A group that helps young aboriginal moms with housing in Burnaby is getting a financial boost from the federal government.

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society is receiving $666,500 through the Government of Canada’s homelessness partnering strategy.

Aunt Leah’s runs a transitional housing program that provides a safe place for young aboriginal moms who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. About eight to 10 moms go through the program each year.

The federal funding means the organization can buy the home they were renting.

“This purchase will ensure that vulnerable young mothers always have support and a home to return to,” said Gale Stewart, executive director of Aunt Leah’s.

“Our government is giving a hand-up to Canadians with housing needs and is helping those seeking to break free of the cycle of poverty and homelessness in Burnaby,” said senator Yonah Martin in a press release.

Aunt Leah’s has headquarters in New Westminster but runs the transitional housing program in Burnaby and has other projects all over the Lower Mainland. For more information, visit www.auntleahs.org.

© Copyright (c) Lower Mainland Publishing

“Our government is giving a hand-up to Canadians with housing needs, and is helping those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty here in Burnaby,” said Senator Martin. “Through this investment, Aunt Leah’s Society will be able to continue to provide transitional housing, and expand existing support services, to help young Aboriginal mothers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness achieve independent living.”

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society will receive $666,500 through the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy to purchase a facility, which the Society is currently renting and using for transitional housing. This will provide a safe and engaging place for young Aboriginal mothers who are homeless or vulnerable to homelessness to learn the life skills necessary for their development. An average of eight to ten mothers a year will go through the program offered at Aunt Leah’s House.

“Through the generous financial support of the Government of Canada, Aunt Leah’s has purchased its first House,” said Ms. Gale Stewart, Founder and Executive Director of the Society. “Aunt Leah’s House is a fully licensed program for Aboriginal teen mothers. This purchase will ensure that vulnerable young mothers always have support and a home to return to.”

In September 2008, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $1.9 billion over five years, until 2014, for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians. This commitment gives the Government the flexibility to work with the provinces and territories and municipalities, and with charitable organizations, to develop ways to improve the effectiveness of federal spending in the area of housing and homelessness.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan has built on these investments by making an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing, and by making available up to $2 billion in loans to Canadian municipalities over two years for housing-related infrastructure improvements. The Government’s investments are creating jobs, stimulating local economies and improving the quality of life for many Canadians. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

The availability of safe and stable housing and related supports is an important element in addressing homelessness and helping individuals who are homeless achieve greater self-sufficiency and a better quality of life. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy emphasizes longer-term supportive and transitional housing by focusing on a housing-first approach to help people make the transition out of the cycle of homelessness.

For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, please visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness.

May 2010: Foodsafe, Nutrition and Cooking Club

Wednesday, May 5, 2010
4pm-8pm
FoodSafe Course

Wednesday, May 12, 2010
4pm-8pm
FoodSafe Course

Wednesday, May 19, 2010
5pm-7pm
Nutrition Tour

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
5pm-7pm
Cooking Club

May 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

Our May ILFFY theme will be Nutrition. We start the month by offering the FoodSafe course, which will give participants the requirements for food safety training. Next, we will be meeting with a Nutritionist to do a “Nutrition on a Budget” tour at Save-On-Foods. Finally, we will be giving participants an opportunity to practice their food safety and nutritional habits at our Cooking Club.

For general information about the ILFFY workshops, please CLICK HERE.

Aunt Leah’s Twisted Fork Bistro Fundraiser

Aunt Leah’s Twisted Fork Fundraising Event

If you haven’t been to Twisted Fork Bistro yet to sample their amazing brunch menu, Saturday May 8th is the time to do it! $2 of every brunch sold will be donated to Aunt Leah’s.

The Sunday Suppers are the Twisted Forks’ own tradition where guests can enjoy a delicious meal complete with salad, home made bread, entree, dessert and beer or wine all for $25. On Sunday May 9th, $4 of every Sunday Supper sold will also be donated to help support Aunt Leah’s programs.

Sunday, May 9th Supper Menu
Kobe Beef Lasagna
Green Salad
Garlic Bread
Tiramisu
Glass of Wine/Beer

Just about everyone who works at Aunt Leah’s or who is on our board of directors has been to the Twisted Fork and will encourage you to try their amazing food. It’s also a warm, beautiful space with cozy booths and thoughtful artwork. Make sure to take in the upholstery and pillows worked on by Aunt Leah’s very own Brook Calvert and Theresa Olson during the Twisted Forks’ renovation!

Planning Your Own Aunt Leah’s Fundraiser

Planning your own Aunt Leah’s Fundraiser does more than benefit the our organization – it brings a community closer together. It can be a team-building activity for co-workers, an event for neighbours or a whole neighbourhood, a class or school project that teaches the spirit of giving to children and their classmates/friends, or a personal wish to do more for your community. There are unlimited reasons to hold your own fundraiser and help a charity like Aunt Leah’s.

