What Upper Room Mission Society does

Upper Room Mission Society is a registered non-profit charitable organization (Charity ID #108163320RR0001) headquartered at 3403 27th Ave in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1980 by Sheriff Ron Morgan as a soup kitchen above the Simpson Sears building, the Mission has operated continuously for over 44 years providing integrated services to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction in Vernon and the Okanagan region.

The organization's service portfolio includes a community meal program (41,634 meals served in 2022), hygiene services (1,750 showers, 948 laundry loads), clothing distribution to 1,297 individuals, emergency shelter operating 24 hours during winter (November 1 to March 31), case management through a structured pathway called "The Plan," and a Critical Needs Program for essential items. The Mission is currently transitioning to year-round shelter operations with 24 additional beds via ongoing property renovations at adjacent addresses on 27th Ave. Operations are supported by two social enterprises — the Upper Room Mission Boutique (a thrift store open Monday–Friday) and an in-house Bottle Depot/Recycling Center (open seven days a week). A team of 17 paid staff and 52 regular volunteers (contributing 13,460 hours annually, valued at approximately $228,820) runs these operations.

Revenue is generated entirely through individual and community donations, community grants (e.g., North Okanagan Community Foundation), social enterprise proceeds, and fundraising events; the organization explicitly does not receive government funding. Key partnerships include BC Housing, Turning Points Collaborative Society, North Okanagan Friendship Center Society, Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use Services, the Salvation Army Food Bank, CASH (Coordinated Access to Supportive Housing), UBC Okanagan Centre for Homelessness Research, and the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. The Mission serves a population where homelessness rose 33% from 151 to 224 people between 2019 and a recent study, with Indigenous individuals representing 40% of the homeless population and youth under 25 representing 9%. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Jacco de Vin with governance by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Name

Upper Room Mission Society

Legal name

Upper Room Mission Society

Website

https://upperroommission.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Upper Room Mission Society is a Vernon, BC-based nonprofit charity providing meals, emergency shelter, hygiene services, and case management to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction in the Okanagan region, funded entirely by donations, grants, and social enterprises.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Temporary Shelters (624221)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC)

Keywords

• Homeless shelter services
• Community meal programs
• Case management services
• Social enterprise retail
• Faith-based charity

Headquarters

HQ city

Vernon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual and Community Donations: Primary funding source from individual donors, community members, and organizations providing monetary donations through various campaigns including the 40 Days of Dignity Challenge, Christmas campaigns, and general fundraising.
2. Community Grants: Funding from community foundations and granting organizations including North Okanagan Community Foundation for extended hours during extreme weather.
3. Thrift Store (Boutique): Social enterprise retail operation selling donated clothing and goods. All proceeds support the Mission's ongoing services and programs.
4. Bottle Depot/Recycling Center: Social enterprise accepting bottle and can donations. Proceeds from recycling support services for guests. Open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm, Saturday/Sunday 2pm-6pm.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Upper Room Mission Society provides free, faith-based social services to people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction in Vernon and the Okanagan region of British Columbia. Core offerings include emergency winter shelter (24/7), daily hot meals, showers, laundry, clothing, hygiene supplies, and structured case management that guides guests from crisis toward housing stability via a step-by-step pathway. Two on-site social enterprises—a thrift store boutique and a bottle recycling depot—generate proceeds to support service operations.

