Victoria Women's Transition House

What Victoria Women's Transition House does

Victoria Women's Transition House Society (VWTH) is a non-profit charitable organization headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, founded in 1974 (with roots in the 1971 Victoria Women's Centre) and operating for over 50 years. The organization provides a comprehensive continuum of services for women and children experiencing intimate partner violence in the Greater Victoria region, anchored by a 24/7 crisis and information line (250-385-6611), an emergency shelter (with a second COVID-era location added in 2020), second stage and third stage transitional and supportive housing, individual and group counselling, the Children Who Witness Abuse/PEACE program, a specialized 50+ Program for older women survivors, the Regional Domestic Violence Unit partnership, a Family Law Advocacy Program, and homelessness-prevention services. VWTH also runs donor-supported programs such as Expressive Arts, the Compassionate Pet Program, and a Holiday Hamper.

The business and funding model is government-anchored philanthropy. Approximately 60% of funding comes from BC Housing, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and the Ministry for Children and Family Development; the remaining ~40% is generated through fundraising, private and community donations, grants, and foundation funding (with United Way Southern Vancouver Island and Victoria Foundation noted as supporters). All services are provided free of charge to clients, and VWTH additionally diversifies via events (Glow Gala, Victoria Goddess Run charity partnership) and direct online giving. The legal entity, Victoria Women's Transition House Society, is governed by a volunteer Board of up to 14 women, currently chaired by Sandra Hudson (2025-26 term), with Bahar Dehnadi as Executive Director.

VWTH's operating footprint spans five facilities — most notably a new four-storey, 50-unit Westshore Second Stage Transitional Housing complex opened in January 2025 in partnership with M'akola Housing Society, BC Housing, Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, and the City of Langford. The organization employs over 70 staff supported by approximately 70 volunteers, sits within the BC Society of Transition Houses and Ending Violence Association of BC networks, and operates with no disclosed technology stack, no AI/ML capability, and no commercial product surface — its "products" are clinical, shelter, and housing services delivered by trained practitioners rather than software.

Name

Victoria Women's Transition House

Legal name

Victoria Women's Transition House Society

Website

https://transitionhouse.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Victoria Women's Transition House Society is a Victoria, BC-based non-profit founded in 1974 that provides free 24-hour crisis support, emergency shelter, second and third stage transitional housing, counselling, children's programs, and older-women's services for women and children experiencing intimate partner violence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Shelter and Support Services

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Women's shelter services
• Crisis counselling support
• Transitional housing programs
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Victoria

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Approximately 60% of funding comes from BC Housing, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and the Ministry for Children and Family Development.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Fundraising activities, private and community donations, grants and foundation funding provide the remaining 40% of funding for core service and counselling programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Victoria Women's Transition House (VWTH) provides emergency shelter, second and third stage transitional housing, a 24-hour crisis line, trauma-informed individual and group counselling, children's programs, and community education for women and children experiencing intimate partner violence in the Greater Victoria region of British Columbia. All services are delivered free of charge to clients through five facility locations with 70+ staff and approximately 70 volunteers.

Product overview

Victoria Women's Transition House Society is a non-profit organization providing a comprehensive suite of shelter, housing, counselling, and support services for women and children experiencing intimate partner violence. The organization operates a crisis-driven service model consisting of: a 24-hour crisis line and emergency shelter as immediate response; second and third stage transitional housing for varying levels of support; counselling services including individual therapy, support groups, and specialized programs for children (PEACE program), older women (50+ Program), and those in the justice system (Family Law Advocacy, RDVU). The portfolio also includes community education, volunteer engagement, and special programs such as Expressive Arts, Compassionate Pet Program, and Christmas Hamper. The organization runs five facilities with over 70 staff and approximately 70 volunteers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 24-Hour Crisis Line A 24/7 crisis and information line (250-385-6611) providing judgment-free support for women experiencing or who have experienced intimate partner violence and abuse, as well as information and referrals for concerned family members, friends, and colleagues.
• Emergency Shelter An essential 24/7 emergency shelter service for women and their children fleeing intimate partner violence and abuse, with a second shelter location added during COVID-19 to expand capacity.
• Second Stage Transitional Housing Affordable second stage housing for up to two years for women and children fleeing violence, providing higher levels of service including counselling, children's programs, and on-site support services. Includes pet-friendly units.
• Third Stage Supportive Housing Longer-term supportive transitional housing program for survivors of intimate partner violence, offering continued on-site support and stability.
• Counselling and Support Services Trauma-informed counselling services including individual counselling, support groups, Stopping the Violence counselling, and specialized services for older women survivors of abuse.
• PEACE / Children Who Witness Abuse Program Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling & Empowerment (PEACE) program for children and youth who have witnessed intimate partner violence, providing counselling and support to break intergenerational cycles of abuse.
• 50+ Program (Older Women's Program) Specialized trauma-informed services for older women survivors of abuse, including third-stage transitional housing, counselling supports, expressive arts, health and wellness, and financial literacy outreach programs.
• Homelessness Prevention Programs Programs designed to prevent homelessness for women and children at risk of violence and abuse, including support to maintain safe housing.
• Regional Domestic Violence Unit (RDVU) A cross-jurisdictional domestic violence unit providing intensive support services where high-risk warning signs are present, including risk assessment, offender management, and safety planning.
• Family Law Advocacy Program Support program helping women navigate the justice system and address legal issues related to family law matters arising from intimate partner violence.
• Community Education Public education workshops and community outreach to raise awareness about intimate partner violence and available resources, available both virtually and in-person.
• Expressive Arts Program Donor-funded expressive arts programs including Turning the Tide and Healing Through the Arts, run with a VWTH counsellor and artist facilitator over 8-week sessions exploring various art techniques and self-reflective work.
• Volunteer Program Program engaging approximately 70 volunteers in various roles supporting women and children impacted by intimate partner violence across VWTH programs and sites.
• Compassionate Pet Program Program supporting the pets of women and children fleeing intimate partner violence, helping eliminate barriers to leaving abusive situations by providing pet-friendly spaces and assistance with pet care.
• Christmas Hamper Program Annual program providing holiday hamper donations to women and families who have accessed VWTH services, allowing them to create wish lists for comfort and joy during the holidays.

