There’s More to Your Story
And we’d love the chance to hear it!
With More To My Story, our goal is to share the kinds of stories that really drive home how much more there is to each of us than meets the eye.
Why?
Even though each of our stories is unique, by sharing them we give people the chance to build empathy for those with experiences different from their own and for others to see themselves and pieces of their journey represented.
While society has come a long way on so many social issues, at Family Services of Greater Vancouver we see first-hand the effects of stigma, marginalization, and trauma on the clients we serve. In fact, we see how disproportionately vulnerable populations – such as low-income, 2SLGBTQIA+, and racialized people – experience intersectional, and therefore more complex, challenges to living the lives they want.
At the heart of the issue is that people need to feel seen, heard, and supported to be who they are. There’s often a sense of isolation that comes with the hardest things we go through. Whether someone has lived experience with homelessness, abuse, neglect, crisis, or other traumas, we want to share stories that show empowerment, victory, healing, and resilience. The darkest days are just one chapter and we believe that shining a light on what others might not see will help end the stigma and loneliness surrounding experiences of homelessness, mental health issues, financial crisis, abuse, and trauma. There’s power in our stories.
Want to share your story with us?
If you’d like to help us end stigma for experiences like yours, fill out the form at the bottom of the page and we’ll get in touch with you.
Stories can be shared publicly with changed names and details to protect your privacy.
In the next section you can read through some of the latest stories we’ve shared.
There’s More to Rosie’s Story
Story from an FSGV employee
The sound of a motorcycle sent me down memory lane the other day. Not every motorcycle has this effect, just a specific kind of road bike with a higher-pitched sound, the changing gears as the bike comes to a stop, rumbles for a few seconds, and the engine turns off. It’s been almost a decade since the person I attach to that sound has been in my life.
Looking at me today, you wouldn’t know that I experienced abuse…
There’s More to Sara’s Story
Story from a Financial Empowerment client
Sara came to Canada as a refugee with her five children, her elderly mother, and nothing else but a backpack. When her family arrived, they needed help. “I wish people knew that refugees coming to Canada come with a lot of pain,” said Sara. “I lived 40 years in my home country. It’s so difficult to start over. Things are so different here.”
While Sara’s family was able to connect with some services that made their transition easier, they were really struggling…
There’s More to Mae’s Story
Story from an FSGV Employee
I was caught off guard when my counsellor first asked me if I thought I would have benefitted from any of the programs that Family Services of Greater Vancouver offers. This job had always felt really personal. Of course when I talked about work, I had always mentioned that I love getting to be part of an organization that’s really doing something for people. But before that, I had never thought about what these supports might have done for me…
*Please note that the stories are real individual’s experiences. Names and images are changed per each storyteller’s preferences.
Now It’s Your Turn…
There’s More to Our Story Too
Family Services of Greater Vancouver is much more than a family charity. We’re a youth charity, a survivor’s charity, and a community charity. We believe that together, we can empower people to start their next chapter with dignity.
In every one of our programs and supports, our work is client-centered. We take the time to get to know each of our clients as individuals, recognizing the unique personal histories that bring people through our doors.
We provide this client-centered, trauma-informed, non-judgmental support because this is what it means to really meet people where they’re at. We work with our clients every step of the way. We get to know them as people, no matter how long it takes. We dismantle barriers and show up every day. That’s how we build trust.
When we have trust, we open doors. We can work on goals together. A youth can feel ready to seek treatment and other supports; a parent can learn new ways to be present for their children; a survivor of domestic violence can write their next chapter; and a person with disabilities can feel confident applying for government benefits.
The story of FSGV started in 1927. A survey of child welfare services in British Columbia was conducted by a team of social workers. Two of its major recommendations were the establishment of a family agency and the re-establishment of a social service exchange. Mary McPhedran was hired as the first Executive Director of the agency, then known as the Central Welfare Bureau, and stayed in the role for 27 years. Over the decades, FSGV has evolved its service offerings but always with a focus on social good and empowerment.
Every year at FSGV is filled with life-changing moments. Together they add up to brighter tomorrows for individuals, families, and communities—for an impact that lasts a lifetime.
Some numbers that help quantify these moments from the last year are below.
$942,000k+
in new benefits accessed by low-income people
Dismantling barriers and building trust makes a difference. With access to benefits, people can focus on their well-being and goals.
47
young people moved into stable housing
These youth now have the support and resources needed to create positive and lasting changes in their lives—on their own terms.
20
the average hours we walked alongside each client
Every client is different. We personalize support to meet their needs.
Be Part of Our Story
Maybe you’re not ready to share your story, but you are ready to help someone write the next chapter in theirs.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver helps ensure that can happen.
- Help us think about how to support those who need us. Your one-time, monthly, crypto, or legacy gift makes our work possible. Donate today.
- Your lemonade stand, in-store activation, or office donation drives help us innovate, enhance programming, and address gaps in services for our clients. Become a partner.
- Our volunteers have a profound impact on the people we serve. We have opportunities for groups and individuals to give back to the community. Apply for a volunteer position.
What We Do
Counselling
Unfortunately, not everyone has equal access to counselling. In fact, cost is often prohibitive for low-income families. That’s why our counselling services are free. When money is no longer a barrier, people are able to heal, break generational cycles, and learn emotional, communication, and relational skills. Their lives change. From specialized trauma counselling programs for children and women to family counselling – we’re determined to make sure that as many people as possible have access to these vital services.
Crisis Support
Whether our clients are victims of domestic violence and trafficking, families facing dark times, or youth experiencing homelessness, our support workers are here with individualized, client-centered supports. We walk alongside youth as they develop their independence, survivors as they navigate what’s next, and families as they grow stronger. Our focus is always on empowerment, which means helping people build up the confidence, knowledge, skills, and resources to transition from crisis mode to living life on their terms.
Poverty Reduction
People face many barriers that reinforce cycles of poverty. We meet people where they’re at and help them build strong foundations for their futures. At Directions Youth Services, this means connecting youth with job opportunities, housing supports, healthcare, and other service providers. In Financial Empowerment this often means teaching people how to file taxes, navigate their benefits, and make the most of their money through budgeting and long-term planning.