ASK Wellness Society

What ASK Wellness Society does

ASK Wellness Society is a non-profit social services organization headquartered in Kamloops, British Columbia, delivering a continuum of housing, health, harm reduction, and employment services to marginalized populations across the BC Interior (Kamloops, Merritt, Penticton, and increasingly Kelowna). Founded in 1992 as the AIDS Society of Kamloops and rebranded in 2016, the organization operates through four service pillars — Streets (street outreach, overdose prevention, drug checking, and harm reduction), Homes (supportive and affordable housing under a Housing First model), Health (health navigation, blood-borne infection management, mental health and addiction recovery programs, and mobile primary care), and Employment (ASK Works vocational programming and the Penticton Ambassador Program). It serves people experiencing homelessness, those living with HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C, individuals with mental health and substance use challenges, 2SLGBTQ+ community members, seniors, families, adults with developmental disabilities, and barriered job seekers.

The organization operates more than 800 beds and housing units across 24+ properties, including the recently opened 80-unit The Confluence development (May 2026) and the 44-bed Pathways shelter (January 2025), and manages 275+ affordable homes under the Cornerstone Affordable Homes (Interior) sub-brand. Technology assets are operational rather than AI-driven: Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) drug checking in partnership with Interior Health and BC Centre for Substance Use, a TELUS Health-powered Mobile Health Clinic with electronic medical records, a 24/7 harm reduction vending machine, digital referral systems, and a website with online donation processing. The organization is COA-accredited, registered with BC's Assisted Living Registry, and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

ASK's business model is non-profit: revenue is sourced primarily from provincial and federal government grants and operating agreements (BC Housing, Interior Health Authority, Service Canada, City of Kamloops), supplemented by community funding (United Way BC) and individual/corporate donations. Housing rent is set at 30% of tenant income (e.g., Tradewinds), and membership is available at $1 individual / $25 company annually. The organization had 260+ employees as of the most recent reporting and runs programs across Kamloops, Merritt, Penticton, and Kelowna.

Name

ASK Wellness Society

Legal name

ASK Wellness Society

Website

https://askwellness.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

ASK Wellness Society is a BC Interior non-profit providing Housing First, harm reduction, health, and employment services to marginalized populations across Kamloops, Merritt, and Penticton, operating 800+ housing units with 260+ staff and government funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Affordable Housing

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (6232), Other Residential Care Facilities (62399), Individual and Family Services (6241), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health–Capable Assisted Living (Mental Health/SUD Support) (HLADABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable / Low-Income Assisted Living (Medicaid Waiver Focused) (HLADABAE), Independent Living Community Ancillary Services (Dining/Transportation/Wellness Programs) (HLADAAAI), Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Social services
• Homeless housing support
• Harm reduction programs
• Addiction recovery services
• Affordable supportive housing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kamloops

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: ASK is a non-profit society that relies on local community organizations and government to provide funding including BC Housing, Interior Health Authority, United Way, City of Kamloops, and Service Canada
2. Donations: Individual and corporate donations supporting vital services for vulnerable individuals including shelter, food, counseling, employment assistance, and mental health and addiction support
3. Membership Fees: Individual membership at $1 and company membership at $25, providing voting rights at Annual General Meeting and voice in community solutions
4. Housing Rent: Affordable housing rent set at 30% of renter's income for properties like Tradewinds in Merritt

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ASK Wellness Society delivers a continuum of non-profit social services to marginalized individuals across BC's Interior, organized around four pillars: Streets (outreach, harm reduction, overdose prevention, SHOP), Homes (supportive and affordable housing across 24 properties totaling 800+ units), Health (health navigation, blood borne infection management, drug checking, mobile primary care, and recovery/mental health programs), and Employment (ASK Works vocational support). Most services are provided free of charge to clients; housing is offered at 30% of tenant income where applicable.

