The Work 2 Live Program provides safe homes and stability for young adults aged 19 - 27 who are facing homelessness, have experienced homelessness and/or housing instability.  Many are young people who have been in government care such as, Indigenous young adults, and Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, + other sexual and gender minorities (2SLGBTQQIA+).  They receive access to stable housing for 12-24 months while they focus on wellness, stability, and connection.  At Zero Ceiling Society of Canada we have witnessed participants move out of survival mode and create stability in their own lives.  As they do this, they are better able to succeed at work and find stable employment, pursue personal goals in health and wellbeing, build connections in their community, and create plans for the future.  Our program also makes a wider impact in the community.  We work with local employers to help them create an inclusive working environment and provide flexible support for the young people in our program.  We provide training so they can identify and support mental health needs in the workplace and provide accommodations so that youth who have experienced significant trauma can succeed.  

Our housing partnership with Whistler Housing Authority (1 x 3-bedroom apartment) remains strong and we have started a new partnership with the Whistler Valley Housing Society where we secured the new units (4 x 2-bedroom apartment + staff suite).  We obtained financial support from the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation to put towards furnishing the new units.  To fill our new units, new participants will be recruited through partnerships with Covenant House Vancouver, Directions Youth Services, Broadway Youth Resource Centre, and Sea to Sky Mental Health services, along with promotion to further youth agencies within the Sea to Sky and Metro Vancouver regions.  In June, we hosted our inaugural Zero Ceiling Community BBQ—an event focused on stewardship partnership development.  The event helped us strengthen relationships, and we secured a new job placement with a bike rental company (Gateway Bikes) for one participant, it was a great success!