What Sistering does

Sistering – A Woman's Place is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit organization (Charitable No. 10798 3009 RR0001) founded in 1980/1981 in Toronto, Ontario. It operates Toronto's only 24-hour drop-in exclusively serving women and gender-diverse people who are homeless or precariously housed, with a 24/7 location at 962 Bloor Street West and a daytime Parkdale outreach site at 220 Cowan Avenue. The organization delivers a multi-program service portfolio including a low-barrier drop-in, food access with a Kitchen Employment Program, harm reduction staffed by peer workers with lived experience, on-site primary care and psychiatry in collaboration with Inner City Health Associates, case management and housing support, trauma-informed counselling, the Spun Studio textile program, and participant-directed advocacy work.

Sistering's revenue model is a non-profit mix of individual donations, corporate partnerships and sponsorships, government grants, in-kind donations (food and supplies), event fundraising (e.g., the annual Sistering Solidarity Walk), and a symbolic gift donation catalog. All services are provided free of charge to participants; there is no fee-for-service pricing. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (chaired by Gail Di Cintio) and led by Executive Director Volletta Peters, PhD.

Operational scale in 2024/2025 included 75,404 drop-in participants, 127,306 meals served, 28,869 harm reduction kits distributed, 1,701 medical appointments, and 216 case-managed housing clients. Sistering is also an active research partner, leading or co-leading two national community-based participatory research projects ('Making Visible' funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada and 'This is Not Home' across six Canadian sites). The organization is currently in a labour disruption with unionized staff represented by OPSEU/SEFPO Local 540 while continuing to deliver core services.

Name

Sistering

Legal name

Sistering – A Woman's Place

Website

https://sistering.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Sistering is a Toronto-based registered charity operating the city's only 24/7 drop-in for women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness or poverty, delivering meals, harm reduction, medical care, case support, and advocacy through two locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services for Homeless and Precariously Housed Populations

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Companion Care & Social Support (non-clinical) (HLADAGAB)

Keywords

• Social services non-profit
• Low-barrier drop-in
• Women's homelessness support
• Harm reduction programs
• Community-based support

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Sistering relies on individual charitable donations through one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations, and tribute gifts to support operations and programs.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships, corporate giving, cause-marketing campaigns, and pro bono services from corporate partners.
3. Government Funding: Core operational funding from government sources to support community services and advocacy programs.
4. Symbolic Gift Shop: Sale of symbolic gift items (necessity items, empowerment gifts, new beginning gifts) priced from $10 to $500 as charitable donations.
5. In-Kind Donations: Physical donations of hygiene items, clothing, technology, and other supplies from donors and corporate partners.
6. Event Fundraising: Annual Sistering Solidarity Walk and community-hosted fundraisers generating revenue for programs.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sistering operates Toronto's only 24/7 low-barrier drop-in providing free, trauma-informed practical and emotional support to women and gender-diverse people experiencing homelessness and poverty. Core services include meals, showers, laundry, clothing, harm reduction supplies, on-site medical clinic access, case management, peer support groups in multiple languages, and Spun Studio textile programs.

Product overview

Sistering is a multi-service social services agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services for at-risk, socially isolated women and gender-diverse people in Toronto who are homeless or precariously housed. The core offering centers on a 24/7 Low-Barrier Drop-In Program at 962 Bloor Street West, complemented by daytime Parkdale Drop-In services. Supporting services include the Food Access Program (with Kitchen Employment Program), Case Support Program, Medical Clinic (in collaboration with ICHA), Harm Reduction Program (with peer workers), and Spun Studio textile program. Research initiatives include Making Visible and This is Not Home projects. Additional engagement opportunities include advocacy work, volunteer programs, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, and the Symbolic Gifts donation catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spun Studio: A textile studio providing alternative economic and community development opportunities for women and gender-diverse individuals affected by homelessness, poverty, trauma, and social isolation through sewing, knitting, weaving, crocheting, and felting.

