Starling Community Services
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersWaterloo, Canada
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Starling Community Services firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starling Community Services
- Legal name
- Starling Community Services
- Website
- https://starlingcs.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starling Community Services industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Social Services
- NAICS
- Child and Youth Services (624110), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)
Keywords
Where Starling Community Services is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waterloo
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Starling Community Services business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Government funding from federal, provincial, and municipal sources constitutes the primary revenue stream. The Ontario government invested $2.5 million annually for youth mental health programs including the Birchlands Step Up Step Down Program.
- Donations and Foundation Support: The Starling Child and Family Foundation cultivates community relationships to generate additional financial resources through donations, monthly giving programs, corporate sponsorships, planned gifts, and special events like Steps for Kids.
- Luther Village on the Park: Operating a retirement community where residents pay market value; profits are used to support Starling's community work.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Starling Community Services product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starling Community Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization delivering accredited children's mental health services, employment assistance, and housing support across Waterloo Region and Wellington County in Ontario, Canada. Operating since 1970 (formerly Lutherwood), the organization functions as the designated Lead Agency for children's mental health services in the region and provides crisis intervention, residential treatment, community-based mental health care, employment placement, eviction prevention, and emergency shelter. It also operates Luther Village on the Park, a retirement community whose profits fund community programs, and the Starling Child and Family Foundation as its fundraising arm.
Product overview
Starling Community Services (formerly Lutherwood) is a not-for-profit health and social service organization offering a comprehensive suite of interconnected programs organized into three core service areas: Children's Mental Health Services, Employment Services, and Housing Services. The Mental Health Services division includes Front Door (intake), crisis programs (Mobile Crisis Service, Safe Haven Youth Services, Emergency Department Diversion Team), community programs, youth justice services, day treatment programs (Day Treatment JR/SR, Woodlands, Birchlands), the Birchlands Step Up Step Down Program, Child and Parent Place (CAPP), and Substance Use Services. Employment Services provides job search support, newcomer services, training and apprenticeship, and the Canada-Ontario Job Grant for employers. Housing Services includes eviction prevention, housing search support, emergency shelter, and operates Safe Haven Youth Services for at-risk youth. The organization also operates Luther Village on the Park retirement community and is supported by the Starling Child and Family Foundation for fundraising.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Safe Haven Youth Services: Emergency shelter and support services for youth aged 12-18 at risk of being homeless
- Luther Village on the Park
- Child and Parent Place (CAPP)
- Front Door
Products and services
- Children's Mental Health Services Accredited children's mental health services for children, youth (0-18), and families experiencing emotional or behavioural challenges in Waterloo Region. Includes crisis services (Mobile Crisis Service, Emergency Department Diversion Team), community programs, day treatment and live-in programs (Day Treatment JR/SR, Woodlands, Birchlands), Youth Justice Services, Child and Parent Place (CAPP) supervised access, and the Front Door central intake program.
- Birchlands: Step Up Step Down Program Mental health program that supports youth in their transition home from inpatient hospital or secure treatment care to less intensive community-based services, funded by Ontario government's $2.5 million annual investment.
- Substance Use Services Services launched in April 2025 providing substance use support for young people, offering safe, kind, and accessible care for youth who struggle with substance use as a way to cope with stress, trauma, or mental health challenges.
- Safe Haven Youth Services 24/7 emergency shelter and support services for youth aged 12-18 at risk of being homeless or living on the street. Includes the Life Launch program that increased capacity by 66% and serves youth who have been exploited. Operates from a Kitchener location with specialized support from SASC for youth who have experienced sexual violence.
- Employment Services Comprehensive employment assistance including job search support, resume writing, interview preparation, training programs, apprenticeship opportunities, and newcomer services across Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Services are tailored for job seekers, youth (15-30), newcomers to Canada, and employers. Includes the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG) program.
- Housing Services Services helping individuals and families find and maintain permanent, safe, and affordable housing in Waterloo Region. Includes eviction prevention support with virtual/drop-in services, last month's rent fund, emergency shelter services for individuals over 18, couples and families, rental arrears assistance, deposits, and housing information resources.
