Posts Tagged ‘DTES’

Campaign for DTES Basic Services Extended

Thursday, November 24th, 2011 | Leave a Comment

Tradeworks is continuing its efforts to secure long term funding for the basic services to the DTES community offered through Pathways Information Centre.  The issue is now public, as we have been on CBC radio, Radio-Canada, Fairchild TV, and CKNW.  Local residents are active writing letters to the Minister of Social Development and signing a petition (recently tabled in the BC legislature by MLA Jenny Kwan).

Pathways was created 9 years ago when a multi-party review identified the need for a conveniently located, low-barrier information centre that could ensure those in need could find the community services they need.  Pathways has played that role, seeing 250 people a day and almost 3000 new people each year.  This inner-city community has an exceptional number of residents in stress and struggling to cope – 10,000 of the 15,000 people living in this neighbourhood live in poverty.  And many are living with physical and mental disabilities.  Many have lost contact with family and do not have the social and material supports others may take for granted.  Pathways is a catalyst for change:

  • Pathways members get access to basic information resources; phones, PC’s, the Internet, faxes and copiers.
  • Pathways members get voice-mail services.
  • Pathways members get up-to-date information on local services, clinics, employment programs and community resources.
  • Pathways members get counseling advice and preliminary assessments, someone to talk to and build a relationship with.
  • Pathways members get job search advice and assistance with online searches, applications and resumes preparation.
  • Pathways members get access to supplementary services from others on our premises – related to tenancy problems, pardons, diabetes, mental heath services, and more.
  • Pathways members are given opportunities to volunteer and contribute to the centre and to the dtes.ca website that it maintains.

The DTES is a neighbourhood where many retreat, out of economic necessity.  Often the circumstances are beyond their control; learning disabilities, workplace injuries, mental health calamities, family breakdowns, etc..  However, most do want to work and live normal lives.  They need access to basic services and social supports.

The new ‘employment services’ delivery model of the Ministry of Social Development will serve only 5-10% of the low income and unemployed population in the inner-city.  Pathways and other neighbourhood community services are to be closed in March-April 2012, unless the Ministry recognizes the special needs in the DTES.  Fact Sheet

 

Posted in Pathways | Tags: , ,

DTES Community Connections Threatened

Thursday, October 6th, 2011 | Leave a Comment


Pathways is a program that focuses on connecting people in the DTES to the resources they need. This is done by providing free access to computers, phones, printers, access to information and referrals to a variety of other community services. Located in the heart of the DTES community, on the corner of Main and East Hastings, Pathways has an incredibly large amount of traffic.  More than 200 new people every day come through Pathways, and the program registers more than 3,000 new members each year.

Pathways has been funded by the government through Tradeworks Training Society for eight years now, blowing past the government mandated results. Now, however, due to a rearrangement of government funds, Pathways is might lose its funding by April 2012.

The members of the DTES community will certainly suffer a loss should Pathways be unable to continue operating. One of the most important aspects according to members, is the open and welcoming atmosphere and the total lack of discrimination. One of the members writes:

“I can see by observation the staff here really cares about their work. They treat everyone who walks in as someone who matters. The same cannot be said of a lot of agencies. They are truly a lifeline in the area.”

Tradeworks is concerned that the closure of Pathways and several other services in the inner-city will leave a big hole for residents.

You can follow Pathways on twitter and facebook to see what’s going on, links below.

Twitter

Facebook

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , ,

Words from the Women’s Workshop!

Friday, January 21st, 2011 | Comments (6,605)

This past December, Tradeworks Custom Products’ Women’s workshop said goodbye to another graduate group from their program. From the seven participants who completed the program, five of the women are either now employed in the trades or are enrolling in trades training. A couple of them decided to share their experience in the program and give thanks for all those who supported them along the way.

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“The program has changed my outlook significantly, where I previously settled for working for low wages in the service industry at jobs I got no satisfaction from and did not stay with for significant periods while trying to find enough extra money to be able to work on art related projects, I now see a future where I can work creatively for decent wages, happily and gainfully employed.”

“Low income women who do not see a real or purposeful future for themselves are given the skills and shown opportunities without which they would remain unemployed or not gainfully employed and feeling hopeless and like a burden on the societies in which they live.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with Tradeworks and the Women in Trades Program, especially Kate and Arleen [since] without their patience, belief and constant support I could have not finished the program as I have [had]some health issues including previous addictions, depression and panic disorder. [This has] made it difficult for me to successfully complete other job finding and [career] training programs. [This situation] is very common to women who have lived in low income neighborhoods and been raised in situations which result in low self-esteem and often little practical knowledge of how to pursue their dreams in a realistic way. For me the value of this program is immeasurable, thank you.

-Jennifer

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“I was offered day-care service to take care of my son while I studied, [which] was highly appreciated. [These benefits gave] me the opportunity to see what [the program was like] and to learn what it teaches. [I was also able to] update my knowledge and attain new skills. [This enhanced] my confidence to compete in the job market and sharpened my capability to contribute [to] Canadian needs.”

“My 5-year old was proud of me because he [liked] my group project – a wooden house model which was made [with the help of Kate and her team].”

-Michelle

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Tradeworks Women’s Workshop offers this ten –week course to help participants develop skills in joinery and woodworking, as well as assist them in exploring other career options available in the trades. This pre-employment program is a great opportunity for inner-city women to expand their workplace

Posted in Stories | Tags: , , , , ,

Improving People’s Futures

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 | Comments (4,872)

Our training and counseling programs are intended to help those who want to move into sustainable work.  Many of the people we see have experienced a serious interruption in their lives and need a new start. We get feedback from these people and that is one way we know we are having an impact.  We thought we’d share some of the comments we have recently received:

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“I appreciate the program, more than I have obtained a training certificate from Tradework Organization, I gained more than I expected.  People working here are friendly, we chatted for some daily issues, I learned their way to treat affairs, knew something I have never heard before and my friendship here helped me earn my practicum opportunity. It made me feel at home, not lonely any more.  I find resources through making friends here, I think this integration is part of my path to become a real Canadian.”

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” My shipwrecked life washed ashore at the Jobshop where I must have presented a formidable challenge to the staff there who quickly became an alternate family for me. There I received emotional support, counseling and training. I met other jobless individuals and shared their feelings, hopes and goals. Through the loving and professional acumen of the Jobshop staff I relearned my strengths, acquired new eyeglasses, some necessary clothing, needed dentistry and, most importantly, a desire to live out my life whatever that turns out to be. The Jobshop staff discovered that my greatest job asset was that I could speak persuasively.  In the Autumn of 2010 I was hired as a fundraiser by a reputable firm!

Posted in Stories, Uncategorized | Tags: , , ,

Deconstruction (not demolition)

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Tradeworks Executive Director, Ross Gentleman, has been actively participating in discussions with the City of Vancouver on the subject of ‘deconstruction’.  The City is expressing a real interest in diverting construction waste from landfills.  Each year 800 homes are demolished in Vancouver alone, and construction waste is a regional problem.

Tradeworks is working with other community agencies to support the waste diversion goals but also to develop job opportunities for inner-city residents. Jobs will be created in the salvaging of more and more of the materials from homes that are being taken down; and also in the sorting, handling and grading of materials.  There are also potential business and job opportunities in reselling and re-manufacturing.  These are viewed as green jobs that can be filled by people with basic skills, potentially well suited to many of the people we assist.

The City and other municipalities must move to revise bylaws and provide incentives for ‘deconstruction’.  In the near term, Tradeworks will be collaborating on a pilot project that trains at-risk youth for work in this new industry.   Please do support the City’s initatives on this front.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

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