Port Alberni Shelter Society

Name

Port Alberni Shelter Society

Legal name

Port Alberni Shelter Society

Website

https://portalbernishelter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless Services & Addiction Recovery

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322)

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), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Addiction recovery programs
• Social enterprise farming
• Low-barrier housing
• Therapeutic recovery community

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Alberni

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. CSA Subscription Revenue: Community Supported Agriculture weekly veggie box subscriptions sold to individuals and households. Three seasons offered: Spring (8 weeks), Summer (14 weeks), Fall (8 weeks). Revenue upfront before growing season supports farm operations.
2. Direct Produce Sales: Fresh produce sold through online store, farmers markets, local restaurants, and retailers including Wesco Foods, Grassroots Cafe, Double R Meats, and others
3. Donations and Charitable Giving: Tax-deductible donations from individuals including one-time gifts, vehicle donations through Donate A Car Canada, stock/securities donations via Canada Helps, legacy bequests, and clothing/household item donations. All donations are tax-deductible as PASS is a registered Canadian charity (Business No: 128847084RR0001)
4. Bottle and Can Recycling Program: Collection and redemption of bottles, cans, milk cartons and other returnables. Pickup service provided, with tax receipts issued for donations valued at $20 or more. Proceeds support employment program for individuals with differing abilities
5. Landscaping and Yard Work Services: Employment program offering grass cutting, weeding, power raking, aerating, planting, debris removal, tree pruning, and brush clearing services to residential and commercial clients. Supports individuals with differing abilities
6. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from government sources including BC Housing, BC Rural Dividend, and other provincial/federal programs to support shelter operations, TRC programs, and farm infrastructure improvements
7. Bakery Products: Shelter Bakery produces artisan bread and buns, sold at Spirit Square Farmers Market. Bakery provides hands-on training experience for TRC residents while generating revenue

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Port Alberni Shelter Society operates a continuum of social services for people experiencing homelessness and addiction in the Alberni Valley of Vancouver Island. The organization runs low-barrier pet-friendly housing facilities, harm-reduction outreach including an Overdose Prevention Site and Sobering Centre, two Therapeutic Recovery Communities built on the "Community as Method" model with farm-based horticulture therapy, and a 172-acre social enterprise farm (Shelter Farm) that produces CSA subscriptions, online produce sales, bakery goods, landscaping services, and a bottle/can redemption program.

Product overview

Port Alberni Shelter Society (PASS) operates a portfolio of social-service programs centered on three pillars: housing, recovery, and food security. The core offering consists of multiple low-barrier, pet-friendly housing facilities (Our Home on Eighth, Maitland House, Phoenix House) and harm-reduction outreach (Overdose Prevention Site, Sobering Centre). The therapeutic arm includes two Therapeutic Recovery Communities: the Franklin River TRC at Shelter Farm (6-bed female facility with 2-year stay) and the new Seven Springs TRC in Nanoose. The social enterprise arm is anchored by Shelter Farm, a 172-acre market garden producing 70+ varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs, which feeds into the CSA Weekly Veggie Share Subscription (available in three seasonal tiers with optional bread/buns) and the Shelter Farm Online Shop. Employment integration is provided through Grass Cutting & Yard Work Services, Bottles & Cans Program, and Shelter Bakery. All programs are interconnected, with farm proceeds funding housing and recovery operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shelter Farm A 172-acre social enterprise market garden operated by PASS using regenerative farming practices, with 9 greenhouses and a germination room enabling year-round growing of 70+ varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Shelter Farm serves as the home of the Franklin River Therapeutic Recovery Community and hosts the Peer Employment Program.
• CSA Weekly Veggie Share Subscription Community Supported Agriculture subscription boxes offering fresh, seasonal produce delivered weekly across three seasons (Spring 8 weeks, Summer 14 weeks, Fall 8 weeks) with optional bread and bun additions. Pickup locations in Port Alberni (Double R Meats) and Parksville (Greystone Cottage Farm). Subscriptions range from $200-$380 depending on season, with a 10% bundle discount when purchasing all three seasons.
• Shelter Farm Online Shop E-commerce platform for purchasing Shelter Farm produce, CSA subscriptions, and gift cards directly from PASS. Operates as a WooCommerce-based storefront on the PASS website.
• Bottles & Cans Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% drug-free success rate (based on University of Bologna study of San Patrignano model)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• INEO EmploymentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with INEO Employment to deliver the Peer Employment Program - a low-barrier employment program for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. INEO provides employment services and support while Shelter Farm provides work experience and training opportunities.
• North Island CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver Market Gardener Training Program - an 8-month course for youth ages 15-29. North Island College provides instruction while Shelter Farm provides hands-on training facilities. The program has graduated 28 Market Gardeners with 16 more in training.
• Donate A Car CanadasupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation partner that accepts boats, cars, trucks, RVs and motorcycles for PASS. Handles all logistics including free towing, recycling or auction of vehicles. Donor receives tax receipt, PASS receives proceeds.
• Canada HelpscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline donation platform enabling securities donations (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) to PASS. By donating securities directly, capital gains tax can be eliminated - more money for PASS and greater charitable tax credit for donor.
• Wesco FoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal food retailer carrying Shelter Farm produce, making fresh local produce available to customers and supporting PASS programs through purchasing.
• Grassroots CafesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal restaurant featuring Shelter Farm produce on their menu, supporting local agriculture and PASS programs.
• Double R MeatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCSA pickup location partner and retailer carrying Shelter Farm produce. Provides pickup location in Port Alberni for CSA subscribers on Wednesdays and Fridays.
• Forward House Community SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner that helped expand the CSA program to include Parksville location, enabling more community members to access local produce from Shelter Farm.
• Greystone Cottage FarmsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParksville pickup location for CSA subscriptions, enabling community members outside Port Alberni to participate in the CSA program.
• Home for Hooves Animal SanctuarysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnimal sanctuary in Duncan, BC that hosts field trips for TRC residents. Visit provides therapeutic animal interaction, emotional support, and lessons on resilience and recovery through connection with rescued animals.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PAshelter
• Instagraminstagram.com/pashelter_farm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portalbernishelter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Port Alberni Shelter Society