Neighbourhood Houses are known as places to connect, volunteer, and become involved in the community. Many people do not realize the important work that neighbourhood houses do to help people feel a sense of belonging.  This is known as social inclusion, and is particularly important when community members are experiencing a challenge or barrier in their lives. When people feel socially isolated, they often experience negative impacts to their health and well-being. Our open doors and inclusive programs can make a tremendous difference and help people feel valued and motivated.

We are pleased to share some stories from people who have benefitted from ANHBC neighbourhood houses through our collective work on social inclusion. Enjoy!

Wing Sun - South Vancouver Neighbourhood House

Wing Sun is an older adult who was becoming very isolated at home. He was told by his doctor that it wouldn’t be long before he was wheelchair-bound. Hearing this, his case manager referred him to the Beulah Adult Day program at the South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (SVNH).

While he was eager to get out of the house, Wing Sun was concerned about how he would get to Beulah as he would need to rest several times just to walk the short distance. Realizing this, the program staff helped Wing Sun arrange for the HandyDART bus service.

When he was finally able to leave the house on his own, it didn’t take long for Wing Sun to start shining at the program. He was excited to be able to share his thoughts with this new group of people, and began to bring in newspaper clippings and articles about health, Feng shui, diet and current events. This helped him to easily start a discussion over morning tea with the other participants.

In 2014, Helen, who is legally blind, also began visiting the day program. Wing Sun formed an instant friendship with Helen, as she also greatly enjoyed discussing health and herbal medicine. Each week, the two of them can be found sitting together and chatting over a cup of tea. In the mornings, Wing Sun helps Helen to read the lunch menu and places her order. They are rarely far apart while at the centre; and although they both face their own physical challenges, they bring a lot of joy to each other.

The friendships that Wing Sun has made at the Beulah Adult Day Program have motivated him to keep attending throughout the years, and have kept him physically active. Exercising with the other seniors has kept him strong and able-bodied so that now – almost five years later – he still doesn’t need to use a wheelchair.

 Benilda - Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House

Uprooting oneself from one’s comfort zone is not an easy feat for anyone, but Benilda found it particularly difficult. When her family immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2008, it was her visits to Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House (FHNH) that made her feel connected and at home.

“All the staff members are so warm and welcoming,” says Benilda. “I felt included, seen and heard. Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House gave me the chance to show who I am when they trusted me to facilitate a multicultural group for parents, caregivers and their children. This experience validated my worth as an individual and as a part of my community.”

Benilda found that visiting FHNH’s family programs as a volunteer and a participant helped her to better assimilate and learn the ins and outs of the system of her new country. She credits the neighbourhood house’s training and workshops for empowering her.

Through FHNH, she had an opportunity to represent the community through various activities that also helped to hone her skills and explore different places, connect with people and gain confidence due to the staff’s belief in her ability and capacity. Programs such as Families Branching Out, Nobody’s Perfect, Financial Literacy Program, Neighbourhood Small Grants Program and others – which she discovered through the neighbourhood house – have also helped Benilda find success in her new homeland.

“FHNH helped me not to feel homesick for my native land, but assisted me to learn to trust myself and fly on my own,” Benilda adds.  “FHNH truly serves as the wind beneath my wings. Thank you FHNH for everything.”

Barb - Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House

Barb was homeless for eight months and suffering from multiple barriers and mental health issues – including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Originally from Brunswick House First Nation outside of Chapleau, Ontario, Barb’s poor health kept her indoors after she moved to the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. From then on, she isolated herself from the outside world.

Barb’s health and medical concerns are challenges she faces on a daily basis. Along with arthritis, she has also developed asthma. After much encouragement and many invitations, she finally decided to give the Kwayastsut Community Engagement Program a try; her depression and sadness had finally become too much to bear.

Barb says she made the right decision with the program, and it makes her feel good to be part of something small but valuable in her life.  She now realizes that she can go out and do things without fear – which stemmed from financial worries, anxiety around socializing, and feeling she could no longer do the things she could do before her disability. The Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House has worked to turn her insecurity around for Barb – helping to build her self-esteem and gain the encouragement she needed to do something different for herself.

