BC Invests $18.6M to Help 2,680 People Find Jobs

When Cody Parent from Surrey needed help getting his life back on track, he found more than just job training. He found a team that stuck with him from day one.

Now thousands more people across British Columbia will get that same kind of support. The province is investing $18.6 million to bring Community-Based Employment Services to 16 additional communities, helping up to 2,680 people prepare for and find work.

This isn't your typical job center. The program reaches people where they are, whether that's on the street, in shelters, or anywhere else in the community. Services include coaching, skills training, help getting certifications, and connections to housing and health support.

"People say they feel better and are better off when they have a job and community connections," said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The expansion brings services to communities from Vancouver to Prince Rupert, Fort St. John to Williams Lake.

Local organizations deliver the services using trauma-informed approaches tailored to each community's needs. They work with flexible timelines because finding stability looks different for everyone.

The program builds on lessons learned from a successful 2024 pilot. It's designed specifically for people who traditional employment services struggle to reach.

The Ripple Effect

The impact goes beyond individual success stories. Since 2016, BC's poverty rate has dropped nearly 30 percent. That means 161,000 fewer people living in poverty, including almost 50,000 children.

The province's 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy Annual Report shows this progress continues even amid rising housing and food costs. Child poverty alone has decreased by more than one third since 2016.

The expansion is part of a coordinated effort across government to improve affordability, strengthen income supports, and create pathways out of poverty. Canada is partnering on the investment through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement.

Organizations like Lookout Housing and Health Society in Burnaby, MOSAIC in Vancouver, and Canadian Mental Health Association in Kamloops will deliver the expanded services. Each brings deep community connections and understanding of local needs.

For people like Cody Parent who needed support, structure, and someone in their corner, help is now closer to home.