- Luther Village on the Park Retirement community in Waterloo operated by Starling Community Services, offering an active lifestyle where residents can maintain independence and receive extra support when needed. Residents pay market value and profits support Starling's community work.
- Starling Child and Family Foundation The registered charity and fundraising arm of Starling Community Services that cultivates donor relationships and generates financial resources through monthly giving, corporate sponsorships, planned gifts, and special events like the annual Steps for Kids walk to support the organization's mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving 22,530+ people annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Starling Community Services
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Starling Community Services technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Starling Community Services partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (SASC)corePartnership with Safe Haven Youth Services to provide specialized support for young people who have experienced sexual violence. SASC provides expertise and resources that complement Safe Haven's shelter and recovery services.
- TW PropertiesminorTW Properties' Double the Impact food drive helped support hundreds of Starling children and families during the holiday season through matching donations.
- Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP)coreStarling Community Services participates in HOOPP, one of Canada's leading defined benefit pension plans, providing employees with retirement security and peace of mind.
- Entente Education Canada (formerly RTOERO)minorPartnership to provide retired employees with exclusive access to non-profit health, dental, hospital, and travel coverage.
- Luther Village on the ParkcoreStarling Community Services operates Luther Village on the Park retirement community in Waterloo. Residents pay market value and profits support Starling's community work.
- CODA (Community Opportunities Development Association)coreMerged with Lutherwood in 1998 to offer a more complete set of employment services to Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
- Sisters of Notre Dame / Betty Thompson Youth CentrecoreIn 2001, Lutherwood took over operation of the Betty Thompson Youth Centre and Safe Haven Youth Shelter from the Sisters of Notre Dame, providing a more stable business model for 24/7 youth shelter services.
- Wagner, Livock & Associates Financial Services Inc. and Heffner Motors LTDminorCorporate donors who helped secure a new vehicle for the Children's Mental Health Centre to assist with transportation to medical appointments and community outings.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Starling Community Services competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region: FCS Waterloo Region is the local children's aid society providing child welfare, counseling, and youth justice services; it operates in the same regional ecosystem and shares referral pathways and funding sources with Starling's mental health and youth programs.
- KidsAbility Centre for Child Development: KidsAbility provides therapy, autism services, and developmental supports to children and youth in Waterloo Region and Wellington County, directly comparable to Starling's children's mental health and family support portfolio.
- House of Friendship: House of Friendship operates emergency shelter, housing, and food security programs in Kitchener-Waterloo, overlapping directly with Starling's housing and Safe Haven Youth Services offerings for at-risk and homeless individuals and families.
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington: CMHA Waterloo Wellington delivers mental health and addictions services across the same geography, directly competing with Starling for provincial mental health funding and serving overlapping client populations including youth and adults in crisis.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Starling Community Services social profiles
Digital presenceStarling Community Services financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starling Community Services leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Starling Community Services subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Starling Community Services funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starling Community Services M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starling Community Services
What does Starling Community Services do?
Starling Community Services is a not-for-profit charitable organization delivering accredited children's mental health services, employment assistance, and housing support across Waterloo Region and Wellington County in Ontario, Canada. Operating since 1970 (formerly Lutherwood), the organization functions as the designated Lead Agency for children's mental health services in the region and provides crisis intervention, residential treatment, community-based mental health care, employment placement, eviction prevention, and emergency shelter. It also operates Luther Village on the Park, a retirement community whose profits fund community programs, and the Starling Child and Family Foundation as its fundraising arm.
Is Starling Community Services a public or private company?
Starling Community Services is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Starling Community Services founded?
Starling Community Services was founded in 1970.
Where is Starling Community Services based?
Starling Community Services is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Starling Community Services make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Foundation Support and luther Village on the Park.
Who are Starling Community Services's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region, KidsAbility Centre for Child Development, House of Friendship and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington.
Does Starling Community Services have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starling Community Services.
What industry is Starling Community Services in?
Starling Community Services's product category is Community Social Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAD, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAL, Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services. Its NAICS code is 624110 and its SIC code is 8300.