From our beginnings in 1929 – when a small group of citizens in Vancouver came together with the hope of effecting change and improving the unjust social conditions in their community – through the almost 90 years of John Howard Society program delivery in our region, we have been working towards our vision of a safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all.

We continue to be inspired by the people and communities we serve, and work to strengthen community by contributing to public safety and creating environments where everyone can feel welcome and respected. We are determined to be resilient in our advocacy and provide services that promote community inclusion, build healthy relationships, and contribute to meaningful long-term impact for the people we serve.

To read more About Us click here

We are so proud of our accomplishments, and hope that you will share in our pride as we look back and reflect on our 2017-18 year.

Over the last few years, we have gotten to know Jennifer through her outreach workers and more recently as a resident at Miller Block. Jennifer is shy at first and takes time to open up to people, but she is slowly building connections in the community that allow her to make changes in her life. Jennifer grew up as a child in care and has a history that includes complex trauma, substance use, and violence. Having a home that is removed from the Downtown Eastside where she has spent a good amount of her adult life has given Jennifer the ability to see alternative futures for herself.

We are very proud of the work Jennifer has been doing to overcome the challenges in her life and are grateful to be able to support her in her journey.

Click here to read A Letter to Jennifer

“I have been a resident of Elliott House for 18 months, my 4th shot at Day Parole. I had served 36 years of a life sentence 20 years before that. I’ve battled alcohol and drug addiction most of my life and had problems with authority as well. These issues have been the biggest contributing factors in my parole violations.”

Since becoming a resident of the Elliott House program, Dave has had to sort out the difference between modern community living and the way he’s had to live as an inmate. Dave is an example of someone who has grown as a person through his own hard work, his own honesty, and his resiliency. The team at Elliott House recognizes his hard work, and the struggles he faces that we can be aware of but, not truly understand.  

Click here to read Dave’s thoughts on the Elliott House program

Our New Fraser Street Office!

After a long wait, we were so excited to open our new Fraser Street Community Services Office to our staff and the community in June 2017!

We’re pleased to report that our first year in our new Fraser Street building has surpassed our expectations. The new space offers a collaborative staff workplace, walk-in social service center, and 8 newly renovated affordable housing units.

With our new Community Services office we have been able to expand our programs and services, and provide a community space focused on building a strong, inclusive community that advocates for and assists community members with complex barriers.

We are so excited to continue to establish relationships and community inclusion initiatives in the Fraser Street neighbourhood that we have been a part of for over 15 years.

Photos are of our Staff Grand Opening – June 6, 2017 & 2017 AGM – September 21, 2017

In April 2017, we were pleased to be able to introduce the Homeless Prevention Program!

The BC Housing Homeless Prevention Program (HPP) connects people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with housing. The program focuses on the prevention of homelessness by targeting individuals and families who are Absolute Homelessness or At Risk of Homelessness due to crisis or transition, including;

• People leaving the corrections and hospital systems;
• Women who have experienced violence or are at risk of violence;
• Youth, including those leaving the care system; and
• People of Aboriginal descent

JHSLM Homeless Prevention Program (HPP) Outreach services are provided in the communities of Vancouver and Chilliwack, directly engaging people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by working with them to assess their needs, assisting with personal goals, and connecting individuals and families with stable accommodation and appropriate services.

Read more about our HPP program here

In April 2017, we were pleased to receive one year-limited funding for the creation of our Building Foundations Job Creation Partnership (JCP) project.

Building Foundations is a supported employment program which provided hands-on painting and drywall patching training and work experience for individuals who face barriers to employment. The program provides supported employment experience, with two main goals in mind:

1. To deliver high quality interior and exterior painting and drywall services for supported housing and non-profit organizations

2. To provide dignified and meaningful work experience for people experiencing barriers to employment such as previous incarceration, homelessness, and poverty

New programs in 2018-19

In the first few months of our 2018-19 year, we have been lucky enough to introduce two new programs which provide supports and services to individuals in our community.

Community Case Management and Supervision (CCMS)

Acquiring Community-Based Employment Skills (ACES)

The work that we do would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our amazing staff team.

Congratulations to our 2017-18 employee recognition award recipients! From our rising stars to our legends, our team is caring, supportive, and determined to provide the best advocacy and support for the people we serve.

Spirit of John Howard Award

Laura Speer, Reintegration Worker

JHSLM Awards of Excellence

Rising Star ☆Eric Mah, Controller

Champion🎖Jaylin Schiul, Community Living Outreach Worker

Legend 👑Pam Flegel, Regional Director

Click here to read more!

“I feel so privileged to be a part of this organization… from a Board perspective, we want to play our role to maintain our performance – not for us, but for the people we serve – ensuring, to quote our newly updated Vision: A safe, healthy, and inclusive community for all”

Click here to read his message

“The theme of our reports this year is A year of Inspiration, Growth, and Teamwork – a statement which I feel summarizes our 2017-18 year perfectly From our continued focus on person-centered services and collaborative partnerships to our increased growth across the organization, we have had a busy but exciting year!”

Click here to read his message

Click here to read a note from our Executive Directors