FUNDING PROVIDED BY:
January to December 2021
Working with multiple community partners to help address digital connectivity through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the past year, digital connections became more important than ever before. How often do you use your smartphone for critical communication like checking in on friends and family, making appointments, working from home, or attending online school?
Unfortunately, many at-risk individuals in Vancouver are currently living without digital connectivity due to the high-cost barriers of smartphones and cell plans. From January to December 2021, EMPOWER Vancouver provided 180 months of free cell phone bills and over 30 smartphone devices.
With the help of local organizations like EMBERS Eastside Works, we worked with clients in the Downtown Eastside and Vancouver area to provide free cell phones and six months of phone bills to those who need connection the most. EMBERS is an innovative income generation hub located in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, helping Vancouver’s most marginalized attain stability and self-sufficiency through social innovation programs that offer employment services and support. Connect Vancouver is also currently working with clients referred to Empower Vancouver from the Union Gospel Mission Vancouver.
The support of our community partners in this project has truly made all the difference, allowing us to reach more people than ever before. That is why we are so thankful to be aided in this journey by our funding partners, Taking it Global - Rising Youth and the City of Vancouver - Homeless Action Week, as well as EMBERS Eastside works.
