July 16, 2012

ICBA partners with the Vancouver Resource Society

ASSOCIATION GUIDE

VANCOUVER RESOURCE SOCIETY

The Vancouver Resource Society helps give a home to young adults with physical and developmental challenges.

SUBMITTED BY THE ICBA

Burnaby, B.C.

The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) of B.C. knows that when its members build B.C., we also have an opportunity to help build a better life for people in our communities.

That’s why for the past decade, the ICBA has worked with a single charity that’s making a real difference – the Vancouver Resource Society (VRS).

“We not only love what VRS does for people – but we love how they do it,” said ICBA president Philip Hochstein.

“The work they do is incredible – making sure young adults facing physical and developmental challenges have a place to call home and carve out independent lives.”

The VRS has been in operation since 1992 and provides housing and care for 150 clients – most of them young adults. The only government-housing options for them tend to be institutional settings.

“We provide something completely different – it’s supported living for young adults who are making their way in the world,” said VRS executive director Ken Fraser. “We provide the medical, counselling and home support our clients need, so they can live as a part of society.”

The society does this with 19 homes and units in 11 buildings it owns in Greater Vancouver and Victoria.

The facilities are small enough to be a home for the residents, yet large enough to allow a pooling of care and resources.

“Part of the magic is that the VRS build these units without a single dime of government money,” Fraser said.

“It’s all built with donations, and leveraging its existing property portfolio.”

Operating the facilities is paid for with the government funding for the care of the clients. There is no government funding of infrastructure – only services.

Every year, the ICBA donates proceeds from its Open Shop Golf Tournament to the charity and project in need of funding.

It could be a new kitchen for residents or a new deck on one of the homes.

The ICBA taps into the expertise of its 1,200 strong membership to complete the job – and get the VRS a bargain price on the work.

“Everyone at ICBA is proud of our partnership with VRS – whether it’s through the funds raised or the work done directly for them,” Hochstein said.

“Private funds are building a valuable resource for the delivery of a public service – that’s a private-public partnership in action.”

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