Moving People From Poverty to Possibility
For too many people in our region, poverty is a daily—and difficult—struggle. It forces people and families to make impossible choices like whether to put food on the table or to pay the rent. It touches every aspect of a person’s life, making it difficult to get ahead and realize a future full of possibility.
With your support, United Way is helping to meet the basic needs of our community’s most vulnerable people and families, giving them the opportunity to build a better future. This includes providing the essential building blocks of a good life such as food, shelter and employment, while reducing vulnerability in the first place.
The Challenge
Poverty isn’t just about a pay cheque. In fact, it touches almost every aspect of a person’s life from food, shelter and employment to mental and physical well-being. It’s a social and economic issue that also impacts our entire community—and the people who live here.
Melanie’s Story – A dream comes true for a single mom and her kids
Mélanie and her kids were living in a substandard apartment. Thanks to a United Way funded agency, she found a new home and is starting her own business.
Program Funding
The categories listed below are examples of programs that receive financial support from the United Way Community Fund. These investments impact the lives of vulnerable children and youth in our communities.
Basic needs support
Providing healthy and nutritional meals for community members who need it most
Low barrier counselling and mental health support for vulnerable families and individuals
Emergency shelter and program services for people in recovery
Employment and Financial Security
Skills and employment training for people with disabilities
Adult literacy programs for non-native English speakers
Completing free income tax returns for low-income individuals
Charity Partners
Community Building Partnerships
100 More Homes Penticton
This is a collection of community leaders coming together to provide housing and supports to over 100 vulnerable people in Penticton.
A Way Home Kelowna
Community plan to address and prevent youth homelessness in Kelowna
Emergency Transportation Assistance Program
United Way partners with municipalities and Regional Districts to offer free bus tickets to charities whose clients have urgent transportation needs and no safe alternatives
Central Okanagan Poverty Reduction Strategy
Partnering with local service providers, United Way SIBC is facilitating a community drive poverty reduction strategy in the Central Okanagan
Your Donations At Work
Your gift to United Way helps give thousands of vulnerable people and families in our communities the opportunity to build a better future by providing the foundational building blocks to a life without poverty.
Comprehensive justice support for individuals in need, from shelter to employment access
Families of children with complex needs gained access to necessary counselling support, child specific parenting skills and community services
Healthy and nutritious meals, counselling and wellness programs provided to those in need
Your Impact
$10 provides one month of nutritious breakfasts for one student
$50 provides supplies for recreation programs at youth shelter
$100 provides 3 bike helmets for youth in bicycle safety program
$500 provides two months of licensed after school care for one child
$1,000 provides one at-risk youth with one year participation in outdoor sports program