everyone deserves home

About Cool Aid

Our Mission

Working with our partners in the Capital Region, we offer life-changing services to adults who are impacted by poverty, colonization, stigma and homelessness. These services include permanent housing, emergency shelter, health and dental care, employment assistance, and social and recreational opportunities.

Cool Aid Kingston

Our Vision

Cool Aid's vision is a simple one...

  • A community where no one is forced to sleep on the street or go hungry and everyone has the dignity that comes with home, health and connection.

Guiding Principles

  • Meet clients where they are at.
  • Commit to anti-racism, decolonization and cultural humility.
  • Approach each client with empathy.
  • Practice integrity and mutual respect in all our relationships.
  • Advocate for those we serve.

"Working for Cool Aid was pretty much the best job I’ve ever had, in terms of salary, co-workers and management. I kind of wish I could bring you guys to Toronto with me."

Front-Line Worker, Former Employee

Our History

THE EARLY YEARS

In 1968, the Cool Aid hotline was started and the hostel opened its doors. Our mission was to provide short-term, emergency shelter to transient youth travelling the country. Quickly realizing the increasing local need for further shelter and holistic services, we established the “Cool Aid Free Medical Clinic” in 1970. In 1972, we launched our first Dental Clinic. By 1976, we united our efforts and the Victoria Cool Aid Society was incorporated. Read Cool Aid’s complete history.

1980s AND 1990s

There was a time when people in Victoria who were homeless, poor and ill returned again and again to emergency shelters – they had nowhere else to go. In the 1980s, affordable housing was drying up and large mental institutions were shutting down, leaving people with little support for getting off the street. Cool Aid’s shelter workers were frustrated to see the cycles of homelessness unbroken, so we opened up the Province’s first supportive housing apartments at Swift House in 1991. Read Cool Aid’s complete history.

GROWTH IN THE 2000s

By now, Cool Aid had developed a successful reputation by creating accessible, affordable and alternative housing programs and holistic health and wellness services for people who need it the most. Today, over 300 employees work in Victoria, Saanich and Langford providing homes, shelter, health care and other services to Victoria’s most vulnerable. Projects completed during this period included the new Access Health Centre, five seniors buildings, new shelters and affordable housing. Read Cool Aid’s complete history.

Who We Are 1970 Emmanual Baptist Church Kitchen

Who We Are 1986