The North Shore’s Hollyburn Family Services Society, funded in part by United Way, receives 400 phone calls each month from emergency service providers, hospitals or neighbours concerned about a homeless senior or a senior at housing risk. Up until now they weren’t always able to help. Now thanks to a The Vancouver Sun United Way Day of Caring that matched 30 volunteers from McCarthy Tétrault to a meaningful volunteer project, a house that had been slated for demolition has been transformed into transitional housing for vulnerable seniors. “United Way British Columbia came to our rescue providing us with a crew of eager volunteers through their Day of Caring. There is no way we could have done this without their help. These efforts are helping turn a house into a home for our most vulnerable citizens,” explains Nanette Taylor, Executive Director, Hollyburn Family Services. “The stories I hear have really surprised me: police finding seniors living in a car or wandering the beach; seniors needing to flee abusive situations from their spouse or their children,” adds Nanette. “Now when we get a call to provide help to a senior with nowhere to go, we can actually respond.” This effort transformed a house to a home for seniors at risk in less than 7 weeks. With the help of many partners and a great deal of community support, this is the house the compassion built.
A newly renovated room, ready for a new resident.
Volunteers cleaning up the outside garden.
McCarthy Tetrault Hollyburn volunteers at the ready!