Product overview

ASK Wellness Society is a non-profit organization offering a comprehensive continuum of services centered on Housing First principles, Harm Reduction, and client-centered care. The organization operates across three main service pillars: Streets (outreach support services including harm reduction, overdose prevention, and street outreach), Homes (affordable and supportive housing across multiple properties in Kamloops, Merritt, and Penticton), and Health (health navigation, addiction recovery programs, mental health supports, and mobile healthcare). The portfolio includes the Cornerstone Affordable Homes sub-brand managing 275+ affordable rental units, while program-based services include recovery programs like Maverick, AASH, and NVESR, health services including TiOAT and drug checking, and outreach services including Pathways shelter, SHOP, and mobile health clinic. Employment services through ASK Works support vocational training and the Penticton Ambassador Program provides job preparedness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Streets (Outreach Services) Outreach support services for community members facing homelessness, mental health, substance misuse, or combinations of these factors. Uses a two-pronged approach of Harm Reduction and Education, and provides Third Party supports for clients unable to access government services.
• Homes (Housing Services) Housing First principle-based services assisting those facing homelessness or at risk in finding, securing, and maintaining suitable housing, including supportive housing, affordable rental housing, and program-based housing across Kamloops, Merritt, and Penticton.
• Health Services Comprehensive health services including Health Navigation, Blood Borne Infection Management, Harm Reduction, Adult Addiction and Supportive Housing, Mental Health Supportive Housing, Disability Supports, Drug Checking, Mobile Health Clinic, and Recovery Programs.
• Employment Services (ASK Works) Supported employment initiatives through ASK Works that assist people who access services to achieve connection, dignity, and purpose through meaningful employment; includes the Penticton Ambassador Program for job preparedness.
• Pathways Shelter and Access Hub 44-bed, 24/7 emergency shelter and access hub on the North Shore in Kamloops, providing safe, immediate shelter alongside essential services supporting participants in moving toward stability and long-term housing.
• Overdose Prevention Services Harm reduction services including staff availability for education, 24/7 vending machine for harm reduction supplies, supervised overdose prevention site with observation room, and needle pick-up peer support program.
• SHOP (Social and Health Options for Persons) Program for persons engaged in survival-based sex work using community development, outreach, and programming approaches rooted in harm reduction and social justice practices.
• Community Drug Checking Service Free, anonymous drug testing service using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze and identify components within substances, in partnership with Interior Health Authority and BC Centre for Substance Use.
• Mobile Health Clinic powered by TELUS Health Mobile health service providing barrier-free primary healthcare access to people who face barriers to primary health care in Kamloops and throughout Interior BC, in partnership with TELUS Health for Good, operating five days per week.
• Health Navigation, Blood Borne Infection Management and Harm Reduction Community-based health program providing medical advocacy, health counselling, connection to treatment, education, transportation to medical appointments, and needle exchange; the only HIV/Hep C community-based program in Kamloops.
• Mental Health and Independent Supportive Housing (MHASH) 12-unit program in Kamloops providing housing and support to those suffering from mental health issues in partnership with Interior Health Authority, with 24-hour supports, wellness planning, and group meetings.
• Adult Addiction and Supportive Housing (AASH) Six-month abstinence-based program in Merritt at Juniper House providing 24/7 supports, housing, wellness planning, life skills development, and recovery-focused group meetings in partnership with Interior Health Authority.
• Nicola Valley Enhanced Supportive Recovery (NVESR) 5-bed early recovery initiative at Juniper House in Merritt providing a comprehensive, holistic 90-day recovery environment with culturally relevant programming including counselling, life skills, and Indigenous cultural supports.
• Tablet Injectable Opioid Agonist Treatment (TiOAT) Pilot program for people living with opioid use disorders who have not had success with traditional treatments like Methadone, Suboxone, or Kadian, providing Dilaudid tablets up to 5 times daily under supervision.
• Maverick Supportive Recovery and Career Development Program Three-phase recovery program in Kamloops operating in conjunction with Interior Health Authority and registered through Ministry of Health's Assisted Living Registry, providing substance use treatment, life skills, addictions counselling, peer coaching, and career development across 42 units.
• Recovery Engagement Program (REP) Person-centered supportive service designed to assist individuals in accessing substance use recovery resources in Kamloops.
• Burdock House 59-unit supportive housing in Penticton offering harm reduction services, health navigation, meals, and access to LPN and overdose prevention services for vulnerable community members with complex needs.
• Fairhaven 39-unit supportive housing in Penticton for individuals facing homelessness, mental health struggles, and/or substance use challenges, with inreach health services, case management, and budgeting supports.
• snp̓aʔxtantn (Healing House) 54-unit recovery-focused supportive housing in Penticton operated in partnership with BC Housing and Ooknakane Friendship Centre, offering in-house substance use recovery counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, and vocational assistance.
• Juniper House 15-unit supportive housing in Merritt's downtown core providing essential support to individuals experiencing homelessness, with life skills support, harm reduction supplies, and culturally relevant services.
• Cedar Terrace 44-unit, 55+ senior housing complex in Merritt offering affordable, accessible studio and one-bedroom apartments in a four-storey building.
• The Confluence Affordable Housing Development 80-unit affordable housing development at 346 Campbell Avenue in Kamloops; mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes including deep subsidy units, rent geared to income housing, and affordable market rentals, with tenants moving in from June 2026.
