The Advocacy Centre — 521 Vernon Street
Skilled staff provide legal information, education and referral services. Violence, poverty, family law, child protection, affordable housing and homelessness are some of the issues The Advocacy Centre faces head on. The agency has a particular focus on assisting victims of crime, those living in poverty, people with disabilities and those in conflict with systems or individuals with greater power. The Centre actively promotes the rights and equality of women and all who are subject to oppression.
Established in 1988, The Advocacy Centre has been a program of Nelson CARES Society since 1989. It is famous for creating The Guide for Trouble Free Renting; Nelson on a Shoestring; Big Free Days and more.
Funding and training support comes from The Law Foundation and the provincial Ministries of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Attorney General.
For more information, come to our website
Earth Matters — 521 Vernon Street
Earth Matters is a youth-driven,
environmentally and socially focused organization that has been providing on the ground projects in Nelson since 1995. Earth Matters developed two social enterprise businesses to support the youth initiatives that were on going in the community, including Cottonwood Medicinal Herb Garden and Hendryx Street Forest Garden, as well as a variety of workshops and education programs. Earth Matters also developed a Community Composting facility to respond to the overwhelming demand for residential and commercial composting services in our area.
 Earth Matters volunteer Cheralynne Kennedy jumps out of a back yard composter to promote the Urban Composting Project – Photo courtesy of Tim Hicks |
 Heather and Rhys doing a product demo at the Ellison's Market |
Social enterprises are a way for non-profit organizations to support their community work while reducing the dependency for grant funding to sustain multi-year projects. Earth Matters ECO Store store opened on December 5, 2009 behind the New Grand Hotel. In September 2010 it moved and reopened at 563 Ward Street, under the blue awnings of Ward Street Place in downtown Nelson, BC. The ECO Store is an innovative Retail Training site for people experiencing barriers to employment as well as an exciting new hub for environmentally sustainable lifestyle products, information, and service. There is an online access to its products providing unique environmentally sustainable products to all.
Check out the Earth Matters website for current details on these and other projects.
Ward Street Place — 567 Ward Street
Affordable housing in Nelson is critically low due to sky rocketing rents and conversions in the downtown core. In March 2002 Nelson District Community Resource Society (now known as Nelson CARES Society) purchased Ward Street Place to preserve affordable housing for Nelson residents with low and limited income. Financial contributions from various funders enabled NDCRS to make a down-payment towards the purchase of the building and undertake massive renovations.
Building operations are solely funded by rental income; we receive no government subsidies to assist with building operations or rents. Commercial tenants on the ground floor are important partners in this social enterprise.
In addition to the 34 Single Residential Occupancy (SRO) units, the 3 one bedroom apartments on Victoria St., and Stepping Stones emergency shelter, the 500 block of Ward Street (pictured above) is home to five thriving commercial tenants including Vadim Kristopher Hair Salon, Still Eagle, Hairlines, Fisherman's Market and Capitol Barbershop.
Stepping Stones — 567 Ward Street
Located in the Ward Street Place building, Stepping Stones is an emergency shelter for those who find themselves without safe housing in the West Kootenay area. There are 17 available beds in 5 bedrooms, with a common
room, kitchen, laundry and shared washroom facilities. Stepping Stones is now double staffed 24/7. With the support from the Nelson Committee on Homelessness (NCOH) and funding from federal Homelessness PartneringStrategy, Stepping Stones was able to put into place the Residential Transitional Support Worker position to provide one-to-one assistance for residents to locate and maintain housing for people who have had numerous stays at Stepping Stones.
When Stepping Stones for Success first opened in December of 2004, we had enough funding to house people 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stepping Stones is now staffed "24/7" and offers a program aspect for people who require and request assistance in maintaining their housing in Nelson. In 2009 it served 292 individuals and was at an average capacity of 94%.
We would like to continue to provide our clients with relief of hardship around the clock. The shelter accepts donations of food, computer equipment, furniture and household items on an ongoing basis. In particular, bedding, towels, and toilet paper are always needed. Contact Robert Brown at 250.352.9876 if you can help.
Both Stepping Stones for Success and Ward Street Place demonstrate Nelson CARES Society's keen commitment to ending homelessness and securing affordable housing in Nelson.
Services for Community Living — 521 Vernon Street
Services for Community Living Residential Program provides for 11 adults with developmental disabilities and complex health care needs. This program offers person centred support and assistance with at-home and community based activities. Some of the individuals are seniors and many have been in this program for over a decade. Many of our care staff have worked for the organization for more than 10 years and 5 for more than 20 years! As a result, our residential clients enjoy long-standing relationships with their caregivers. These are relationships of which we are proud.
Supported Employment Program — 521 Vernon Street
Supported Employment Program (formerly Career Development Services) offers assistance in all aspects of getting and keeping a job that is a good fit. From start to finish, the dedicated staff are committed to their
clients employment success and partners with the business community to operate an outstanding recycling business. Partnerships have been developed with Earth Matters to develop employment opportunities in their "green" initiatives.
Thank you to the over 20 businesses for their continued support and involvement with this program.
Former SEP Recycling Job coach Melanie Sylvestre and
participant Jason Rempel
– Photo courtesy of Della McLeod