Many members of the Aunt Leah’s Community have held fundraisers in our honour over the years. Just recently, Tony Walsh held a Curling Bonspeil and Gale Stewart hosted the very successful Johnny Cash Tribute Night. Later in June this summer, Megan Halprin will be taking pledges to shave her head to raise a goal of $10,000.

To find out more about how you can host your own Aunt Leah’s Fundraiser please visit our Aunt Leah’s Fundraisers page or call 604-525-1204 ext 228.

To see a list of all Upcoming 2010 Aunt Leah’s Events, please CLICK HERE.

April 2010: Personal Awareness

Wednesday, April 7, 2010
5pm-7pm
Project Goal
Presented By: Theresa

Wednesday, April 14, 2010
5pm-7pm
Enneagram Personality Types
Presented By: Erika

Wednesday, April 21, 2010
5pm-7pm
Bamboo Yoga

Wednesday, April 28, 2010
5pm-7pm
Bamboo Yoga

April 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

In April our ILFFY workshops will be focusing on Personal Awareness and are intended to develop self-confidence, self-regulation, initiative, and motivation.

On April 7th, Aunt Leah’s Director of Communications, Theresa Olson, will be leading a Project Goal workshop that will inspire our youth to gain insight into their future endeavors. On the 14th, ILFFY Coordinator, Erika Morgan, will be presenting the Enneagram’s Nine Personality Types, which allows individuals to identify with their personality and gain insight into their behaviors, fears, and desires. The last two sessions on April 21st and 28th will be lead by instructors from Bamboo Yoga, who will offer a variety of techniques in recognizing and managing stress and anxiety and maintaining a calm inner self.

For general information about the ILFFY workshops, please CLICK HERE.

ILFFY, or Independent Living for Families and Youth, is a series of ongoing workshops designed to help youth and families work towards successful independent living. The following ILFFY workshops are organized for March 2010:

March 2010: Environmental Awareness & Worldhost Training

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
No Workshop

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
5pm-7pm
Environmental Awareness
Presented By: Candice

Wednesday, March 17, 2010
5pm-7pm
Burn’s Bog Conservation Society

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
4pm-8pm
Worldhost Training- Part 1
Presented By: Angelina

Wednesday, March 31, 2010
4pm-8pm
Worldhost Training – Part 2
Presented By: Angelina

March 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

The first two ILFFYs in March will be dedicated to Environmental Awareness. Candice Lander will be providing the first workshop and the second will be presented by Burn’s Bog Conservation Society. Both will focus on the importance of Environmental Awareness and how we can all become better advocates for the Earth.

The last two ILFFYs in March will focus on Workplace Training. Angelina Oates will be instructing the WorldHost program, a provincially recognized course that will give our youth credentials in the Customer Service and Tourism industries.

For general information about the ILFFY workshops, please CLICK HERE.

ILFFY, or Independent Living for Families and Youth, is a series of ongoing workshops designed to help youth and families work towards successful independent living. The following ILFFY workshops are organized for February 2010:

February 2010: Legal Resources

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
5pm-7pm
Sexual Self Esteem
Presented By: YouthCo AIDS Society

Wednesday, February 10, 2010
5pm-7pm
John Howard Society
Presented By: Jim Mandelin

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
5pm-7pm
Child & Family Services
Presented By: Cameray

Wednesday, February 24, 2010
5pm-7pm
Pivot Legal Resources

February 2010: ILFFY Workshops Overview

During the month of February, Aunt Leah’s Society will be having a number of guest speakers come to our ILFFY workshops and speak with our youth about Legal Resources available to them in the community. We are excited to welcome back Jim Mandelin from the John Howard Society and look forward to new presenters from Cameray Child and Family Services and Pivot Legal Resources.

For general information about the ILFFY workshops, please CLICK HERE.

January 19, 2010
VICTORIA — Children and youth have a right to make a complaint about government services they receive, and the complaint process should be easy with quick resolution, British Columbia’s Representative for Children and Youth and B.C.’s Ombudsperson say in a joint report released today.

In Hearing the Voices of Children and Youth, Representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Ombudsperson Kim Carter point out ways in which the Ministry of Children and Family Development can make its complaint process more accessible and responsive to the vulnerable young people it serves. They identify seven opportunities for the government to improve the process.

“Vulnerable young people have a right to have their voices heard and their views considered in decisions that affect them,” said Turpel-Lafond. “If they disagree with or fail to understand why they are being treated in a certain way, they need to know they have a right to complain and that their concerns will be heard.”

“One of the things we learned in this review was that children in care may not know how to raise concerns if they feel the Ministry of Children and Family Development is not addressing their needs or treating them fairly,” said Carter. “If we truly want to protect children and youth, it’s vital that the complaint process is well-known, readily accessible and provides timely responses.”

