The Anawim Companions Society

08/27/2026

Seven months ago, we brought clinical counselling onsite at Anawim House and Susan's Place. No waitlist, no referral, no barrier -- sessions happen right in the living rooms of both homes.
The work isn't about telling people what's best for them. It's about helping them understand themselves. A simple "good morning" in the hallway has grown into regular weekly sessions for many residents.
Made possible by the Wheeler Family Foundation. Read the full update: https://www.anawimsociety.ca/blog/the-power-of-community

08/24/2026

Patti-Lee has volunteered in our clothing room every Wednesday for eleven years. She calls it her happy place.
"It is so humbling to see someone so happy just to find a clean, dry pair of socks," she says. There's a mirror on the clothing room door -- when someone finds a suit for a job interview or a shirt for a court appearance, they leave with their heads held a little higher.
Read more about Patti-Lee and the volunteers who make Anawim run: https://www.anawimsociety.ca/blog/the-power-of-community -lee

08/19/2026

Before coming to Anawim, Steve was living in a place where drugs were everywhere, easy to find and hard to get away from. He wanted a different life but couldn't see a way there.
He wasn't sober when he first found us. Our team told him: when you're ready, come back. A year later, he did.
Today Steve has a home, a community, and a dream of starting a business to help others the way Anawim helped him.
Read Steve's full story: https://www.anawimsociety.ca/blog/the-power-of-community -story

08/15/2026

Some numbers from the first half of 2026.
3,705 breakfasts served. 1,881 lunches. 150 showers a month, on average. 681 loads of laundry, even through a six-week equipment closure. And three single-day attendance records at our drop-in this summer alone.

We're also sitting with a waitlist of 102 people -- 60 men and 42 women waiting for a bed. That number isn't discouraging. It's clarifying. It tells us the work isn't finished.

Full breakdown here: https://www.anawimsociety.ca/blog/the-power-of-community -numbers

08/13/2026

Our Summer 2026 Impact Update is here.

Inside: three record-breaking days at our drop-in, a year of onsite counselling, and the story of a man named Steve who waited a year to come back -- sober, and ready to start again.
Anawim receives no government funding. Everything in this update happened because our community chose to make it possible.

Read the full update:

The Power of Community Aug 7 Written By Andrew MacDonald Summer 2026 · Impact update Institutions process people. Communities receive them. Here is what your giving built this year — in our kitchens, our living rooms, and the quiet conversations that happen within our walls. Staff and volunteers ...

08/04/2026

💙 We're Hiring!

Looking for meaningful work that truly changes lives?

The Anawim Companions Society is looking for a Part-Time Support Worker to join our team!

If you're compassionate, believe in the power of dignity, recovery, and community, and want to walk alongside people rebuilding their lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your friends, family, and networks. The right person could change someone's life. 💙

Apply here: https://ca.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=4e8cd46302fe1cc4

07/27/2026

The need in our community is greater than ever, and we’re looking for more volunteers to help make a difference.

When Anawim began nearly four decades ago, we were entirely volunteer-operated. To this day, volunteers remain at the centre of our work, making up the majority of our team. Compassionate people from our community continue to come together to offer practical support, friendship, and hope to men and women experiencing homelessness, poverty, addiction, and housing instability - in a safe, substance-free community.

The heart of Anawim has always been people helping people—and that spirit continues to define who we are today.

The need in our community is greater than ever, and we’re looking for compassionate people to join our volunteer team. Whether you have a few hours a month or more, your time can help bring hope, dignity, and connection to people in our community.

Make a difference—volunteer with Anawim, or share this post to help us reach others who can.

For nearly 40 years, volunteers have been the heart of Anawim and the foundation of Anawim’s impact. With your help, we’ll continue walking alongside our community for years to come. 💙

07/27/2026

Thank you for you conitinued support REUZ Clothing Collection!!

07/27/2026

A heartfelt thank you to the Victoria Foundation Community Grants Program for their generous support.
We are incredibly grateful to have received funding that will help us continue to operate Victoria's only substance-free drop-in space, where our community can access free meals, showers, clothing, access to laundry, and compassionate support in a safe, welcoming space.
Your generosity makes a real difference. Because of partners like you, we are able to continue this important work and positively impact the lives of those we serve—and our community as a whole—every day.

Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us build a stronger, more connected community. ❤️ The Victoria Foundation