Vancouver Recovery Club

What Vancouver Recovery Club does

Vancouver Recovery Club (VRC) is a federally registered non-profit organization founded in 1983 and headquartered at 2775 Sophia Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. It operates the only 24-hour drop-in and referral centre of its kind in Vancouver, providing addiction recovery support services to adults aged 18 and older in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, with concentrated focus on the Downtown Eastside and Mount Pleasant areas. The organization runs three core programs: the 24-Hour Drop-in Recovery Centre, the Saferide Program (mobile safe transportation for intoxicated individuals within the healthcare system, since 1995), and the Homeless Outreach Program (street-level support for the homeless in Mount Pleasant, since 2005). Additional offerings include one-on-one alcohol and drug counselling, over 200 monthly 12-step fellowship meetings across AA, CA, NA, MA, OA, SLAA, and DA, recovery literature sales, community events such as The Originals musician showcase, and the volunteer-led Scizzor Fairy free haircut program (currently on hiatus).

The business model is grant-funded rather than revenue-generating: services are provided free of charge with zero barriers to access. Operating funding comes from Vancouver Coastal Health, BC Housing, the City of Vancouver, and BC Provincial Gaming Grants, supplemented by $60 annual memberships (subject to Board approval), $5-$10 event entry fees, and donations from individuals, corporations, and agencies including food and in-kind contributions. The organization employs 14 people and is governed by a Board of Directors with Bill Wong serving as Executive Director and Mike Horne as the registered clinical counsellor. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth within the recovery community and referrals from partner agencies including Vancouver Police Department, Emergency Health Services, and the Vancouver Fire Department. There is no proprietary technology stack; the core offering is human-delivered peer support, counselling, and physical safe space.

Name

Vancouver Recovery Club

Legal name

Vancouver Recovery Club

Website

https://vancouverrecoveryclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vancouver Recovery Club is a federally registered non-profit operating Vancouver's only 24-hour drop-in addiction recovery centre, serving adults in the Greater Vancouver area with three core programs: 24/7 drop-in support, Saferide transportation, and street outreach for the homeless.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Recovery Support Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (62142), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

Keywords

• Addiction recovery services
• Drop-in recovery centre
• Twelve step fellowship meetings
• Homeless outreach programs
• Peer support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Vancouver Coastal Health Funding: Operational funding for the 24-hour Drop-in Centre from Vancouver Coastal Health, Community Development Grants, and Provincial Gaming Grants.
2. BC Housing Funding: Operational funding for the Homeless Outreach Program from BC Housing.
3. Vancouver Coastal Health Funding - Saferide: Operational funding for the Saferide Program from Vancouver Coastal Health.
4. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees of $60 per year, with proceeds supporting 24/7 operations.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Financial support from individuals, corporations and agencies; donations in kind; donations of time, knowledge and expertise.
6. Event Revenue: Proceeds from events such as dances, live music showcases, and celebrations. Entry fees typically $5-$10.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Vancouver Recovery Club is a federally registered non-profit that operates the only 24-hour drop-in and referral centre in Vancouver for adults seeking recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. Its core offering is the 24-Hour Drop-in Recovery Centre, complemented by the Saferide mobile transportation program (since 1995) and the Street Outreach Program (since 2005), which together deliver peer support, alcohol and drug counselling, referrals to detox/treatment/recovery housing/shelters, and street-level outreach to the homeless in the Downtown Eastside and Mount Pleasant areas.

Product overview

Vancouver Recovery Club is a federally registered non-profit organization offering a portfolio of addiction recovery support services centered around its core 24-Hour Drop-in Recovery Centre, supplemented by the Saferide Program for transportation and the Homeless Outreach Program for street-level support. The organization provides integrated services including one-on-one alcohol and drug counselling, over 200 monthly 12-step group meetings, recovery literature, and volunteer-led programs such as the Scizzor Fairy free haircut initiative. Community engagement is fostered through events like The Originals musician showcase. The club serves as the only 24-hour drop-in and referral centre of its kind in Vancouver, operating 24/7 since 1983.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Saferide Program: A mobile response unit dedicated to providing safe transportation within the healthcare system for clients with alcohol and drug problems seeking relief from addictions.
• VRC 24-Hour Drop-in Recovery Centre
• Street Outreach Program
• Scizzor Fairy

