Resources
Knowledge Is Power!
Here are some helpful community information resources for single moms and their kids. We have grouped them by topic, and make every effort to keep the list current. Click on an area of interest below to go directly to those links, but don't forget to browse the whole list. You never know what you might find!*
And if you have a source of information that you have used to make a difference in your life, please contact us and we will add it to the list.
YWCA Metro Vancouver Services for Single Mothers
Comprehensive Directories of Lower Mainland Community Services
Affordable Housing
Child Care/Children
Legal Assistance
Employment/Training/Career Planning
Education and Training
Welfare/Poverty Issues
Parenting
Recreation
Free Stuff
Health+Wellness
Feminist Issues
Community
Various
YWCA Metro Vancouver Services for Single Mothers
Focus at Work assists women of any age assess their skills, establish clear career goals, and acquire the job search skills necessary to obtain and maintain employment. In addition, as a member of the Single Mother's Network, you will have access to all the facilities and amenities available to a member of the Health and Fitness Centre in downtown Vancouver at 535 Hornby Street. Check it out!
YWCA Health + Fitness Centre. As a member of the Single Mother's Network, you will have access to all the facilities and amenities available to a member of the Health and Fitness Centre in downtown Vancouver at 535 Hornby Street. Check it out!
Comprehensive Directories of Services
The Redbook On-line is the most complete online guide to community, social and government agencies and services across the Lower Mainland.
Watari Survival Manual This online version of their published resource contains information and links to a very comprehensive selection of community resources, from counseling, to the arts, to shelter and housing.
Affordable Housing
Vancouver YWCA Family Housing Communities. Some say it's hard to find that feeling of community in the midst of city life. The YWCA's Housing Communities in Vancouver and Langley are an exception. Get more information about the 2 YWCA apartment communities that cater to families participating in YWCA programs.
Tenants' Rights Action Coalition A Vancouver-based coalition working on Tenant's rights and housing issues in BC. Call the tenant hotline Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm, (604) 255-0546 in the Lower Mainland or at 1-800-665-1185 across the province. They can provide info on legal rights of tenants, and various other related resources.
Co-op Housing Federation of British Columbia This link will take you to a page that lists all housing co-ops in the province. The site includes lots of good info about what co-ops are, and a search feature to help you find co-ops in your area.
BC Housing is a provincial crown agency that develops, manages and administers a wide range of subsidized housing options across the province. This link will take you directly to their Housing Listing, which is a resource directory that provides maps and addresses of subsidized housing developments for families, seniors and people with disabilities across the province. It includes information about Housing Co-ops as well. A comprehensive list.
The City of Vancouver Housing Centre delivers social housing projects and undertakes policy and program development. The Tenant Assistance Program provides direct assistance to displaced tenants and homeless individuals in the City.
The Rental Assistance Program provides cash assistance to eligible low-income, working families with at least one child under the age of 19 and a gross household income less than $28,000 per year. The families must have lived in British Columbia for the last 12 months. Back to top.
Child Care/Children
West Coast Child Care Resource Center offers information and referrals to neighbourhood-based licensed and registered child care settings in Vancouver.
BC Ministry of Human Resources provides information on BC governments' child care subsidy program.
Canadian Childcare Directory Information about the issue, and resources, across the country and here in BC
The Childcare Resource and Research Unit (CRRU) focuses on research and policy resources, advancing a universal, high quality, publicly funded, not-for-profit, inclusive system of early childhood education and care in Canada.
Legal Assistance
Vancouver YWCA Legal Educator Funded by the Law Foundation of British Columbia, the Legal Educator provides a wide range of legal support and answer questions regarding legal issues. The Legal Educator is not a lawyer and does not offer legal advice, but instead offers education on legal topics and specific resources, referrals and support around your legal issues. The Legal Educator also provides one-to-one support for YWCA clients on a wide range of legal issues.
Family Maintenance Enforcement Program, BC Ministry of Attorney General FMEP is a service of the British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, meant to facilitate the timely and appropriate payment of child support payments by responsible spouses in BC.
Battered Women's Support Services BWSS provides counselling and advocacy for women survivors of violence in relationships. They also provide education and training on violence against women and related issues.
Lawlink An online legal information service for low-income British Columbians. Lawlink connects you to the reliable information and tools you need to resolve your legal problems.
Access to Justice Organization The mission of this organization is to provide first-class pro bono lawyers assistance to all persons who cannot obtain Legal Aid or afford a lawyer. Find a directory to free legal clinics by region.
ProBono Law of BC Pro Bono Law of BC was formed in April 2002 to promote, coordinate, and facilitate the delivery of pro bono legal services in BC.
People's Law School provides legal information in plain language on a variety of topics.
