Discovering the full potential in everyone BY ALISA GORDANEER
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N THE CAPITAL REGIONAL DISTRICT, the intertwined issues of employment, food and housing security are critical, as prices rise and homelessness continues to grow. On one night in February 2012, the Coalition to End Homelessness counted 1,205 people staying in emergency shelters, temporary housing, or on the streets in Victoria. High rents, low levels of income assistance, and a low minimum wage all contribute to the problem. Unemployment contributes to homelessness. Addictions and mental health issues can affect a person’s employment options, as can family violence. And a weakened economy means many find themselves unemployed as businesses close down or move to other communities. For organizations like United Way, solving the puzzle means addressing all the basic needs and digging deep into the root causes. Its Poverty to possibility impact area helps agencies get people employed, fed and housed — all key strategies to find pathways out of poverty.
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ALL-ENCOMPASSING ASSISTANCE One program that provides a onestop shop for people needing help is the Victoria Cool Aid Society’s Resource Employment Education and Support program (REES). It helps people with housing, work, finances and legal concerns, while also offering a peer support program and an outreach team that helps those living with addictions and mental health issues. Its community volunteer training program, entirely funded by United Way, provides an eightweek course for volunteers working with non-profits that aid those with mental health and addictions issues. This past spring, the program trained 30 volunteers from 25 community agencies.
A JOB TO DO Fifteen years ago, Blaine Sparvie was homeless, having bounced between Calgary and Nanaimo before ending up in Victoria. When the demolition company he was working for moved away, he found himself
without work, so he turned to the Cool Aid Casual Labour Pool, one of the resources connected to the REES program. The Pool helps anyone who needs work connect with those who need work done — today. Wendy Stone, co-ordinator of the Casual Labour Pool, says it employs people in recovery, new to the city, or who just have trouble finding steady work in a fragile economy. They just need to show up on the days they’re willing to work, and Stone does her best to find something for them to do. Homeowners call the Pool for help with yard work, housecleaning, moves and more. Businesses rely on the Pool for temporary labour, such as clean-ups, demolitions and even office work. Stone keeps track of workers’ skills: some are skilled as painters, landscapers, renovators, or office, retail and restaurant workers. “We’ve been able to make good matches,” she says. Janice Maxwell, who runs Fieldstone Farm on Oldfield Road, relies on the Pool for help harvesting
PHOTO CREDIT: JESSICA CLARK
Poverty to possibility