The Redwood--a safe haven for women and children fleeing abuse

What The Redwood--a safe haven for women and children fleeing abuse does

The Redwood is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1987 and operating since December 1993 from a 37-bed emergency shelter with 12 private bedrooms in Toronto's Parkdale-High Park community. It serves women, children, trans, gender-diverse, non-binary, and Two-Spirit individuals fleeing gender-based violence, domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and homelessness, with two-thirds of shelter residents being children and youth. Core service lines include the 24-hour crisis lines available in over 170 languages across phone, text, TTY, and live chat channels; the Hub-on-Wheels mobile RV outreach serving neighborhoods across Toronto and the GTA; the iDetermine.ca digital platform for self-service safety planning; tuition-free vocational programs (Women in Trades: HVAC Technician and Women in Technology: Software Developer) with income supports and childcare assistance; the Healing Our Young Ones (HOYO) children's mental health program; and the proprietary Safety Assessment and Risk Management (SARM) framework with companion A-SARM (community) and Y-SARM (youth) training programs delivered to over 25 groups and conferences.

The Redwood's business model is a non-profit, grant-and-donation-funded operating structure with no fee-for-service revenue. Funding is diversified across Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services grants, federal funding from Employment and Social Development Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada, United Way Greater Toronto, corporate partners (Scotiabank, TD Bank, Royal LePage Shelter Foundation), private foundations (Bras Family, Lang Family, Meighen Wright, Toronto Foundation), individual donors via the Safe Haven Monthly Donors and Symbol of Hope Donor Circle programs, planned-giving bequests through the Anthea Windsor Planned Giving Circle, securities donations, community-organized fundraising events, and a Safe Haven Store e-commerce channel selling items for shelter residents. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Abi Ajibolade. Geographic operations are concentrated in Toronto and the GTA with Ontario-wide training delivery and Canadian federal funder relationships.

Name

The Redwood--a safe haven for women and children fleeing abuse

Legal name

The Redwood…for women and children fleeing abuse

Website

https://theredwood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Redwood is a Toronto-based registered Canadian charity operating a 37-bed emergency shelter plus 24/7 multilingual crisis lines, mobile outreach, digital safety tools, and tuition-free vocational programs for women, children, and gender-diverse individuals fleeing gender-based violence.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Domestic Violence Shelter and Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Emergency shelter services
• Gender-based violence support
• Crisis intervention services
• Trauma-informed counseling
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters, including monthly recurring gifts through the Safe Haven Monthly Donors program.
2. Government Funding: Funding from the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the Government of Canada (including Employment and Social Development Canada), and Women and Gender Equality Canada.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Annual contributions from corporate partners including Scotiabank, TD Bank, Royal LePage Shelter Foundation, Bras Family Foundation, Lang Family Foundation, and others. Includes the Symbol of Hope Donor Circle with major donors at various giving levels.
4. Planned Giving / Bequests: Legacy gifts through the Anthea Windsor Planned Giving Circle, allowing donors to include The Redwood in their wills or estate plans.
5. Safe Haven Store: E-commerce store selling specific items and experiences for shelter residents (e.g., arts and crafts, wellness kits, summer fun activities, tech for kids, groceries).
6. Securities Donations: Tax-advantaged gifts of stocks, mutual funds, or other marketable securities.
7. Community Fundraising: Community-organized fundraisers including garage sales, workplace events, golf tournaments, concerts, comedy nights, barbecues, birthday celebrations, and other events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Redwood operates a 37-bed emergency shelter with 12 private bedrooms in Toronto and provides 24/7 crisis intervention services in over 170 languages via phone, text, TTY, and live chat. Beyond crisis and shelter services, the organization delivers trauma-informed children's mental health programs (Safety and Recovery for Children and Youth; Healing Our Young Ones), tuition-free vocational training in HVAC and software development, mobile outreach through the Hub-on-Wheels RV, and community education via the proprietary SARM (Safety Assessment and Risk Management) framework.

Product overview

The Redwood operates as a shelter and social services organization providing a portfolio of interconnected programs and services for women, children, and gender-diverse individuals fleeing gender-based violence. Core services include a 37-bed emergency shelter with 24-hour crisis support available in over 170 languages, and specialized children and youth programs (Safety and Recovery for Children and Youth, Healing Our Young Ones). Employment-focused programs include Women in Trades: HVAC Technician and Women in Technology: Software Developer, both offering tuition-free training with trauma-informed wraparound supports. Mobile outreach is delivered via the Hub-on-Wheels RV. Digital services include iDetermine.ca for interactive risk assessment and safety planning. Training programs A-SARM and Y-SARM provide safety assessment frameworks to community members. The Safe Haven Store enables donors to fund specific needs for shelter residents.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hub-on-Wheels: A custom-outfitted RV that brings anti-gender-based violence counselling, prevention, basic health care and other complementary services to survivors in neighbourhoods throughout Toronto and the GTA.
• iDetermine.ca
• Women in Trades: HVAC Technician
• Women in Technology: Software Developer
• Healing Our Young Ones (HOYO)
• Safety Assessment and Risk Management (SARM)

