Raising the Roof was created as a result of a national consultation on homelessness conducted in 1996. Experts from across the country expressed a need for an organization that would play a key role in facilitating shared strategies to end homelessness - strategies that would show people in tangible, practical terms what they can do in their own communities to prevent and address current problems of homelessness.

Raising the Roof is Canada's only national charity dedicated to long-term solutions to homelessness. We:

• Fund local, grassroots agencies working to alleviate homelessness in their communities;
• Build awareness among Canadians about the true nature of homelessness today and educate them about how to prevent it in the future;
• Build partnerships by giving people, corporations and organizations the opportunity to participate in solutions.

	Response to Raising the Roof's annual Toque Tuesday campaign - when people nation-wide make a donation to don our signature toques - has grown significantly. Proceeds are allocated to partner agencies supporting homeless individuals and families right across Canada.

Highlights of our Achievements

Since our start-up in 1997, Raising the Roof has brought homelessness to national attention.

Our cross-Canada fundraising and public education initiatives have grown in size, frequency, spirit and impact. Highlights of our achievements:

• Raising the Roof has allocated over $2.5 million dollars to more than 100 partner agencies across Canada working to reduce homelessness at the community level.
• Toque Tuesday, our signature national campaign, continues to raise funds and awareness in the fight against homelessness. Its distinctive public service announcements, aired by Global Television as well as other media and print outlets, have resulted in tremendous campaign recognition and support across Canada. Since 1997, over half-a-million toques have been sold, raising funds to help support 103 grassroots agencies in 57 communities across the country. Go to our Toque Campaign Web page to find out how you can get involved!
• Our annual Weekend of Comedy in Toronto and our comedy galas in Halifax and Vancouver are hugely popular fundraising events. Last year they raised $88,000 to support Raising the Roof’s local partner agencies and its national Youthworks initiative. These star-studded, high energy fun(!)-raisers run February through April and cap off our annual Toque Campaign.
• Shared Learnings on Homelessness initiative: This unique, interactive Web site is proving to be an effective catalyst for national – even international – knowledge-sharing. Visitors are using it to find out about homelessness initiatives across Canada and to link with others to share experiences and strategies. Practical information and resources are available for frontline staff, managers and volunteers working to address homelessness in their communities. Sign up for your free subscription to “Housing Again”, an electronic monthly bulletin providing current news on homelessness initiatives and the affordable housing sector.
• Youth Engagement Program: We’ve been getting rave reviews from teachers and students on this national initiative. It’s all about educating young people about homelessness issues and offering ways for them to become involved in their communities. The program features “No Place Like Home”, a resource booklet for teachers and students, with information about homelessness, materials for lesson plans and suggested ways to become involved in solutions. Available to teachers, youth leaders and students. Download the booklet in pdf format or contact us at info@raisingtheroof.org.
• The Hidden Homeless Campaign: Contrary to what many of us assume, the majority of Canada’s homeless are not visible on our streets. Through a powerful bilingual national public education campaign, we are working to convey that “for every homeless person you see on the street, there are four who you don’t see.” These “hidden homeless” include seniors, families with children and the working poor. Since 2004, millions of dollars in donated print, television and radio ad space, plus this Web site, have been promoting public understanding of and support for the hidden homeless. To learn more and to find out how you can help – or to check out our television, radio and print ads – click here.
• Youthworks: This three-year, $1.2 million initiative of Raising the Roof is aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness among young Canadians and supporting them to build a better future. In addition to providing significant funding to cutting-edge programs that help homeless youth move permanently from the street to independent living, we are working closely with our partner agencies to follow the progress of hundreds of homeless and at-risk youth across Canada in order to learn more about their needs. This knowledge will help us to identify best practices and recommend program and policy changes that need to take place to address homelessness among young Canadians. Just over a year-and-a-half into the Youthworks initiative, more than 400 youth have been interviewed. We are gaining lots of new insights and are beginning to identify trends. Go to our Youthworks page for a summary of our progress to date.

View a list of Staff and Board Members.

Photo credit: Raising the Roof