Founded in 1982, RainCity Housing (RainCity) provides housing and supports for marginalized people who face mental health and substance use issues. The charity currently operates over 25 programs in the Lower Mainland Region of British Columbia and provides housing and support to over 2,000 people each year. RainCity’s programs fall into four main areas: transitional and long-term housing, year-round and seasonal shelters, outreach teams, and Indigenous and peer services.

The charity does not provide a dollar breakdown on program spending but reports that Transitional and Long-Term Housing Programs accounted for 60% of total spending in F2020. In 2019, RainCity opened four new modular housing buildings that welcomed 174 people. RainCity reports that, in total, its Transitional and Long-Term Housing Program provided shelter for 1,089 people in F2020.

The charity allocated 12% of total spending to Year-Round and Seasonal Shelters in F2020. RainCity reports that over 900 individuals received emergency shelter, three meals a day, and referral housing in F2020.

The operation of RainCity’s Outreach Teams accounted for 11% of total spending in F2020. RainCity has a variety of Outreach Teams, including its Housing LGBTQ2S+ Youth Housing Outreach Program. The charity reports that this program is the first of its kind in Canada.

The charity allocated 8% of total spending to Indigenous Cultural Services and Peer Services in F2020. RainCity offers these services at nearly all housing sites. The charity reports that its Indigenous Cultural Services and Peer Services serve several thousand individuals throughout the Lower Mainland Region and Sunshine Coast of British Columbia.

RainCity is a small-sized charity in terms of donations, with $289k in F2020. The charity received $31.2m in government funding, representing 89% of total revenues. Additionally, RainCity received $3.3m in rent revenue from its clients in F2020. Administrative costs are 9% of total revenues (less investment income) and fundraising costs are 38% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 47%.  For every dollar donated, 53 cents go to the cause, which falls well outside Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. This is a significant decrease from F2019, in which 62 cents of every dollar went to the cause.

RainCity has ($25.8m) in funding reserves, due to the possession of $33.3m in short-term and long-term debt. Excluding debt, the charity could cover 24% or just under three months of annual program costs with reserves.

Charity Intelligence has sent this update to RainCity for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 3, 2021 by Sydney Olexa.