Product overview

The Upper Room Mission Society is a non-profit charitable organization offering a coordinated continuum of care services for individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and addiction in Vernon, BC. Rather than a unified software product, the organization provides an integrated set of social services including emergency shelter (winter and transitioning to year-round), daily hot meals, hygiene facilities (showers and laundry), a thrift store boutique, bottle recycling depot, case management navigation, and critical needs provisions. These services work together as a holistic support system, with social enterprises (Boutique Thrift Store and Bottle Depot) helping fund operations. The organization partners with BC Housing, community organizations, and research institutions to address root causes of homelessness through a structured pathway called 'The Plan' that guides individuals from survival to stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter Services Provides safe, warm shelter accommodation including the winter mat program (Nov 1 - March 31) operating 24 hours, with bed registration Monday-Friday. Currently transitioning to offer year-round shelter with 24 additional safe beds for people experiencing homelessness in Vernon, BC.
• Community Meal Program Provides daily hot nutritious meals to individuals and families in need in Vernon. In 2022, served 41,634 meals and rescued 10,818 pounds of food through partnerships with local businesses including Shopper's Drug Mart, Vernon Superstore, Cobbs Bread, Anderson Way Starbucks, and Lake Country Food Bank.
• Hygiene Services Offers shower facilities, laundry services, and personal hygiene supplies. In the past year provided 1,750 showers, 948 loads of clean laundry, and clothing to 1,297 individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty.
• Case Management Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Four individuals exited shelter and moved into housing through case management and partnership support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• BC HousingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBC Housing is a provincial Crown agency under the Ministry of Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing that develops, manages and administers a wide range of subsidized housing options across British Columbia. The Upper Room Mission has partnered with BC Housing to offer emergency winter shelter services.
• The Social Planning and Research Council of B.C.strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with the Mission to conduct Vernon’s first-ever comprehensive community mapping project to identify gaps in services, housing, and care for shaping future development plans.
• UBC Okanagan Centre for Homelessness ResearchstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on the community mapping project to research and identify service gaps in Vernon related to homelessness, housing, and care.
• North Okanagan Friendship Center SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous non-profit affiliated with the BC Association of Friendship Centres providing culturally appropriate health and social programs and services for the North Okanagan community. Mental health and addictions counselling and support as needed. Located at 2904 29 Ave, Vernon, BC.
• One Step Foot CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Okanagan foot care business partnering with the Mission and other homeless shelters to provide foot care services for vulnerable neighbours. Nurses in training provided pedicures and foot care to guests.
• Turning Points Collaborative SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides outreach, shelter services, and various housing options for vulnerable people in the Okanagan. Also offers employment programs, addictions recovery programs, and affordable housing options. Mission collaborates with them on housing efforts.
• Salvation Army Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe House of Hope has been active in Vernon for over 25 years, assisting over 1,100 people monthly through food bank programs. Authorized Food Bank in Vernon and member of Food Banks British Columbia.
• Street ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry providing spiritual care, physical care, and regular food service for marginalized community members. Hosted memorial services in partnership with Upper Room Mission for those lost to homelessness.
• Feed the StreetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelivered evening meal service to Vernon’s street population with hot meals distributed at convenient pickup locations. Also provides basic toiletry and personal care items.
• Shopper's Drug Mart (Vernon locations)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll three Vernon Shopper’s Drug Mart locations partner with the Mission through food donations - items that cannot be sold but are still suitable for creating healthy meals for guests.
• Vernon SuperstoreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrocery store partnering with the Mission through food donations to support meal preparation for guests in need.
• Cobbs BreadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBakery partnering with the Mission through food donations of items not suitable for sale but usable for meal preparation.
• Anderson Way StarbucksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoffee shop location partnering with the Mission through food donations to support community feeding programs.
• Lake Country Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank partnering with the Mission through food donations to support meal services for those in need.
• Watkin Motors FordminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal automotive dealership partnering with Vernon Towne Theatre for monthly Thankful Thursday events, donating 100% of ticket proceeds to local community groups including the Mission’s Winter Mat Program.
• The Vernon Towne TheaterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal theater hosting monthly fundraising events with proceeds going to community groups including the Mission’s Winter Mat Program to bring people in from the cold.
• CASH (Coordinated Access to Supportive Housing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinated Access to Supportive Housing table where the Mission collaborates with other organizations to advocate for guests to receive housing and work toward coordinated solutions to homelessness.
• Interior Health Mental Health and Substance Use ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMission acts as a bridge to Interior Health services including the OAT (Opioid Agonist Treatment) Clinic and mental health support for guests navigating addiction recovery.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• John Howard Society of British Columbia: BC-wide nonprofit offering housing, employment, and reintegration services for vulnerable populations; comparable case-management and housing-navigation model to Upper Room Mission's 'Plan' pathway.
• Canadian Mental Health Association – Vernon: Branch of the national CMHA providing mental health and addictions support in Vernon; overlaps with Upper Room Mission on mental health/substance use referrals and shares the same client base.

Broad incumbents

• Lookout Housing and Health Society: BC-wide nonprofit operating emergency shelters, transitional housing, and outreach — overlapping with Upper Room Mission's shelter, case management, and housing navigation services across the Lower Mainland and beyond.
• Union Gospel Mission (Vancouver): Faith-based BC nonprofit providing meals, shelter, addiction recovery, and case management — operates the same integrated service mix as Upper Room Mission but at a much larger scale in Metro Vancouver.
• BC Housing: Provincial Crown agency that administers subsidized housing and emergency shelter funding across BC; Upper Room Mission partners with BC Housing to operate winter shelter, making it the principal funder/incumbent in the same ecosystem.
• Mustard Seed (Calgary): Faith-rooted Western Canadian shelter and food services organization offering emergency shelter, meals, and case management — a scaled comparable of Upper Room Mission's faith-based continuum-of-care model.

Direct peers

• North Okanagan Friendship Center Society: Indigenous nonprofit offering culturally appropriate health, mental health, addictions, and social programs in Vernon; shares Upper Room Mission's target population and operates complementary services.
• Lake Country Food Bank: Neighboring Okanagan food bank that partners with Upper Room Mission on food distribution; comparable community-based food security model serving adjacent municipalities.
• Salvation Army Vernon (House of Hope): Operates the Vernon House of Hope food bank serving 1,100+ people monthly, directly overlapping with Upper Room Mission on food security and emergency assistance for the same Vernon/Okanagan population.
• Turning Points Collaborative Society: Okanagan-based nonprofit providing outreach, shelter, housing, employment, and addictions recovery — directly comparable to Upper Room Mission's full continuum of services and an explicit operational partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/upperroommission.vernon
• Instagraminstagram.com/vernonurm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/upper-room-mission-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Upper Room Mission Society