Salvation Army Pro Bono Lawyer Consultant Program The goal of this program is to bring together lawyers and low-income individuals in order to overcome barriers to justice in BC.
Law Student Legal Advice Program LSLAP is a non-profit society run by law students at the University of British Columbia that offers free legal advice and legal representation at clinics located throughout the Greater Vancouver Regional District.
West Coast LEAF is a national organization that promotes equality for women through legal action and public education based on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They are currently researching test case information on the effects of welfare cuts on single mothers.
BC Human Rights Coalition is an advocacy group for human rights complaints and info. Good links from this site.
Employment/Training/Career Planning
The YWCA has developed several programs to help job seekers and career changers, both women and men, of all ages. Of particular interest may be the Focus at Work, an employment program for women, which has special supports for single parenting women.
Lower Mainland Employment Resources. This website offers a comprehensive list of all employment programs in the Lower Mainland, including classification by funder and start date.
Be Your Own Boss Information and resources for those wanting to start their own business.
SEARCH (Self-Employed Arts-Related Contractors for Hire) Go to the sidebar for info about the S.E.A.R.C.H. Program, a four-week employment assistance program that helps artists and cultural workers create sustainable incomes through better employment and self-employment skills.
BC Work InfoNet is a one-stop BC-based web portal for info on jobs - including postings, educational resources, career planning.
Work Futures This is a comprehensive description of close to 200 occupations as they relate directly to the BC labour market. It is for learners, individuals interested in changing careers or re-entering the labour market, and for career practitioners.
Start Now! Work Futures website for Entry Level Jobs. Here you'll find information about careers in BC, including occupational descriptions and employment prospects for occupations that permit entry into the labour market with little or no post-secondary education and little or no previous work experience. Back to top.
Education and Training
The Education Planner is a free, easy-to-use online resource that provides comprehensive information on programs at all public post-secondary institutions in BC in one place.
Greater Vancouver Distance Education offers high school completion through distance and correspondence.
BC Ministry of Advanced Education Information about Provincial Ministry student financial aid resources.
Industry Training Authority offers information about apprenticeship, employers and industry career choices.
Back to top.
Welfare/Poverty Issues
PovNet The resources on the PovNet site are general information on issues related to poverty, and they include names and contact numbers of community advocates on these issues around the province.
St. Paul's Advocacy Office The Advocacy office provides help and support to anyone in difficulty. Welfare, housing, food access, immigration, legal, accommodation problems or access to government services are all addressed by caring volunteers who meet one-on-one with clients to work together and problem solve.
Vancouver Status of Women In addition to a variety of publications and discussions of women's issues, you can also go to this site to read and print off a copy of their Welfare Resource Guide for Women, which includes important info on benefits, time limits, rights and obligations, and eligibility.
BC Coalition of Women's Centres The mission of the BC Coalition of Women's Centres is to seek an end to the violence, poverty and other human rights abuses experienced by women in British Columbia, by supporting and promoting both independent and coordinated social change action among women's centres and other equity-seeking organizations. Good links to sites concerned with women's issues.
"Human Rights Denied" A report released in April 2005 outlining the argument by four constitutional and human rights experts that the Government of BC discriminates against Single Mothers. Back to top.
Parenting
Parent Support Services of BC Its mandate is to prevent child abuse and to promote healthy relationships by supporting parenting, families and communities. Toll Free 1 800 665 6880.
Information Children's Parent Helpline provides information, support and practical suggestions. Also sponsors an Information Children's Parent Helpline 604 291 3548.
BC Council for the Family provides resources and programs on parenting.
Burnaby Family Life Institute Burnaby Family Life services are primarily in the area of early intervention and prevention. Services are focused on the well-being of our children and community and alleviate the need for more costly crisis intervention services by government authorities.
Volunteer Grandparents brings together people of grand parenting age with children who do not have the immediate presence of grandparents or older adults in their every day lives.
Vancouver Family Services Services range from prevention to intervention, including; abuse prevention & trauma treatment; addictions treatment; adoption services; community education & development; counselling; employee assistance; employment services; immigrant services; intensive family & parenting services;.
Parent Help Line offers parents and caregivers access to information, support and referral 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It's anonymous, bilingual and free from anywhere in Canada. Professional counselling staff is available at your convenience, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-888-603-9100 to answer parenting questions. Also available on-line is an extensive library of topics related to all aspects of parenting, any all ages. Any issue, any parent, anytime. Website also offers info and resources on many parenting issues.
4 Blocks to Building a Lifelong Relationship with Your Daughter This link will take you to a brief outline of 4 keys ways to build a positive relationship with your daughter, particularly during her pre-teen years. The e-book has been prepared by the "Good 2B a Girl" website, a positive resource for girls and women of all ages.
