This year over 1,500 vulnerable people accessed The Bloom Group’s emergency or permanent housing services, trustworthy financial management program, and compassionate end-of-life care. This year we also made incredible progress increasing the availability of affordable housing for low and moderate income individuals. All of these people are safer, healthier and living in community, because of you. And yet, there is work still to be done. While continuing to provide our much-needed services, we must keep working to collectively transform the social dynamics that leave so many members of our community at risk. This year we look forward to collaborating with many more groups and agencies in our neighbourhood to amplify our collective impact in new and exciting ways.
President of the Board of Directors
Executive Director
This past year was one of meaningful growth and community leadership at The Bloom Group. We expanded our core services and led crucial conversations in our sector, while continuing to provide low-barrier social services to over 1,500 people.
Thanks to our supporters construction is well underway on two new facilities – an expanded Powell Place Women’s Shelter and the transformation of the former Remand Centre into nearly 100 new affordable homes. We look forward to opening these new facilities next year.
Our considerable experience and success in delivering responsive social services earned us invitations to contribute to a range of important local and national projects: from the Downtown Eastside Local Area Plan and the Mayor’s Task Force on Mental Illness and Addictions, to the Canadian Women Foundation’s Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls in Canada. This work is helping us deepen our impact on a system-wide level as we seek solutions, not just temporary fixes, to the range of challenges before us. The coming year will see us launch specific new initiatives to further collaboration among the groups tackling the most urgent social issues in our community, amplifying our collective impact in new and significant ways.
It takes the cooperation of an entire community to provide personalized support to 1,500 individuals with unique needs and hopes for their lives. Every day we rely on our donors, our dedicated staff and volunteers, other service providers, all three levels of government, neighbourhood businesses, our suppliers, and community stakeholders, to meet vulnerable people wherever they are on their journeys, and help them move forward. These strong relationships enable us to deliver excellent services, and most importantly, empowering experiences for the people we serve.
We envision the year ahead as a time of positive change and transformation in our community, in our organization, and in the lives of the people we serve. We will continue to be active leaders in our neighbourhood and the across Metro Vancouver as we seek to transform the social dynamics that leave so many people in our community at risk. After you read this report we invite you to share your ideas, comments and questions with us. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for making all of this work possible, and for playing such an important role in delivering Community. Services. Together.
Many of the people who access our services have histories of mental ill health and addictions, trauma and violence, poverty and precariousness. We meet our clients wherever they are at, providing support at every stage of their journey. We ensure people are able to retain their autonomy while receiving the support they need to move forward in life.
“I was homeless for a year, living street corner to street corner. I didn’t know where to get my next meal, or my next shower. The worker at Powell Place was amazing. She helped me find a new place, and I’m moving [to a new affordable housing complex] next month. They went above and beyond for me to help me find a place to live. They treated me like a human being.” - Maureen, temporary resident at Powell Place
Last year 308 people – including 70 children – accessed emergency or transitional housing at Powell Place Women’s Shelter and Springhouse. In these low-barrier and inclusive spaces women are supported to enhance their skills, improve their wellbeing and pursue permanent housing, while their children have access to activities that make life just a little easier.
According to the 2014 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count over 500 women are currently homeless in our communities. While the expansion of Powell Place shelter is helping provide low-barrier shelter and services to more people who need it, we must continue to reduce the barriers for women and women-led families to access housing.
Accompaniment to the TRC
Yoga, swimming and aquafit classes
Summer picnics and outings
Provision of harm reduction supplies
“May’s Place allowed our son to go to a better place with dignity. Everyone was so caring and loving. Ken’s life was so hard for him. You saw it that he was cared for and respected regardless of who we was. We, as a family, thank you.” - Dale and Shirley, parents of Ken, who passed away at May’s Place hospice
Last year 159 people had peace and comfort at the end of their lives through compassionate care at our two hospices. Forty-five of these patients stayed at the only hospice in the Downtown Eastside, May’s Place, where they received dignified and respectful care for their complex needs.
Access to hospice palliative care ranges dramatically depending on where you live, and 70% of Canadians still die in hospitals, despite their overwhelming preference to pass away in a home-like environment. As the demand of palliative care alternatives increases, we must be prepared to meet our communities’ diverse and complex needs, and ensure everyone has access to quality end-of-life care.
Canine therapy
Birthday celebrations
Weddings
Annual remembrance events for families
“Before I came to Victory House, it was tough living. I have schizophrenia, and had no foundation. When I moved here, I got back the structure in my life. The people are wonderful. The staff are wonderful. We need more places like this. The mentally ill, the homeless, the poverty-stricken – these are the places that bring these people back to life. It gives me good hope for the future.” - Rachel, resident at Victory House
Last year The Bloom’s Group’s Mental Health and Supportive Housing facilities – Victory House, Santiago Lodge & Cecelia House and Cordova House – safely and supportively housed 165 vulnerable individuals living with chronic mental health issues and other challenges.
In the 2014 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count one-third (34%) of homeless people reported having a mental illness, while 21% reported a concurrent disorder (i.e. both a mental illness and addiction). These figures illustrate the need for facilities like ours that provide on-site support services to promote residents’ health and wellbeing, quality of life, social inclusion, and sense of self-determination.
Art therapy classes
Library program
Cooking classes led by residents
Regular doctor visits
“Before I found the Adult Guardianship program I was homeless and in big financial trouble because people kept stealing from me. Now my life has stabilized. Having this service and relationships with [the Adult Guardianship workers] – it’s amazing. They’re so reliable. They treat me with no judgment, with dignity, and my rent's been paid on time for 8 years. Things are getting better.” - Vicky, Adult Guardianship client
Last year The Bloom Group managed the finances of 858 seniors who are vulnerable to financial abuse and people who have physical and/or mental constraints. This service helps prevent these vulnerable individuals from becoming homeless and becoming the victims of exploitation.