Kiko - Alexandra Neighbourhood House

With a lack of all-ages, safe, sober spaces to meet other LGBTQ2S youth and express one’s identity, it's easy to feel like the only queer in your community.

This is exactly what Kiko was facing in high school upon moving to a completely new community, feeling isolated and struggling with mental illness at 16 years old.  Just as Kiko was beginning to come to terms with their identity, it became harder for them to relate to both straight and cis friends… and harder to express themself. Around the same time, Kiko was seeking out the volunteer hours needed to graduate and joined the South Surrey/White Rock (SS/WR) Youth Collective – a safe haven for them.  In fact, the SS/WR Collective is a diverse group of youth, aged 13-24, who work together to create a safe, sober, inclusive space for youth to connect, create and innovate. This is just what Kiko needed.

A volunteer for three years, and now a staff member at Alexandra Neighbourhood House, Kiko has had the chance to develop and run LGBTQ2S drop-in programs and events, including a Queer Prom attended by youth from across the Fraser Valley.

Not only does Kiko now have a supportive network of queer friends, they serve as an inspiration to others. Kiko has been inspired to continue working in the community to help ensure other LGBTQ2S youth have the same opportunities to connect with each other.

John - Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House

John came to the Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House (CCNH) as a quiet and timid eighth grader who struggled to connect with his peers and others within the community. Before joining CCNH, John’s world had felt quite small… simply going from school to home most days.  But slowly and over time, this neighbourhood house grew to be like a second home to John and allowed him to flourish in his community.

As a participant of Cedar Cottage’s Summer Youth Projects program, John decided he wanted to connect more with his elders and created the important “Seniors Stories.”  Through this project, he reached out to local seniors who volunteered with Cedar Cottage and documented their experiences – including how they came to be part of the neighbourhood. John’s stories carefully and thoughtfully documented the immense struggle, resilience and hope of these elders.

Empowered by these stories and experiences, John has formed meaningful relationships and become an ambassador for Cedar Cottage. In this role, John helps welcome new youth to CCNH and works to make sure they feel comfortable at this neighbourhood house – just as he now does. Through CCNH’s encouragement and programs, John has grown to become an inspiring and thoughtful leader among his peers.

Masi - Kitsilano Neighbourhood House

Many immigrants and refugees whose first language is not English end up feeling isolated and very alone. Even though she is sometimes driven to isolation because of the language barrier, Masi reaches beyond this by using her sewing skills through a Kitsilano Neighbourhood House volunteer program to facilitate weekly sewing, knitting, and crochet classes in her home. This gives Masi a chance to practice her English and make new connections.

Through these classes, Masi creates a welcoming space by providing tea and snacks. As a result, her home has become a friendly and inclusive hub of warm conversation. Indeed, some participants are known to come only for the conversation and company – and many are now asking that these classes be held twice a week.

An avid cook, Masi also often shares her food with staff and residents. She participates in potluck lunches at Kits House, where she shares the Persian food that she has prepared alongside other participants. She and her husband also share their love of music with the local community by performing the violin and drums at various Kits House events. Despite the language barrier, Masi has been on several trips organized by Kits House over the past year, including visits to the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Grouse Mountain, the H.R. MacMillan Space Center and UBC Botanical Garden.

J.L. - Gordon Neighbourhood House

J.L. is a participant in Gordon Neighbourhood House’s Seniors in Action program, which promotes physical activity, social inclusion and independence for seniors who live in Vancouver’s West End. Shortly after the death of her husband about a year ago, J.L.’s neighbour started to bring her to the community lunches at Gordon House to meet new people and socialize with other seniors.

Over time, J.L. joined the seniors’ lounge discussion group, then the walking group, and recently the in-house Seniors’ Advisory Committee where she now advocates for seniors’ needs.  She has also taken on volunteering in her community, and assisted on a Small Grants project with her fellow neighbours.

Throughout J.L.’s involvement at Gordon House, she has expressed how important it was for her to feel she could join the activities at her own pace and that the programs provided a safe space for everyone. After her husband passed away, J.L. became very aware of the potential to become isolated and fall into deep depression – but credits the Gordon House for giving her a sense of community and much-needed support during an incredibly dark time.