Having little income or being unemployed is tough. You not only have to contend with struggling to make financial ends meet but also keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy. Here's a checklist of resources in your community where you can find low-cost entertainment, recreation, food, clothing, and services.
Boosting Self-Esteem
Support Services
Adjusting to unemployment or having little income is sometimes a shock to the system, especially when being a part of the workforce is important to one's self-image. Maintaining your self-esteem is so important, to remain healthy. Support services within your community can help you cope with some of your problems through openly sharing the issues that are bogging you down. Some support services also offer counseling, courses and workshops to support you or prepare you for re-entering into the job market.
call your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch for more information on services.
check also your local community centres/neighbourhood houses for programs and support groups.
Unemployment Referral & Information Lines
Unemployment and Job Agencies can help you find the assistance you need to regain or improve and update your skills.
contact your Employment Insurance office/Canada Employment Centre or consult 'blue pages' section in your phone book for more numbers to call.
also contact local YMCA/YWCA centres for more information on types of employment services and courses they offer.
Feeling overwhelmed with your problems?
Call a crisis line to talk it out and vent your frustration. Most are open 24 hours.
check your yellow pages under 'crisis centres' for numbers to dial.
also check with your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch for more up-to-date information.
Keeping active by filling your time
Recreation centres/Community centres
Local recreation and community centres offers a wide range of activities to keep you in control and focused on maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. Take a swim or go work out at the gym.
check under 'blue pages' in your phone book for local community centres and recreation centres.
Volunteer work
Feeling restless and looking for a way to make a difference in your community? Volunteering will keep you busy and motivated and also provide you with valuable experience and contacts in new fields.
check with local community centres and neighbourhood houses for postings.
also check at your local library's bulletin board about such offerings.
your local newspaper or community cable channel often posts requests for volunteers.
match your interests with your volunteering, like working with animals at the SPCA if you love animals, working with older people at a nursing home, or writing for a newsletter put out by your favourite non-profit organization.
if your community has a volunteer or self-help centre, call them and find out what opportunities there are
Continue to learn
Looking to gain a new set of skills or improve on an old set? Local School Boards, Community Colleges and Universities offer courses for personal advancement or for fun. Many offer discounted rates if you have a limited income, if you ask. Contact the Continuing Education Departments of the following for more information about the programs they offer.
University of Northern British Columbia 250/960-5555
University of Victoria 250/472-4747 University of British Columbia 604/822-1444
Simon Fraser University 604/291-5100
Open Learning Agency (Disability Services Office) 1-800-663-1663
Lower Mainland 431-3043
note: this is a partial list. Check the yellow pages under schools for a more complete listing of local community colleges.
look in the white pages for the name of your local school board, and ask for their Continuing Education department. They offer all kinds of courses at night. Ask if they have a policy for discounted rates for people living on a limited income.
Making ends meet
Worrying about money is stressful. Explore the options that can help you stretch your money further.
Food Banks
check the white pages for locations nearest you.
Clothing Stores
check under 'thrift stores' in the yellow pages for locations in your area. These might include Salvation Army thrift stores, Value Village, or independent thrift stores.
also look under 'consignment sales' for good second-hand clothing stores.
Medical/Dental Services
check your yellow pages for free drop-in 'clinics' nearest you.
Inexpensive entertainment
Need a stimulating yet inexpensive night out? Attend a theatre play or movie, or do something creative.
check local high school plays and reduced-price movie nights for great entertainment.
also check the activities planned at your local community centre and neighbourhood house.
be creative. Go somewhere and people-watch. Organize a games night and gather at someone's house. Make it a pot luck!
On-line services on the world-wide web
Getting connected to the internet is easier than ever now! Go and visit your local library to access the web for free.
Legal, bureaucratic and mental health system problems
Need some expert advice on some problems and issues you do not understand?
consult the 'blue pages' in your phone book and also look under legal aid for some more contact numbers to call.
Some advocacy organizations offer help accessing income benefits or help with your bureaucratic needs. For example, the Vancouver area has Kettle Friendship Society and the Mental Patients Association which offers advocacy help. In Kelowna, the Consumer Development Project can put you in touch with an advocate. Your local Canadian Mental Health Association or BC Schizophrenia Society may also be able to help you find an advocate.
The provincial mental health advocate is another source to help you find a local advocates. Call toll-free at 1-877-222-0412 for a mental health advocate near you, or http://www.web.net/povnet, a network of anti-poverty advocates.
Compiled by Sandy Jakkanrangsri at CMHA, BC Division, and based on the brochure, "Staying Sane While Unemployed" published by CMHA, Vancouver/Burnaby Branch.
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