Covenant House Toronto is a two-star financially transparent charity with a Low demonstrated impact score. It has an A- results reporting grade, which is above average. For every dollar donated to the charity, 71 cents are available to go to the cause.

Founded in 1982, Covenant House Toronto (COVT) helps Torontonian youth aged 13-24 who are at risk for or experiencing homelessness. The charity provides its clients shelter, transitional housing, education, job training, and primary health care. The charity also leads sex trafficking prevention seminars and connects sex trafficking survivors with essential services. According to the charity, there are 40,000 homeless Canadian youth. 85% of these report symptoms of mental distress and 42% report at least one suicide attempt. Homeless youth also have poor long-term prospects with 51% not in employment, education, or training. COVT’s main programs include its short-term shelter & crisis care, long-term transitional housing apartments, and community support services. Other programs include its advocacy work, education support, and health clinic. The charity spent $30.5m on its programs in the fiscal year ending June 2023 (F2023).

Short-term shelter & crisis care was 45% of the charity’s program spending. COVT provides 24/7 drop-in emergency housing to both homeless youth and youth escaping from abuse. In F2023, the charity added 32 beds in response to increasing demand. 1,289 youths visited COVT’s drop-in centre while 658 stayed in the charity’s emergency housing.

Long-term transitional housing was 25% of the charity’s program spending. This program aims to reduce chronic homelessness by helping youth become self-sufficient and independent. In F2023, the charity built 24 new community apartment units and helped 387 people secure long-term housing.

Community support services was 22% of the charity’s program spending. This program provides sex trafficking awareness campaigns, life skills workshops, and a youth mentorship service. The charity delivered sex trafficking awareness presentations to 3 schools, matched 46 youths with mentors, and led 699 life skills workshops in F2023. 31,856 students listened to these sex trafficking awareness campaigns.

Other programs include COVT’s advocacy, education, and health clinic services and was 8% of the charity’s program spending. In F2023, the charity awarded 26 postsecondary education bursaries and led 382 job training sessions. 4,727 youths accessed its on-site health clinic and 456 accessed its on-site mental health services.

In F2023, Covenant House Toronto received $35.0m in donations compared to $35.2m in F2022. The charity also received $10.2m in government funding which is 22% of revenues excluding investment income. Administrative costs are 4% of revenues and fundraising costs are 25% of donations. This results in total overhead spending of 29%. This means that for every dollar donated, 71 cents are available to go to the cause.

In F2023, the charity spent $30.5m on its programs which is 65% of revenues. This charity increased its program spend by $2.0m compared to F2022, which is not a significant increase.

At the end of F2023, Covenant House Toronto had $46.2m in reserve funds (cash and investments) which covers 151% or slightly over 18 months of its annual program spending.

Profile updated May 29, 2024 by Julian Dranitsaris. Comments and corrections may be forthcoming.