Founded in 1996, Ve'ahavta is a Jewish charity that works to improve the lives of people who are poor or homeless. It reports that in Toronto an average of 5,250 people are homeless on a given night and that the life expectancy of a homeless Canadian is 39 years. The charity involves volunteers from the community so that they develop empathy, responsibility, and empowerment through helping clients.

In F2018, Ve'ahavta allocated 35% of program spending to work and life skills training. Ve'ahavta Street Academy is a free course offered in partnership with George Brown College. Students are guided on how to meet their own physical, emotional, social, and intellectual needs. During F2018, Ve'ahavta began the Building Foundations for Women course. The program runs for nine weeks, 18 hours per week. Women are supported in building stable lives and moving toward employment or education goals.

Ve'ahavta’s MJRH (Mobile Jewish Response to Homelessness) outreach van received 23% of program funding in F2018. For five nights each week, the van drives to places where homeless people congregate in Toronto. Workers and volunteers distribute coffee, food, clothing, hygiene supplies, and sleeping bags. When requested, the van also has sterile needles and pipes for addicts. In F2018, MJRH outreach referred 1,022 people to other community services, representing a 170% increase from F2017.

In F2018, Ve'ahavta allocated 14% of program spending to Community Mobilization. Teens and families are encouraged to learn about the issues surrounding poverty and homelessness through workshops and volunteer opportunities. Youth are empowered to practice the Jewish values of chessed (acts of loving kindness), tzedakah (charity), and tikun olam (repair of the world).

Ve'ahavta’s MYTORONTO photography contest received 14% of program spending in F2018. People who are currently or previously homeless are encouraged to participate by submitting photos which reflect the public’s perspective on homelessness. Of the more than 100 photos entered, 40 are featured in an exhibit including 13 selected for use in a calendar. Ve'ahavta pays $50 per photo used in the exhibit, $200 for calendar photos, and $500 for the calendar cover.

In F2018, Ve'ahavta allocated 11% of program spending to paid work training. The charity has a variety of employment opportunities which help clients to begin earning an income and improving their resume. In F2018, 42 people were employed preparing meals for MJRH, selling MYTORONTO products, speaking for groups and corporate partners, and supporting their peers through MJRH outreach.

Ve'ahavta reports that it allocated less than 1% of total program spending to each of crisis response grants and other programs.

Ve'ahavta is a medium-sized charity with donations of $2.3m in F2018, including $225k of goods-in-kind. Administrative costs are 9% of revenues less investment income, and fundraising costs are 26% of donations. For every dollar donated, 65 cents go to the cause, which is within Ci’s reasonable range for overhead spending. Ve'ahavta has $409k in funding reserves which could cover less than three months of program costs.

This charity report is an update that has been sent to Ve'ahavta for review. Changes and edits may be forthcoming.

Updated on June 28, 2019 by Madison Kerr.