Products and services

• Emergency Shelter A 37-bed secure emergency shelter with 12 private bedrooms providing safety, nutritious meals, and round-the-clock support from Resident Services Caseworkers for survivors of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, and gender-based violence.
• 24-Hour Crisis Lines 24-hour crisis support available via phone call, text message, TTY, and live chat in over 170 languages for individuals experiencing gender-based violence.
• Safety and Recovery for Children and Youth Early intervention services for children and youth residing in the emergency shelter, including advocacy, school enrollment, medical referrals, and therapeutic programs such as Lego-based Therapy, Drumming Circle, Mom and Me, Redwood Bike Club, Summer Fun, and Rainbow Songs.
• Healing Our Young Ones (HOYO) In-house mental health program providing therapist-supported care to children living at the emergency shelter, including play therapy, music and movement activities, and focused talk therapy sessions tailored by age.
• Women in Trades: HVAC Technician Tuition-free employment training program offering G3 and G2 HVAC certification, employment supports, financial assistance for childcare and transportation, counselling, math tutoring, and exam prep for women, gender non-binary, trans, and 2-spirit survivors of gender-based violence.
• Women in Technology: Software Developer Tuition-free software developer training program providing career certification, academic materials, trauma-informed wraparound supports, and preparation for roles such as Junior Web Developer, Frontend Developer, Backend Developer, Full-Stack Developer, and QA Tester.
• Hub-on-Wheels Mobile outreach service housed in a custom-outfitted RV bringing anti-GBV counselling, prevention education, basic primary healthcare, sexual wellness education, trauma-informed counselling, and essential needs supplies to survivors in neighbourhoods throughout Toronto and the GTA.
• iDetermine.ca Online platform providing interactive tools for survivors to assess relationship danger levels, create safety plans, identify warning signs, learn about internet safety, and access resources 24/7 via text or live chat with crisis line responders.
• A-SARM (Accelerated Safety Assessment and Risk Management) Training program and framework for community members to recognize warning signs of abuse, assess safety risks, use screening tools, have difficult conversations, and connect survivors with appropriate resources. Includes downloadable manual available in English and French.
• Y-SARM (Youth Safety Assessment and Risk Management) Brief screening tool designed for community members who work with or care for young people to identify, assess, respond to, and support young women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals under 25 experiencing gender-based violence, including online and in-person risks.

Quantifiable outcome

• SARM framework delivered to over 25 groups and conferences internationally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and foundational.

• Rainbow Songs FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide high-quality, interactive music programs free of cost to families with children using shelter services in the GTA. The Redwood's Child and Youth program team works with Rainbow Songs' instructors to present activities that build positive emotions, social connection, and achievement through singing and learning to play instruments.
• Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Skills UpgradingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides Math for Trades tutoring for Women in Trades: HVAC Technician program participants through TDSB's Essential Skills Upgrading program.
• HiMark Occupational Skills Training CentresupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides intensive exam prep including working on six practical mini-projects for Women in Trades: HVAC Technician program participants.
• Women's Shelters CanadasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization working to end violence against women. The Redwood participates as a member organization.
• Parkdale-High Park Rotary ClubfoundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe founding organization that united neighbors in 1987 to establish a safe haven for abused women and children, securing the site and organizing community volunteers to build The Redwood shelter.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Interval House Toronto: Toronto women's shelter against violence providing emergency shelter, 24/7 crisis line, counseling, and children's services for women and children fleeing abuse. Directly comparable in service model, target population, and Toronto footprint.
• Nellie's: Toronto community organization offering shelter, transitional housing, and community programs for women and children fleeing violence and poverty. Comparable in scale, geography, and integrated service model including shelter plus community-based programming.
• YWCA Toronto: Toronto-based women's shelter and social services organization offering emergency shelter, housing, and wraparound supports for women and gender-diverse individuals fleeing violence and experiencing homelessness. Closest comparable given shared geography, similar service mix, and overlapping clientele in Toronto and the GTA.
• Women's Habitat: Etobicoke-based shelter and support services for women and children experiencing violence and homelessness, with crisis counseling, shelter, and community education programs. Direct peer offering comparable shelter-plus-outreach services in the Greater Toronto Area.

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Women's Foundation: National public foundation funding women's shelters and gender-based violence programs across Canada. Operates as both funder and sector convener, comparable in mission and target beneficiary population though not a direct service provider.
• YWCA Canada: National federation supporting YWCAs across Canada, including shelter operators and women's equality programming. Broader umbrella incumbent whose member organizations directly overlap with The Redwood's service categories.
• Women's Shelters Canada: National non-profit supporting women's shelters and transition houses across Canada, of which The Redwood is a member organization. Sector-wide advocate and capacity-builder, broader in scope than a single shelter operator.

Regional players

• Anova (formerly Women's Community House): London, Ontario-based shelter and counseling services for women and children experiencing domestic violence, with second-stage housing and rural outreach. Comparable operating model with a regional (southwestern Ontario) focus rather than Toronto-centric.

Others

• METRAC (Metropolitan Action Committee on Violence Against Women and Children): Toronto-based organization focused on preventing violence against women, youth, and diverse communities through education and policy. Adjacent ecosystem peer; Executive Director Abi Ajibolade serves on its board, evidencing direct programmatic overlap.
• Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic: Toronto legal and counseling clinic serving women experiencing violence, with counseling, interpretation, and legal support. Adjacent service provider whose award The Redwood's ED has received; complementary rather than overlapping service mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheRedwoodTO
• Facebookfacebook.com/theredwoodto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theredwoodto
• Instagraminstagram.com/theredwoodto

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 The Redwood--a safe haven for women and children fleeing abuse