In a video posted on the web, a former youth in care, the Representative and the Ombudsperson discuss the complaint process, the roles of their offices and how a young person can make a complaint.

To view the full report, go to Hearing the Voices of Children and Youth: A Child-Centered Approach to Complaint Resolution.

Name: Alison Welty

Volunteer Position: Thrift Store Assistant

Volunteer Since: Christmas 2005

Alison Welty is one of many volunteers who donate their time to help support Aunt Leah’s Society. Alison is a volunteer with Aunt Leah’s Thrift Store and recently we sat down with her to ask her a few questions about herself and what motivates her to donate her time so generously.

Click here to find out more about Volunteer Opportunities with Aunt Leah's.

Where are you from?
Omaha, Nebraska USA

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am semi-retired and I have a friend here so I spend a couple of months in the summer here and also a few weeks at Christmas time.

What kind of work have you done in the past (volunteer or other)?
I have never volunteered before. This is my first volunteer job. In Omaha I was a teacher and taught children from grades 1-4. I still do some substitute work for those grades, as well as art, library and the “Head-start” program in pre-school.

How did you hear about Aunt Leah’s and what made you decide to come and volunteer with us?
I was a customer at the previous thrift store location on Hudson Street in Marpole and I was happy when the Thrift Store moved to Marine Drive because it’s even closer to where I was staying. I came to the store one day and there was a sign on the door that said it was closed but it should have been open that day. I talked to the Manager and he explained that there had been a flood and they were cleaning up before they could open again. I asked if he needed any help and I have been volunteering here ever since.

Do you have a personal connection to our mandate (helping youth and moms who are vulnerable)?
I connect personally with what Aunt Leah’s does because I have worked with children all my life. In Omaha, 70% of the school population (450 kids) were in the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. These children had no books at home and needed a lot of help. I would spend about $2000/year of my own money to help pay for their school supplies. When I retired, I had over 2500 children’s books in my personal collection. I donated these books along with all of my teachers supplies to a school in New Orleans that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Can you tell us a bit about how you feel about the work we do at Aunt Leah’s?
I love it. It’s a wonderful example of people helping people. I tell everyone about Aunt Leah’s.

Do you have a funny story about something that happened while you were volunteering?
A lot of families come to the store and they bring their children. I love children so they always come to me. Sometimes I show them the toys and keep them occupied while their parents are shopping. A little boy gave me a big kiss one day. The store is always clean and neat. The people are nice. It’s a nice place to be.

How does volunteering benefit you?
I like helping people. I have always been that way. I grew up on a farm and when someone needed help, the whole community would pitch in. I also like the good deals in the store!

How do you think we benefit from your efforts?
The Thrift Store needs people. Volunteers like me help to keep the store tidy and we keep the stock moving. Things like keeping all of the clothing tidy takes a lot of time. We are especially busy when people drop off donations and we have a lot of unpacking, sorting and pricing to do. More hands make it better.

What is your favorite thing about Aunt Leah’s/the Thrift Store?
Doing! Just keeping busy. I like the whole thing. Window displays, meeting people, even doing the dishes! It’s not like going to work. It’s good to do something to benefit other people. It’s fun.

What do you think about the Retail Training Program?
It’s a great program, a great opportunity.

Volunteering with Aunt Leah’s

Are you interested in volunteering with Aunt Leah’s or finding out about more ways that you can help? Please CLICK HERE to find out about all the ways you can help support Aunt Leah’s Independent LifeSkills Society.

Click here for more information about the 8th Annual Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert.

Aunt Leah’s 8th Annual
Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert
March 27, 2010

Aunt Leah’s 8th Annual Lonely Hearts Club Band benefit concert is an evening of musical entertainment featuring some of Vancouver’s best local performers playing their favorite Beatles songs. This year’s exciting lineup of performers include MC Colleen Brow, Dan Mangan, Rich Hope and His Evil Doers, Sarah Wheeler, Darker the Sky and the Beauties.

For more information about the 8th Annual Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert,
CLICK HERE.

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society invites you to help make a difference in the lives of deserving youth in the Greater Vancouver area. Aunt Leah’s helps foster children and mothers in need on their journey to self-sufficiency. We provide supported housing, job training, and coaching on the essential skills that many of us take for granted. Aunt Leah’s prevents teens from becoming homeless and prevents young mothers from losing their children to foster care.

Our fundraising efforts contribute significantly to these programs and their ongoing success. This year we are hosting our 8th Lonely Hearts Club Band Benefit Concert. The event will be held on Saturday, March 27th 2010 at the Polish Community Centre. Approximately 300 people attend the event every year.

This is an exciting opportunity to raise funds to support Aunt Leah’s programs and to indulge in an evening of live music and each musician’s creative interpretation of a Beatles song. Funds raised from this event go toward our Residential and Lifeskills Programs which support vulnerable young mothers and their babies.