Quantifiable outcome

• Between 2020–21, the Regional Domestic Violence Unit identified 73 highest-risk cases for intervention
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• M'akola Housing SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2022Partner in the West Shore Transition Housing project - a four-storey complex for women and children fleeing intimate partner violence, operated by VWTH with 50 apartments.
• Songhees Nation and Esquimalt NationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2022Indigenous nations on whose unceded territory the West Shore project is being built. VWTH is committed to reconciliation and has established an Advisory Circle of Indigenous women.
• City of LangfordmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2022Municipal partner for West Shore Transition Housing project. Mayor Stew Young spoke at project announcement event.
• Knappet ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 November 2022Construction company building the West Shore Transition Housing project.
• TGR ProjectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2022Project champions Tinny Lalli and Maurine Karagianis (VWTH Board Chair) worked on West Shore Transition Housing project development.
• Cedar Hill RecreationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Healing Through the Arts Program - an 8-week expressive arts program for VWTH clients from the 50+ program.
• Victoria Women In Need Community CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization that provides clothing for women and children staying at VWTH Emergency Shelter due to limited storage space.
• BC Society of Transition HousescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial umbrella organization for transition houses - VWTH is a member and works collaboratively on sector-wide initiatives and advocacy.
• Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial organization providing coordination and support to Specialized Victim Assistance Programs, Sexual Assault Centres, Stopping the Violence Counselling programs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• BC Society of Transition Houses: BCSTH is the provincial umbrella organization coordinating BC's transition houses and safe homes, including VWTH as a member. While not a direct competitor, it represents the sector ecosystem that funds, advocates for, and coordinates the transition house model in which VWTH operates.
• Ending Violence Association of British Columbia (EVA BC): EVA BC coordinates and supports Specialized Victim Assistance Programs, Sexual Assault Centres, and Stopping the Violence Counselling programs across BC. It is a sector umbrella that VWTH partners with, providing training and program coordination rather than direct service delivery.

Direct peers

• WISH Drop-In Centre Society: WISH operates in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside providing shelter and support services to women, including sex workers and women experiencing violence. While population focus differs slightly, it operates the same model of free shelter and wraparound support for women fleeing unsafe situations.
• YWCA Metro Vancouver: YWCA Metro Vancouver operates women's shelters, transition housing, and a continuum of IPV support services including counselling and children's programs. As a major regional women's services provider in BC, it directly competes for government funding and donor dollars with VWTH.
• Atira Women's Resource Society: Atira is a BC-based non-profit operating transition houses, safe homes, and second-stage housing for women and children fleeing violence, with comparable service model including shelters, counselling, and children-specific programs. It is one of the largest direct peers in BC serving the same IPV survivor population.
• Centre for Family Equity: The Centre for Family Equity provides family support and violence prevention services in BC and is referenced alongside VWTH in joint frontline statements (e.g., Red Dress Day). It operates comparable survivor advocacy and family support programming.
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver: Elizabeth Fry Society provides support services to women involved in or at risk of involvement with the justice system, including housing, counselling, and advocacy. While its criminal justice nexus differs, it serves overlapping populations (women in crisis, IPV survivors) with similar shelter and support models.
• Prince George Sexual Assault Centre: PG SAC provides sexual assault and IPV counselling, victim services, and community education across northern BC. It is referenced alongside VWTH in joint advocacy efforts and operates similar trauma-informed counselling and Stopping the Violence programming.
• Surrey Women's Centre: Surrey Women's Centre provides shelter, counselling, victim services, and IPV support programs in the Lower Mainland. It is referenced alongside VWTH in sector collaborations (e.g., Red Dress Day statements) and offers directly comparable services to similar client populations.

Regional players

• Pacific Post Partum Support Society: PPPSS provides postpartum mental health support across BC and is referenced alongside VWTH in joint statements. It addresses a related but distinct women's support need (postpartum mental health vs. IPV), and they collaborate in the broader BC women's services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VWTHS
• Xx.com/VictoriaWTH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Victoria Women's Transition House