• Cornerstone Affordable Homes (Interior) Rental housing sub-brand of ASK Wellness Society managing more than 275 affordable homes across Kamloops and Merritt, providing a clear distinction between affordable rental housing and program-based services.
• Sexual Health Hotline Confidential hotline providing information and general health assistance around STI testing and treatment, HIV, Hepatitis C, and harm reduction; also provides support for 2SLGBTQ+ people including emotional support and sexual health education.
• Needle Clean Up Hotline Hotline taking reports from the public and coordinating clean-up of dumped needles and syringes in public places anywhere in Kamloops, staffed Monday to Friday with voicemail option at other times.
• Third Party Supports Services for clients who need to access government services but are unable to attend at Ministry of Social Development sites.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% capacity at Pathways shelter with over 15,000 bed nights provided in first year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TELUS Health for GoodcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 September 2024Mobile Health Clinic powered by TELUS Health, equipped with TELUS electronic medical records technology. TELUS has committed $16 million through 2027 to the program, which has supported over 240,000 patient visits across 27 Canadian communities since 2014.
• Interior Health Authority (IHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for health navigation, blood borne infection management, harm reduction services, clinical oversight for AASH, MHASH, and recovery programs, drug checking services, and Mobile Health Clinic collaboration. ASK operates within Interior Health region with multiple health service partnerships.
• BC Centre for Substance UseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Community Drug Checking Service using FTIR technology, contributing to immediate drug alerts and overdose prevention across the province.
• Ooknakane Friendship CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for snp̓aʔx̌tantn (Healing House) recovery-focused supportive housing in Penticton, combining ASK's housing expertise with Indigenous cultural supports.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for street outreach services, with CMHA collaboration facilitating shelter access for individuals. Joint work on mental health and substance use support.
• Interior Community Services (ICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in street outreach case management to connect street-entrenched individuals with adequate resources.
• Aboriginal Friendship SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in providing culturally appropriate services and outreach to Indigenous community members experiencing homelessness and marginalization.
• Community Living BC (CLBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial crown agency contract for delivering supports and services to adults with developmental disabilities who may also be struggling with mental illness.
• North Shore Business Improvement AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on neighborhood concerns, site checks, and community engagement for North Shore operations. Part of Neighbourhood Safety Committee.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atira Women's Resource Society: BC non-profit providing housing and support services, with focus on women and children impacted by violence. Comparable as a BC-based non-profit social services operator with supportive housing, harm reduction, and frontline service delivery models.
• Lookout Housing and Health Society: BC-based non-profit providing housing, harm reduction, and health services to people experiencing homelessness across Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and the Sunshine Coast. Directly comparable in operating model — Housing First, supportive housing, harm reduction — and in non-profit funding mix.
• Cool Aid Community Services: Victoria-based BC non-profit providing housing, health, and social services to people facing homelessness, mental health, and substance use challenges. Comparable service portfolio (shelters, supportive housing, health clinic, food programs) and BC non-profit funding model.
• RainCity Housing and Support Society: BC non-profit operating supportive housing, harm reduction, and outreach programs across Metro Vancouver. Directly comparable in mission (Housing First, harm reduction) and service mix (shelters, supportive housing, outreach), though focused on Metro Vancouver rather than the Interior.
• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Kamloops: Local Indigenous-led social services organization in Kamloops serving urban Indigenous community members. Direct partner of ASK and peer in cultural-safety-focused service delivery to overlapping client populations.
• PHS Community Services Society: Vancouver-based non-profit that pioneered supervised consumption and low-barrier housing in BC. Comparable as a harm-reduction-led social services operator with integrated housing, health, and community programming, though operating at larger scale in Metro Vancouver.
• Interior Community Services (ICS): Kamloops-based social services agency offering housing, outreach, and community programs across BC Interior. Direct peer in geography, client base (street-entrenched individuals), and street outreach partnership model.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Mental Health Association - BC Division: Provincial BC division of national CMHA network providing mental health and substance use programs. Partner of ASK on street outreach but operates at larger scale with broader mandate; functions as both peer and upstream referral partner.

Emerging players

• Bissett Centre: Edmonton-based non-profit operating supportive housing, drop-in services, and harm reduction programs for people experiencing homelessness. Comparable in integrated housing-plus-health service model, though operating in a different provincial jurisdiction.

Others

• United Way British Columbia: Provincial funder and convening body for BC social services non-profits. Functions as a funding partner to ASK and as a peer in the broader social-services ecosystem, though its role is primarily grantmaking rather than direct service provision.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/askwellnesssociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/askwellness
• Xx.com/ASK_Wellness

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

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 ASK Wellness Society