A legacy of innovation in community support
Founded in 1971, Boyle Street Community Services is a long-standing Edmonton-based organization dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental illness, and substance use. Originally established as a small inner-city cooperative, the organization has grown into a citywide network that now serves more than 12,000 Edmontonians annually.
Boyle Street operates with a deeply community-informed, values-driven approach, developing its programs in direct response to the needs voiced by those it serves. With over 500 staff across 11 locations, the organization delivers nearly 50 distinct services and programs, including harm-reduction outreach, youth housing, mental health supports, and education initiatives.
Throughout its history, Boyle Street has pioneered many firsts in the social services sector. These include the launch of Streetworks, Edmonton’s first harm-reduction program, and the establishment of the Boyle Street Education Centre, a charter school designed to support youth with disrupted educational experiences.
Today, Boyle Street functions as a vital hub of wraparound care, connecting community members with essentials like housing, healthcare, identification, employment supports, and safe spaces. At the heart of its mission is a commitment to ending chronic homelessness and building healthier, more inclusive communities.
Edmonton 3 October 2024 The Edmonton Community Foundation today announced the appointment of Ryan Young as the Director of the Social Enterprise Fund.
After thirteen years in the Executive Director chair at SEF, it is time for me to move on.
Every day SEF works with entrepreneurs—non-profits, for-profits, cooperatives – determined to find a better way to do things, to create a sustainable economy leading to a more inclusive community that works for everybody.