Mothers Are Women This website meets the unique needs of women who believe that the decision to remain at home with their children for some period is an affirmation of feminism, and who still face the isolation and stigma of this choice in today's society. Good links to Canadian websites for women and mothers.
Single Parent's Tips is part of a "Life Tips" website, with a lot of information and opinions about single parenting.
Nobody's Perfect Parenting Programs Consortium of agencies in East Vancouver that offer Nobody's Perfect, a six- to eight-week, free parenting program for parents with children up to five years of age. Back to top.
Recreation
Find Family Fun A guide to family fun in Vancouver, with over 227 activities listed. Activities are rated by kids, moms, and families, and there are coupons for activities that can be printed from the website.
YMCA Family Ys and Camps for Kids provides subsidized memberships for its two Family Ys, including summer camp programs for kids.
Vancouver Parks Board Go here to find recreational locations, recreation centres, costs and more, and don't forget to see if you're eligible for the Leisure Access Card that will reduce your cost.
Mothers in Motion An excellent source of information for mothers wanting to add activity to their lives, including an application to a monthly award of dollars to support new activity. Could include childminding dollars and equipment purchase.
KidSport Here is a website that offers low income/single moms help by providing funds up to $100 in sports for children 5–18 years of age.
Free Stuff
BC Digital Divide is an organization that understands that not having a computer in the the 21st century is comparable to illiteracy in the past. They work to connect those who might not be able to afford a computer with those with computers to donate.
Vancouver Reuses and Surrey Reuses are websites where you can sell, trade or give away used or surplus items that you would otherwise throw away. You can post listings of items and materials you wish to get rid of or look for those available.
Used Vancouver is a great way to buy and sell used stuff, on-line, free! Categories of stuff include automobiles, children's clothing, computers, household items, and pets. There is also a section for free, barter, trade, and best offer. Back to top.
Health and Wellness
BC Health Guide On-line Information on more than 3,000 common health topics, tests, procedures and other resources is available to BC residents. British Columbians also have 24-hour, toll-free access to registered nurses specially trained to provide confidential health information and advice on the telephone. Within Greater Vancouver call 604 215 4700.
Estronaut An American site that contains some good women's health articles and general information. Back to top.
Feminist Issues
BC Coalition of Women's Centres The mission of the BC Coalition of Women's Centres is to seek an end to the violence, poverty and other human rights abuses experienced by women in British Columbia, by supporting and promoting both independent and coordinated social change action among women's centres and other equity-seeking organizations. Good links to sites concerned with women's issues.
Cool Women Great links to sites related to women's issues - with good historical information about women in Canada.
The Women's Future Fund is the first and only national women's federation in Canada. Their goal is to increase the self-sufficiency of national women's organizations that are working for equality and a better quality of life for women and girls across Canada. Good info on women in Canada, and women's organizations.
Policy Action Research List (PAR-L) is a bilingual, electronic network of individuals and organizations interested in women-centered policy issues in Canada. It is a support for the community of feminist researchers and activists in Canada and Québec. Back to top.
Community
City of Vancouver Community WebPages Look up your neighbourhood to discover resources close to home.
Singlemom.com An American website that offers a virtual site for single mothers to meet, leverage each other's experiences, gain practical advice, build friendships and contacts.
Vancouver Community Network A comprehensive listing of diverse community resources.
Commercial Drive Community Guide Community Guide for Commercial Drive area plus all of Vancouver. Good links to family friendly neighbourhood resources.
Various
Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau The Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau provides food vouchers and toys for low-income families in Vancouver.
Nic's Garage Nic's has all female staff who have started a program in which they repair donated cars at no charge, and then gift them to women in the community in need. Check out the website or call them at 604-708-3313.
Big Brothers Vancouver Information about organization whose mission is to promote the healthy development of children through a variety of quality mentoring programs which match children with positive adult role models, and to work collaboratively with other youth-serving agencies to ensure a high standard of mentoring programs.
Big Sisters Vancouver - Big Sisters is committed to enhancing the confidence, self-esteem and well-being of girls through supportive friendships with caring women. The program matches Lower Mainland girls (ages 7–17) with a volunteer Big Sister in a one-to-one mentoring relationship.
Frugal Living Articles about living on one income, particularly good for Single Parents.
Women Net Canadian women's virtual resource site - national but searchable for Vancouver resources and information.
Questions about other services? Call or email us:
YWCA Single Mothers' Support Services
tel 604 895 5802
singlemothers@ywcavan.org
*This is by no means a complete list. The inclusion of a website here does not imply that the YWCA endorses its content, nor does the omission of a site imply that it is not valuable. If you have a source of information that you have used to make a difference in your life, please contact us and we will add it to the list.