Products and services

• Low-Barrier Drop-In Program Toronto's only 24/7 Drop-In providing low-barrier practical and emotional support to women and gender-diverse people, including hot meals, showers, laundry, clothing, crisis intervention, trauma-informed counselling, harm reduction support, peer support groups in multiple languages, and referrals to social assistance and legal aid.
• Food Access Program A lifeline program providing healthy, culturally appropriate meals to women and gender-diverse individuals facing food insecurity, poverty, and homelessness, including the Kitchen Employment Program offering peers pathways to careers in culinary arts.
• Case Support Program Helps women and gender-diverse people stay housed and connected to care through ongoing check-ins, advocacy, referrals to health and mental health services, and crisis prevention, including Back to Home, Community Wellness Groups, and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
• Medical Clinic In collaboration with Inner City Health Associates, provides transitional primary care, psychiatry, palliative care, and population health services, offering low-barrier access to primary healthcare four days per week regardless of insurance coverage or citizenship status.
• Harm Reduction Program Uses a social justice and public health approach to reduce harm associated with substance use and sex work, employing Peer Harm Reduction Workers with lived experience who deliver programs, make and distribute harm reduction kits, and provide educational materials.
• Spun Studio A textile studio supporting women and gender-diverse individuals affected by homelessness, poverty, trauma, and social isolation by providing alternative economic and community development opportunities through sewing, knitting, weaving, crocheting, and felting classes and workshops.
• Advocacy Work Advocacy initiatives directed by participants, focusing on poverty reduction and increasing safe, affordable, low-barrier housing, including the Social Action Group, participation in the Fair Fare Coalition, and various rallies and campaigns.
• Making Visible Research Project A four-year community-based participatory research project addressing homelessness and housing crisis in Canada, using Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) framework and mixed-method approach including digital storytelling with women and gender-diverse people with lived expertise.
• This is Not Home Research Project A community-based participatory research project bringing together gender-focused, low-barrier drop-in programs serving multiply-marginalized women and gender-diverse people from across Canada, including research sites in Toronto, London, Hamilton, Whitehorse, Winnipeg, and Vancouver.
• Symbolic Gifts (Giving Collection) Symbolic gift catalog allowing donors to provide women and gender-diverse people with basic essentials, moments of joy, or tools to rebuild their lives, with categories including Gifts of Necessity, Gifts That Empower, and Gifts for a New Beginning priced from $10 to $500.
• Parkdale Drop-In (Daytime Outreach) Daytime drop-in services in the Parkdale neighborhood at 220 Cowan Avenue, open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 1:30pm, providing outreach and support including food access, harm reduction support, trauma-informed counselling, case support, healthcare, showers, and laundry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75,404 participants served through low-barrier drop-in
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Inner City Health Associates (ICHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMedical clinic partnership providing transitional primary care, psychiatry, palliative care, and population health services four days per week. ICHA physicians provide on-site primary care and psychiatry appointments, enabling low-barrier healthcare access regardless of insurance or citizenship status.
• KFCminorOthersRegular food donor supporting Sistering's Food Access Program with ongoing donations to expand food security.
• Red LobsterminorOthersRegular food donor supporting Sistering's Food Access Program with ongoing donations.
• Whole FoodsminorOthersRegular food donor supporting Sistering's Food Access Program with ongoing donations.
• Daily Bread Food BankcoreOthersKey food bank partner providing regular food donations to support Sistering's food access program serving meals to community members.
• Second HarvestcoreOthersFood rescue organization partner supporting Sistering's food access program through food donations to expand food security.
• Fair Fare CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition advocating for economically accessible TTC transit. Sistering was instrumental in forming this coalition to address rising transit costs as a critical issue for participants. Sistering continues to play an active role and several participants are part of the coalition.
• Commitment 2 Community (C2C)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy coalition Sistering participates in alongside the Alliance for a Poverty Free Toronto (APT) organizing around poverty reduction strategy.
