RESTORATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR SOCIAL TRANSITION CENTRE

What RESTORATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR SOCIAL TRANSITION CENTRE does

RESTORATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR SOCIAL TRANSITION CENTRE, operating as REST Centres, is a Black-led, BIPOC-serving registered charitable nonprofit organization (Charity Number 811 570365 RR0001) founded on July 23, 2015 by Dagma Koyi in Brampton, Ontario. The organization provides transitional housing, rent subsidies, wraparound case management, and a suite of support programs to BIPOC youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Peel Region (Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon), with a particular focus on youth aging out of the foster care system and on those facing racial and gender discrimination in the private rental market.

REST's core operating model centers on the Bridge of Hope program, which matches youth clients with vetted community landlords (Bridge Builders) and pays monthly rent subsidies directly to those landlords, supplemented by the Bare Necessities food and essentials program (bi-weekly grocery cards), the SAME group therapy mental wellness program, and skill-building offerings including Financial Literacy, Tenant Education Training, Digital Literacy for Life, RISE Above basketball mentorship, and the My Story, My Power storytelling program. The organization also runs the Housing Equity Summit and produces the 'Homelessness in Hiding: Our Youth Between the Cracks' podcast for advocacy and awareness. Services are delivered free of charge to youth clients through case managers, a Peer Support Leader, and a Community Outreach Worker, with intake via website, referrals from Children's Aid, schools, shelters, and allied organizations, and a REST Youth Council informing program design.

The revenue model is purely philanthropic: individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring tiers of $8, $10, $20, $50, $100, and $300), government grants (Ontario Trillium Foundation Resilient Communities Fund and Capital grants, Government of Canada funding, Region of Peel support), community fundraising events such as the annual Christmas Cheer campaign, and partnerships with funders including United Way Greater Toronto, Second Harvest Toronto, Realtors Care, Raising the Roof, and Rate my Agent. REST operates two offices (Brampton at 134 Queen St. E and Mississauga at Angela's Place, 45 Glen Hawthorne Crescent), serves over 200 youth annually, and reports 32 community landlords and 180% growth in Bridge of Hope intake between 2021 and 2022.

Name

RESTORATION AND EMPOWERMENT FOR SOCIAL TRANSITION CENTRE

Legal name

Restoration and Empowerment for Social Transition Centres

Website

https://restcentres.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

REST Centres is a Black-led, BIPOC-serving charitable nonprofit founded in 2015 that provides transitional housing, rent subsidies, food support, mental wellness, and skill-building programs to BIPOC youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Ontario's Peel Region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homelessness Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Youth homelessness services
• Transitional housing programs
• BIPOC youth support
• Wraparound case management
• Community housing matching

Headquarters

HQ city

Brampton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: REST Centres raises funds from individual donors through one-time and monthly recurring donation programs. Suggested monthly amounts are $8, $10, and $20 per month. One-time gift amounts of $50, $100, and $300 are also promoted on the website. Donations are solicited via the website, email newsletter, and community events.
2. Government Grants: REST Centres receives provincial government funding, notably a $45,000 Capital grant from the Ontario Government through the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) for purchasing a service vehicle, and a $63,500 Resilient Communities Fund grant from OTF for rebranding and communications. Federal funding from the Government of Canada is also referenced.
3. Community Fundraising Events: REST Centres organizes fundraising campaigns and events including the annual Christmas Cheer campaign. In 2022, the Christmas Cheer campaign raised a record $7,588 to fund wishlist items for 52 youth.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

REST Centres provides transitional housing placement, monthly rent subsidies, bi-weekly grocery cards, mental health counseling, financial literacy training, and tenant education to BIPOC youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Peel Region, Ontario. The organization matches youth with community landlords (Bridge Builders) and delivers culturally-responsive wraparound support under a housing-first model.