Products and services

• 24-Hour Drop-in Recovery Centre A safe and drug-free 24-hour drop-in and referral centre providing immediate support for adults seeking help with addiction and recovery, offering peer-to-peer support, alcohol and drug counselling, referral services to detox, treatment, recovery houses and shelters, and a canteen with meeting rooms for 12-step group meetings.
• Saferide Program A mobile response unit dedicated to providing safe transportation within the healthcare system for clients with alcohol and drug problems seeking relief from addictions.
• Street Outreach Program A street team of trained front-line workers providing compassionate assistance to homeless individuals in the Mount Pleasant area, fast-tracking them to Income Assistance and placing them into permanent housing on the same day of service, while providing time-sensitive referrals to shelter, detox, or healthcare treatment and distributing food and clothing.
• One-on-One Alcohol and Drug Counselling Individual counselling offered every Monday evening from 4 pm to 8 pm by Registered Clinical Counsellor Mike Horne, who has over 20 years working in chemical dependency. Online option available.
• Scizzor Fairy Free Haircut Program The longest-running volunteer-led program at Vancouver Recovery Club, offering free haircuts once a month for individuals in recovery; currently on hiatus.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vancouver Coastal HealthcoreOthersPrimary operational funder for the 24-hour Drop-in Centre and Saferide Program. Healthcare partner providing funding and collaboration for addiction recovery services.
• BC HousingcoreOthersPrimary operational funder for the Street Outreach Program. Provides funding for homeless outreach services in the Mount Pleasant area.
• City of VancouverminorOthersGovernment partner providing partial support for the 24-hour Drop-in Centre operations.
• BC Provincial Gaming GrantsminorOthersProvincial funding source for the 24-hour Drop-in Centre.
• Mount Pleasant Business Improvement AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided seed funding in November 2005 for the creation of the VRC Homeless Outreach Program.
• Vancouver Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating agency in the Saferide Program, working together to provide services to addicts seeking recovery.
• Emergency Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Saferide Program, collaborating to provide safe transportation within the healthcare system.
• Vancouver Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in the Saferide Program, working together to serve intoxicated individuals.
• Together We CanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with VRC on The Originals live music showcase, a monthly fundraiser featuring musicians in recovery.
• COBS Bread Mount PleasantminorOthersCommunity partner contributing food donations to support VRC programs and keep doors open 24/7.
• Food StashminorOthersCommunity partner providing food donations for VRC operations.
• No FrillsminorOthersCommunity partner contributing food donations.
• Buy-Low Kingsgate MallminorOthersCommunity partner contributing food donations.
• Food for the SoulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner that hosts events at VRC in support of the Outreach Program, such as the Capoeira Workshop in June 2019.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Large North American non-profit operating a national network of addiction treatment and recovery education programs. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the broader recovery and 12-step-based treatment industry that defines expectations against which VRC operates.
• Edgewood Treatment Centre: BC-based residential substance use treatment centre offering longer-term inpatient recovery programs. Comparable as a broader incumbent that complements VRC's drop-in model by providing the residential treatment track that VRC refers into.

Regional players

• RainCity Housing and Support Society: Metro Vancouver non-profit operating housing programs and outreach services for people impacted by homelessness, mental health and substance use. Comparable as a regional peer operating homelessness outreach services in overlapping Vancouver geographies.
• Portland Hotel Society (PHS) / Lookout Housing and Health Society: Lookout Housing and Health Society is a Metro Vancouver non-profit delivering housing, shelter and health services to vulnerable populations including those with substance use disorders. Comparable as a regional peer in the housing-and-recovery support space VRC operates in.
• Canadian Mental Health Association - Vancouver-Fraser Branch: Regional non-profit providing mental health and substance use programs, education and advocacy across Metro Vancouver. Comparable as a regional peer supporting overlapping populations and operating in the same broader recovery ecosystem.
• Union Gospel Mission Vancouver: Long-standing Vancouver faith-based non-profit providing meals, shelter, addiction recovery programs and outreach to people experiencing homelessness and addiction. Comparable as a regional peer in the recovery and homelessness support space.

Direct peers

• Together We Can Drug & Alcohol Recovery & Education Society: Vancouver-based non-profit recovery society offering addiction recovery programs, live music showcases (including The Originals in partnership with VRC), and 12-step engagement. Comparable as a peer recovery organization serving similar populations in the same region.
• Pacifica Treatment Centre: Vancouver-area substance use treatment centre providing outpatient and residential programs for individuals and families impacted by addiction. Comparable as a regional referral partner and peer recovery service provider.
• Alano Club of Vancouver: Federally registered non-profit recovery club located in Vancouver that hosts 12-step meetings and provides a sober space for individuals in recovery. Directly comparable as a peer recovery club serving the same Metro Vancouver recovery community.
• Last Door Recovery Centre: Residential and outpatient substance use treatment provider in Metro Vancouver offering recovery housing, counseling and aftercare. Comparable as a regional peer providing the treatment and recovery house referrals that VRC directs clients toward.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Vancouver.Recovery.Club
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vancouver-recovery-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Vancouver Recovery Club