• Alliance for a Poverty Free Toronto (APT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition organizing around poverty reduction strategy that Sistering participates in alongside Commitment 2 Community.
• Toronto Drop-In Network (TDIN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy committee coordinating advocacy and advocacy tools for Toronto's drop-ins. Sistering participates in the TDIN Advocacy Committee.
• Bad Date CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition Sistering participates in to address safety issues for sex workers and advocate for their rights.
• My Sister's Place (London, ON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in 'This is Not Home' community-based participatory research project bringing together gender-focused, low-barrier drop-in programs from across Canada.
• Willow's Place, Mission Services (Hamilton, ON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in 'This is Not Home' project - one of six research sites across Canada studying gender-specific, low-barrier drop-in programs.
• A Safe Place (Whitehorse, YK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in 'This is Not Home' project representing the Yukon in the national study of gender-specific drop-in services.
• West Central Women's Resource Centre (Winnipeg, MB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in 'This is Not Home' project representing Manitoba in the national study of gender-specific drop-in services.
• Downtown Eastside Women's Centre (Vancouver, BC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in 'This is Not Home' project representing British Columbia in the national study of gender-specific drop-in services.
• Atira Women's Resource SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory partner in 'This is Not Home' research project providing subject matter and policy expertise.
• Campaign 2000minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory partner in 'This is Not Home' research project providing subject matter and policy expertise.
• DisAbled Women's Network (DAWN) CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory partner in 'This is Not Home' research project providing expertise on disabled women's issues in homelessness.
• Yukon Status of WomenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory partner in 'This is Not Home' research project providing expertise from the Yukon perspective.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Redwood Shelter (Toronto): Toronto shelter and 24/7 drop-in serving women and gender-diverse people fleeing abuse, homelessness, and trauma. Comparable drop-in/shelter model and target population within Toronto.
• Fred Victor: Toronto multi-service social agency serving people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and mental health challenges. Comparable service breadth (drop-in, housing, health) but with broader (not exclusively women/gender-diverse) focus.
• Atira Women's Resource Society: Vancouver-area women's services organization offering housing, drop-in, and harm reduction programming for women and gender-diverse people. Advisory partner on 'This is Not Home' and operates a comparable gender-specific, low-barrier service philosophy.
• West Central Women's Resource Centre: Winnipeg women's resource centre serving women experiencing marginalization and homelessness. Sistering's research partner in 'This is Not Home' with overlapping low-barrier drop-in and harm reduction programming.
• Downtown Eastside Women's Centre: Vancouver-based low-barrier drop-in serving women and gender-diverse people experiencing marginalization, homelessness, and poverty. Direct peer in Sistering's 'This is Not Home' research network, with highly comparable service model (drop-in, meals, harm reduction, case support).
• Willow's Place (Mission Services of Hamilton): Hamilton-based women's drop-in offering meals, harm reduction, and case support to women experiencing homelessness and poverty. Sistering's research partner in 'This is Not Home' with directly comparable programs and target population.
• My Sister's Place (London, ON): London, Ontario drop-in serving women who are homeless, precariously housed, or in crisis. Research partner with Sistering in 'This is Not Home' and runs a near-identical gender-focused, low-barrier model.
• A Safe Place (Whitehorse): Whitehorse-based women's shelter and drop-in serving women and children fleeing violence and homelessness. Sistering's research partner in 'This is Not Home' with comparable low-barrier service philosophy in a smaller market.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA Toronto: Toronto's largest women's services organization offering housing, drop-in, employment, and advocacy programs. Larger, more diversified incumbent operating in the same gender-specific social services space as Sistering.

Others

• Daily Bread Food Bank: Toronto's largest food bank, providing food to Sistering and 200+ other member agencies. Sistering's core food access partner, illustrating the upstream food-rescue and distribution ecosystem Sistering sits within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sistering

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Sistering