The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities has received the notification below from the Ministry of Social Development about an office closure in the Vancouver Coastal Region:

                                               Vancouver Coastal Region
                                                 Service Delivery Change

As a result of Service Delivery changes in the Vancouver Coastal Region, the Fairview Employment and Assistance office located at:

                                                201 – 828 West 8^th Avenue,
                                                           Vancouver, BC

will no longer be providing face to face services to the public effective February 4, 2013. Current clients of the Fairview office will be assigned to other offices as follows:

Clients living in the following postal codes: V6J, V6K, V6L, V6R, V6S, V6T

The new office is:
China Creek Employment and Assistance Centre
201-475 East Broadway, Vancouver BC, V5T 1W9
1-866-866-0800

Clients living in the following postal codes: V5Y, V5Z, V6H, V6M, V6N

The new office is:
Mountainview Employment and Assistance Centre
300-5550 Fraser Street, Vancouver BC, V5W 3Z4
1-866-866-0800

In order to further equalize distribution of files
Clients living in the V5P, currently Mountainview postal code:

The new office is:
Killarney Employment and Income Assistance Office
2280 Kingsway, Vancouver BC, V5N 5M9
1-866-866-0800

All clients with these postal codes will be notified of this change by letter and telephone. Posters regarding the change are visible in the transferring offices. If you have any questions, please contact:

Jean Lofthouse, Manager
Community Relations & Service Quality
Vancouver Coastal Region
604-660-2212 Jean.lofthouse@gov.bc.ca

Friday January 18, 7:00 pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 E Cordova Street, Vancouver
Admission by donation!!!

Founded by award-winning counselor, stand-up comic, and author of the The Happy Neurotic: How Fear and Angst Can Lead To Happiness and Success David Granirer, Stand Up For Mental Health teaches stand up comedy to people with mental illness. Come laugh your head off at this show that looks at the lighter side of taking meds, seeing counselors, getting diagnosed and surviving the mental health system.

For information http://www.standupformentalhealth.com

In today’s edition of the Vernon Morning Star, Vernon City Council spoke out in support of the Disability Without Poverty Network’s proposal for an increase to $1200 a month for people receiving provincial disability benefits.

We congratulate and thank Vernon City Council for their support of the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities and community partners in the Disability Without Poverty Network’s proposal . The increase in overall funding the Minister refers to in the article is very different from the increase that individuals have received ($120 over the last 11 years). $300 million is a fraction of BC’s total budget. Moreover, people who cannot afford safe housing, healthy food and other essentials end up costing the province more in health care and other costs.

To read the full article, visit the following link: http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/news/183428621.html