VANCOUVER, British Columbia — As British Columbia grapples with a deepening affordability crisis, a new push for financial empowerment programs is gaining attention, offering individualized coaching to help residents navigate complex financial systems and access untapped benefits. In an opinion piece published in the Vancouver Sun, Maria Howard, CEO of Family Services of Greater Vancouver, argues that such initiatives can provide meaningful relief to vulnerable groups amid rising costs and economic uncertainty.
The crisis has been exacerbated by high inflation, unemployment, and precarious employment, particularly affecting younger workers, racialized communities, and gig economy participants. According to Statistics Canada data cited by Howard, youth unemployment in B.C. reached 16.6 percent in May, the highest level since 2003 outside of pandemic years. This figure underscores the challenges facing the province's more than 250,000 gig workers, who are concentrated in urban centers, construction, and the tech sector, with younger and racialized individuals disproportionately reliant on such unstable jobs to make ends meet.
Housing remains a flashpoint, even as rental rates have begun to soften in some areas. Howard points to recent point-in-time homelessness counts across B.C., which reveal increasing numbers of seniors on fixed incomes falling into homelessness. Indigenous populations continue to be overrepresented in these counts, and the data shows that between 30 percent in Vernon and 61 percent in Powell River of those experiencing homelessness first encountered it during their youth. The full 2025 provincial report on homelessness has not yet been released, but these preliminary findings highlight the urgency of targeted interventions.
"Financial empowerment is a solution that considers individual participants’ circumstances, and not just financial ones," Howard writes. "It provides people with an opportunity to build trust with people and institutions, particularly in places that they have felt historically excluded from, like banks and the tax system." This approach, she explains, goes beyond generic advice by offering personalized coaching to demystify financial products, systems, and regional benefits, ultimately putting more money in people's pockets.
The opinion piece comes at a time when federal and provincial policies are under scrutiny. Weeks after Prime Minister Mark Carney presented his first budget — described variably as an austerity measure, spending plan, or investment strategy depending on the observer — Canadians are still assessing its societal ripple effects. Howard notes that while broader economic policies address some issues, they often overlook specific populations like youth, seniors, Indigenous people, and gig workers who are bearing the brunt of the affordability squeeze.
Sectors such as film, mining, and forestry in B.C. face additional risks from ongoing trade tensions, potentially leading to job losses. In response, targeted relief from governments and the private sector is supporting thousands of workers, but Howard emphasizes the need to identify those left behind. "The challenge is to identify who is left behind," she states, pointing to the gig economy's vulnerabilities and the high youth unemployment as prime examples.
For many, basic survival takes precedence over administrative tasks like filing taxes, which are crucial for accessing benefits. Howard describes how the "confusing matrix of benefits and support" can overwhelm individuals already stressed about rent, food, and healthcare. Recent expansions to the federal automatic tax filing program help, but they fall short by not accounting for secondary income, family structures, or cultural factors. Meanwhile, financial institutions often lack incentives to serve low-income clients, leaving predatory lenders — now somewhat reined in by interest rate caps — as a last resort for those facing eviction.
Enter financial empowerment programs, which Howard positions as an inclusive antidote. These free services have no eligibility barriers based on age, finances, or citizenship, and they adapt to community-specific needs, whether in Vancouver, Kelowna, or Indigenous communities. Family Services of Greater Vancouver, which has offered such support since 2008, is expanding its reach province-wide as the B.C. hub for the federal Resilient Futures initiative.
Launched as a four-year, $60-million federal program, Resilient Futures aims to bolster financial stability for one million Canadians by unlocking access to over $2 billion in benefits and resources. In B.C., Family Services will provide tax filing assistance, benefits navigation, and financial coaching and counseling. Howard highlights the program's track record: In 2024 alone, the organization assisted more than 3,300 people in claiming a combined $2.4 million in government benefits.
"Through individualized coaching, people get the chance to improve their quality of life by increasing their understanding of financial products and systems, as well as what benefits and programs are available in their region," Howard writes. "Often, this means more money in their pockets." She acknowledges that financial empowerment isn't a panacea for the affordability crisis but insists it empowers individuals to maximize their resources without leaving anyone behind.
The initiative builds on existing efforts amid a landscape of mixed economic signals. While B.C.'s gig workforce swells, the province's urban centers like Vancouver continue to see high housing costs despite dipping rents. Howard's piece also touches on broader federal shifts, including the budget unveiled by Carney, which has sparked debate over its approach to inflation and unemployment. Economists and policymakers have offered varying interpretations, with some praising potential investments and others criticizing austerity elements, though Howard focuses on grassroots solutions over macroeconomic fixes.
Experts in social services echo the need for such programs. While Howard's opinion draws from organizational experience, Statistics Canada's unemployment figures provide independent corroboration of the youth job market's woes. The homelessness data, sourced from local counts, aligns with reports from organizations like the Homelessness Services Association of B.C., which have documented similar trends in Indigenous overrepresentation and early-life homelessness triggers.
As Resilient Futures rolls out, Family Services plans to scale operations to reach more isolated communities. Howard stresses the program's flexibility: "The model supports people regardless of their age, financial circumstances, or citizenship status. There are no requirements for participation in the free program, and it is designed to respond to specific community needs." This inclusivity could prove vital in a province where economic pressures disproportionately hit marginalized groups.
Looking ahead, the success of these efforts may hinge on coordination between federal funding and local delivery. With the 2025 homelessness report pending, advocates hope it will spur further action. For now, initiatives like Resilient Futures offer a practical lifeline, helping individuals untangle financial barriers one coaching session at a time. As B.C. navigates its affordability challenges, such programs underscore a shift toward empowerment over charity, potentially reshaping how the province supports its most at-risk residents.
In the broader context of Canada's economic recovery, B.C.'s experience serves as a microcosm. Trade war fallout in key industries could amplify pressures, but targeted supports like financial coaching provide a buffer. Howard concludes optimistically: "While financial empowerment alone cannot solve the affordability crisis, it can help people maximize their income. And, importantly, it leaves no one behind." As implementation progresses, residents from Vancouver's bustling streets to Kelowna's interior valleys stand to benefit from this expanding safety net.