The number of single seniors living in poverty has risen 28% in recent years, while one in three Canadian seniors over 85 have some form of dementia, an age category that will continue to grow rapidly in the coming decades. As the population of low-income seniors with diminishing capacities rises day by day, and we must enhance social supports like the Adult Guardianship program, which prevent seniors from being exploited or becoming homeless.
“It felt liberating to be able to knock down this prison and to make it a place for support for people.” - Salas, a 21-year-old worker with the BladeRunners program
Building on our successful management of Somerville Place, The Bloom Group is expanding its offering of affordable housing in our community. We will partner with BladeRunners to manage the 96 new units of affordable housing at the former Remand Centre at 250 Powell Street. The units earmarked for BladeRunners participants will help ensure at-risk Aboriginal youth have a safe and stable place to live while they receive employment training and begin their careers in the trades. The building is set to open early next year.
For the last six years straight Vancouver has been ranked as one of the two least affordable housing markets in the world. Investments in affordable housing, like the 96 units of new housing at 250 Powell Street, are one of the best ways to dramatically reduce the risk of low-income people becoming homeless.
Community garden
Amenities space
Economic benefits for the entire community
Prudent fiscal management and decision-making is integral to our work and to earning and keeping the trust of our funders and donors. We are proud to report almost 90% of our revenue is applied to direct care expenses, from staffing the frontlines and maintaining our buildings to providing specialized programming, workshops and other services to meet the needs of our diverse clientele. Our ability to keep administrative costs low, while ensuring good governance and sound financial practices, is a key commitment of our organization.
Year Ending March 31, 2014
Summarized Statement of Revenue and Expenses
| REVENUE | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Government Funded Programs | 9,827,881 | 10,009,573 |
| Rental and Other | 2,366,801 | 2,303,215 |
| Donations 3 | 331,423 | 379,921 |
| TOTAL REVENUE | 12,526,105 | 12,692,709 |
| DIRECT CARE EXPENSES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wages and Benefits | 8,299,529 | 8,290,393 |
| Interest on Long Term Debt | 204,502 | 219,199 |
| Operational Costs | 2,684,361 | 2,787,358 |
| TOTAL DIRECT CARE EXPENSES | 11,188,392 | 11,296,950 |
| GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATION | ||
|---|---|---|
| Wages and Benefits | 981,514 | 899,299 |
| Other | 371,408 | 363,148 |
| TOTAL ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES | 1,352,922 | 1,262,447 |
| TOTAL EXPENSES | 12,541,314 | 12,559,397 |
|---|
| Excess of revenue over expenses before undernoted | (15,209) | 133,312 |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| - | - | |
| BC Housing 2009 surplus adjustment | - | 38,218 |
| Excess of revenue over expenses | (15,209) | 171,530 |
Year Ending March 31, 2014
Summarized Statement of Financial Position
| ASSETS | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Current | 3,924,126 | 4,701,098 |
| Capital Assets | 13,397,726 | 12,677,919 |
| Other | 1,047,409 | 71,576 |
| 18,369,261 | 17,450,593 |
| LIABILITIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current | 6,163,080 | 5,325,563 |
| Long-term Debt | 4,694,260 | 5,134,709 |
| Other | 6,017,545 | 5,480,736 |
| 16,874,885 | 15,941,008 |
| NET ASSETS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Invested in Capital Assets | 1,087,826 | 1,114,233 |
| Other | 406,550 | 395,352 |
| 1,494,376 | 1,509,585 |
| TOTAL | 18,369,261 | 17,450,593 |
|---|
| Year Ending March 31, 2014 Summarized Statement of Cash Flows |
2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating activities | 99,618 | 1,381,921 |
| Investing activities | (1,569,044) | (1,734,569) |
| Financing activities | 1,102,097 | (243,058) |
| Change in cash for the year | (367,329) | (595,706) |
1. Data for this financial report has been compiled by management from our audited financial statements. However, this financial report in itself has not been audited. A full copy of our audited financial statements is available from our Finance Manager, Sylvia Katz, at 604-606-0305.
2. Management's criteria for preparation of the summary finanacial statements were to provide condensed financial results in the Society published annual report.
3. The total amount of donations received during the year was $482,359 (2013 - $1,347,073), of which $150,936 (2013 - $967,152) is included in deferred contributions.
1. Government Funded Programs
2. Rental and Other
3. Donations
1. General Administration and Other
2. General Administration Wages & Benefits
3. Operational Costs
4. Interest on Long Term Debt
5. Direct Care Wages & Benefits
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The people we serve chart their own course for success. Our donors and funders are their invisible partners for the journey.
"I had the privilege of visiting the first modern hospice in the UK and of seeing how people could spend their last weeks of life in a caring, comfortable atmosphere. When May Gutteridge decided to create a hospice on Powell Street I joined the planning committee. I have seen how May’s Place hospice brought this compassionate end-of-life care to the Downtown Eastside. Over the years I have continued to donate to The Bloom Group and served as a volunteer in a variety of roles. Once while volunteering at Cottage Hospice I wheeled a patient outside to see a bald eagle in a nearby tree. He was a keen naturalist, and was thrilled. He died just a few days later, but I will always remember the joy he experienced in that moment. I have decided to become a legacy donor, so that I can continue to support The Bloom Group's hospice services, and other programs, well into the future."
- Mary Brown, longtime supporter, volunteer and legacy donor
