Organizational Information:

The Burnside Gorge Community Centre provides vital services to an inner city neighborhood as well as general programming to Greater Victoria. Key services include outreach support to homeless women and children, family support and reunification programs, outreach to youth at risk, a self-sufficiency program for families with limited incomes, and local environmental initiatives including the award-winning Cecelia Creek restoration. Burnside Gorge also provides traditional recreational programming, community education and accessible childcare to Greater Victoria.

Program Description:

The Victoria FSS Program is an innovative initiative for families residing in good standing in subsidized housing who have incomes below the BC Housing Core Need Income Threshold. Families have joined the program with a desire to learn how to make sustainable life style choices. Phase III began September 2008 and will continue until August 2011. The goal of this phase of the program is to work with up to 75 families who have a wish to increase their self-sufficiency. The three focus areas are employment, education and finances. Participants' identify goals in each of the key areas (and others if they choose). A graduated action plan is co-developed with staff that works towards achieving participants' goals in a systematic, supportive manner.

Economic supports in the Family Self- Sufficiency Program are important contributors to participant successes. The Victoria FSS Program provides both economic supports and financial literacy training which enables participants to build financial savings and create a sustainable life style. This type of support means that by the end of their three years, participants are more likely to find suitable, sustainable employment and have money in the bank so they can realistically plan for the future.

The FSS Program supports families as they:

Increase employability
Build financial knowledge
Increase self reliance
Increase financial capacity
Develop links to their communities

The Program offers:

Opportunities for families to build savings (adult and youth)
Family Advisor to work one on one with each Participant family
Goals and action plans co-developed by Participants and Family Advisor
Networking and community connections
Educational and community building meetings
Financial Workshops and budgeting sessions to assist in increasing economic independence

Target Participant Criteria

Upon admission Participants joining the program are:

Families residing in subsidized housing with income below the BC Core Needs Income Threshold.

The following demographic profile provides some insight into our participants:

94% single parent families - primarily single Mothers;
Age range between 24 and 58, with the average being 38.

Program Contact Information:

Colleen Wolfe
Phone: 250-388-5251
Email: cawolfe-bgca@shaw.ca
Website: http://www.burnsidegorge.ca/fss.html

This website was produced with CEDTAP, Vancity, Bell Canada, and the Royal Bank of Canada.