Some single parents in Revelstoke get provincial support in new program

Single parents in Revelstoke can take advantage of some new provincial government benefits aimed at helping them out.

Under the program, more than 16,000 single parents province-wide on income and disability assistance will have access to a range of supports through WorkBC Employment Services Centre.

“We are still in the very early stages, the program just launched on September 1,” Revelstoke’s Work BC manager Otti Brown said. “While Revelstoke doesn’t have a lot of people on income assistance, I do hope that any single parents in our community will make an appointment to come talk to us about the program and the benefits it can provide.

[quote_right]While Revelstoke doesn’t have a lot of people on income assistance, I do hope that any single parents in our community will make an appointment to come talk to us about the program and the benefits it can provide. — WorkBC manager Otti Brown [/quote_right]

“For our community, the impact will really be about the individual. This program has some significant supports and that can make a big difference for someone.”

Single parents who do seek out the help will go through an assessment that will look at their aptitude and previous work experience as well as the local job market and map out the supports each person needs to help them move off income assistance and find sustainable employment.

“The focus will be to design a path for each individual that benefits them and their future. We aren’t looking at specific [work] sectors,” Brown said.

Single parents may also be eligible for:

-up to 12 months of funded training for an in-demand job, or a paid work experience placement. Single parents will also be able to remain on income assistance if they attend a training program.

-Child care costs during training or work placement and for the first year of employment.

-Public transit costs to and from school.

-Exemptions for bursaries, scholarships and grants that are required for the program of study have also been extended to single parents in approved training programs.

-A full-suite of WorkBC Employment Services Centre services such as workshops on resume writing and interview preparation.

Work BC has services for everyone depending on eligibility. Brown explains for example if you have an attachment to EI (Employment Insurance), you could potentially have access to skills training, self-employment supports or wage subsidies depending on individual need.

“We generally have about 160 clients being case managed at any given time,” she said. “We also usually have over 100 jobs posted on our board at any given time. Of course this varies depending on the season.”

As well, through recent changes to the province’s income assistance program, all families on income assistance and disability are eligible for:

– Increased earnings exemption; from $200 to $400 per month, or $300 to $500 per month for individuals with a child with disabilities; and

– Supplemental health coverage for a full year after they leave income assistance for employment (dental, optical and premium-free Ministry of Health MSP and PharmaCare).

Learn more here.