Product overview

REST Centres operates as a single-purpose charitable organization providing a coordinated suite of housing and support services for BIPOC youth in Peel Region, Ontario. The core offering centers on the Bridge of Hope housing program, which pairs youth with vetted community landlords and provides ongoing rent subsidies. This is reinforced by the Bare Necessities program for food and essentials, mental health support through the SAME program, and skill-building initiatives including financial literacy, tenant education, and digital literacy training. The organization also runs youth empowerment programs (RISE Above basketball, My Story storytelling) and awareness media (Homelessness in Hiding podcast). A REST Youth Council provides governance input. All programs operate together within a housing-first, culturally-responsive framework aimed at preventing youth homelessness and supporting independent living.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bridge of Hope Program
• Bare Necessities Program
• SAME Mental Wellness Program
• Financial Literacy Program
• Tenant Education Training
• Digital Literacy for Life Program
• RISE Above Basketball Program
• My Story, My Power Storytelling Program
• Housing Equity Summit
• Homelessness in Hiding Podcast

Quantifiable outcome

• 180% increase in client intake for rent subsidies under Bridge of Hope in 2021
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Region of PeelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Region of Peel is a key government partner providing funding and operational support to REST Centres. Aileen Baird (Director of Housing Services, Region of Peel) and Sean Baird (Commissioner of Human Services, Region of Peel) collaborated with REST at the Peel Poverty Reduction Committee summit. Peel Region's support is instrumental to REST's housing programs.
• Homeless Health PeelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless Health Peel is a nurse-run organization founded in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing coordinated, trauma-informed healthcare to people experiencing homelessness in Peel. REST collaborated on a podcast episode exploring homeless healthcare gaps, and the organizations share a mission to address health disparities among homeless youth.
• MOYO: Health and Community ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOYO provides health promotion, educational, social, and support services for those living with or at risk of HIV in Peel Region. Adam Chalcraft, MOYO's Harm Reduction Program Manager, appeared on REST's podcast to discuss substance use and homelessness in Peel. REST and MOYO collaborate on addressing harm reduction and related health issues among homeless youth.
• Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAEH is an organization with a goal to prevent and end homelessness in Canada. Michelle Bilek, National Field Organizer for CAEH, appeared on REST's podcast to discuss Ontario homelessness policies ahead of the 2022 provincial election. REST collaborates with CAEH to advocate for systemic change and raise awareness about youth homelessness.
• Peel Alliance to End HomelessnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Peel Alliance to End Homelessness brings together service providers and stakeholders in Peel Region to coordinate efforts to end homelessness. The Alliance reviewed REST's Bridge of Hope model and expressed agreement that 'it has the potential to scale and positively impact many young Black youth in Peel region.' REST participates in Alliance initiatives and events.
• Second Harvest TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Harvest Toronto, a food rescue organization, is listed as a REST partner, contributing to the Bare Necessities program that provides food support to REST's youth clients.
• Realtors CareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRealtors Care is listed as a REST partner, supporting housing-related initiatives and helping connect REST with community landlords and housing resources in Peel Region.
• Xaymaca Restaurant (Brampton)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerXaymaca is a Jamaican-owned, family-run restaurant in Brampton that hosted REST Centres' 2022 and 2023 Thanksgiving celebrations. General Manager Marlon Smith is committed to giving back and providing opportunities to Black youth in need. The partnership provides culturally-significant community meals and strengthens REST's community connections.
• Peel Poverty Reduction CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Peel Poverty Reduction Committee hosted the 'Will Poverty End With Us? A Call to Collective Action' summit in June 2023. REST Centres participated as a panel discussant and poster presenter. Co-Chairs Daniele Zanotti and Jason Hastings facilitated the summit. REST's Executive Director spoke on the Housing panel about Black youth homelessness.
• Covenant House TorontominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovenant House Toronto is listed as a resource for LGBTQ2S+ youth experiencing homelessness. REST's podcast episode on LGBTQ2S+ homelessness references Covenant House as a support resource for this vulnerable population.
• YMCA Sprott HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYMCA Sprott House is listed as a resource for LGBTQ2S+ youth facing homelessness. REST's podcast on LGBTQ2S+ homelessness references Sprott House as a support resource.
• Gerstein Crisis CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerstein Crisis Centre is listed as a resource for LGBTQ2S+ youth in crisis. REST's podcast on LGBTQ2S+ homelessness references Gerstein Crisis Centre as a support resource.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/restcentre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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