing trauma-informed support, multi-service access in one location, and system navigation assistance. Includes a Trauma-Informed Community Health Clinic operated in partnership with Black Creek Community Health.
• Transitional Housing Support

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,000+ survivors supported since 1984
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Nestlé CanadaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 July 2026Donated hundreds of Turtles chocolates for the High Tea with Anne Marie event and for survivors staying at the shelter, creating moments of joy and a personalized atmosphere.
• City of Toronto (Environment, Climate and Forestry Division)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026The City of Toronto, through the PollinateTO program, supported the upgrade of garden spaces surrounding the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective. Community-led planting workshops introduced native pollinator-friendly species to create a learning garden for survivors and families.
• Intact InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 December 2025Corporate volunteering group with personal connection to the shelter. Nine team members came to wrap holiday gifts for shelter residents and their children in December 2025.
• Armour Heights Presbyterian ChurchminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Contributed holiday gift donations for shelter residents and children.
• Toys for Tots CanadaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025Contributed holiday gift donations for shelter residents and children.
• York Lions Women's HockeyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 November 2025Partnership during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. The team dedicated a Carleton Ravens matchup to eliminating violence against women and girls, raising awareness and supporting survivors.
• Nestlé Purina PetCare CanadaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 September 2025During Purina Cares Week, a team of seven staff volunteered to reorganize storage space and delivered over 100 hand-made dog and cat toys and decorated leashes for shelter pets.
• Black Creek Community HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Partnership to support a primary health care clinic operating out of the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective. The clinic provides medical care, harm reduction support, counselling, system navigation, and wellness supports for shelter residents and community members seeking GBV services.
• Kits for a CauseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to host the Compassion Kit Project - an engaging corporate volunteering and team-building experience where groups assemble personalized care kits for shelter residents.
• Toronto Humane SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing relationship to support pet services at the pet-friendly shelter, ensuring all pets are well supported and safe during their stay at North York Women's Shelter.
• Neighbours, Friends, and FamiliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity resource partner for raising awareness about gender-based violence and supporting those who may be concerned about someone they know.
• WomanACTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity resource partner for gender-based violence support and advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Barrett Centre for Crisis Support: Toronto-area emergency shelter and crisis support agency serving women and gender-diverse survivors of violence. Overlapping service offerings and GTA catchment.
• Women's Habitat (Etobicoke): West-end GTA women's shelter providing emergency shelter, counseling, and outreach for women and children fleeing violence. Comparable service mix and population in an adjacent GTA region.
• Nellie's Shelter: Toronto-based emergency shelter and community support agency for women and children fleeing violence. Comparable model, geographic market, and target population.
• Assaulted Women's Helpline (AWHL): Ontario-wide 24/7 crisis line and referral service for women experiencing abuse; explicitly listed as a partner hotline for NYWS. Operates the same crisis-response layer.
• Interval House Toronto: Toronto women's shelter serving women and children fleeing abuse. Directly comparable emergency shelter, crisis line, and transitional housing services targeting the same GBV population in the same city.
• Toronto Rape Crisis Centre / Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW): Vancouver-based rape crisis centre and sexual assault services organization with shelter and counseling components. Comparable GBV-focused service mandate across Canada.
• Fred Victor: Toronto community-based organization providing shelter, housing, and health services for people experiencing homelessness, including women fleeing violence. Comparable shelter and wraparound model.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Toronto: Large, well-established Toronto women's services organization operating emergency shelters (including a 24/7 women's shelter), transitional housing, and community programs. Overlaps heavily with NYWS's mandate at greater scale.

Regional players

• Anova (formerly London Women's Abuse Centre): Ontario-based shelter, counseling, and sexual-assault services for women. Comparable service model in a different Ontario region.

Others

• Black Creek Community Health Centre: Community health center partner of NYWS, providing the on-site primary care clinic at the Anne Marie D'Amico Community Collective. Strategic operational partner rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NYWS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

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 North York Women's Shelter