Dans la Rue's 2018 audited financial statement is the most recent information Ci has received. As a result, Ci is unable to update this profile. Ci has requested the charity's financial statements from the CRA. In F2020, Dans La Rue's T3010 filing with the CRA states it received $3.4m in tax receipted donations. CRA best practices recommend that charities with over $250k in donations have audited financial statements available. 

Founded in 1988, Dans la rue helps homeless youth in Montreal by meeting their basic needs and providing resources to improve their ability to live independently. The charity reports that youth may become homeless due to dysfunctional family situations, lack of affordable housing, discrimination, mental health struggles, and failure of youth protective services. In recognizing the complex needs of clients, Dans la Rue provides four service areas: day centre, The Bunker, housing, and The Van.

Dans la Rue’s day centre received 73% of program spending in F2018. The centre offers hot lunches every day, serving 31,500 during F2018. Clients can take high school classes at the onsite Emmett Johns School and access hygiene products, blankets, towels, non-perishable food, and donated clothing. The centre also houses programs providing healthcare, psychological care, job training, legal advice, and recreational activities.

In F2018, Dans la Rue allocated 16% of program spending to The Bunker, an emergency shelter for up to 17 youth. Clients used the shelter for 3,198 bed nights in F2018, meaning that an average of nine youth were housed each night.

Dans la Rue offers 17 apartments for longer-term housing, allocating 8% of spending to the housing program in F2018. The apartment complex includes 13 studio apartments, 2 one-bedroom units, and 2 two-bedroom units for families. Of the youth housed, 80% live with both addiction and mental health issues, and 76% have either been homeless or spent time in the child welfare system. Youth living in the apartments are supported in developing relationships within the community and receive guidance from social workers. Communal kitchens and group meals ensure that clients are eating enough food. The charity connected 15 young families with other social housing in F2018.

The Van received 3% of program spending in F2018. An RV stops at four major intersections in downtown Montreal and is often the first point of contact with homeless youth before they are guided in accessing other Dans la rue services. The program served 30,172 people, providing warm meals, non-perishable food, and clothing.

Dans la Rue is a medium-sized charity with $4.7m in donations and special events revenue in F2018, of which $93k is in-kind donations. Administrative costs are 12% of revenues less investment income, and fundraising costs are 17% of donations. For every dollar donated, 71 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Dans la rue has $5.8m in funding reserves which could cover 1.6 years of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Dans la Rue for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on July 25, 2019 by Madison Kerr.