Since 1999, newSTART has served as a bridging employment program available to women dealing with abuse issues, whether they are on income assistance or not. Located near East Hastings and Commercial in an airy and bright learning environment, newSTART has offered participants individualized 6-month programs that include counselling, employment related skills, educational assistance and a work experience placement. newSTART has also supported participants with a monthly transit pass, childcare subsidy top-up, self-defence training, identification renewal/replacement, work appropriate clothing, and certification training in First Aid, CPR, FoodSafe, Serving It Right and WHMIS.
Like other employment service programs across the province and in the Downtown Eastside, newSTART’s funding was cut at the end of March. Starting in April 2012, the BC government has slated to move into a centralized model of employment services. This shift into a ‘one roof employment service’ is seen by many as problematic especially when considering the diversity of people who seek support from individualized employment service programs.
At the beginning of March, a group of newSTART participants shared why the program has been important to them. Susan said that it helped her with her math skills and in looking for work. She explained that job searching can be scary, especially for women trying to recover from abusive situations that have broken down their self-esteem and ability to trust. She felt that newSTART helped her to recognize her feelings and how to deal with them. For Claire, newSTART helped her to improve her English speaking skills, to obtain valuable job certificate training, and to prepare for taking her GED exams. For Siona, newSTART prepared her to go back to school so that she can secure good employment with better pay. For Anne, newSTART has often been a safe shelter from the chaos of her personal life.
Melanie was attracted to newSTART because she was unsure of what her priorities were, and sheappreciated that the program helped women to find jobs that interest them. Melanie explained that newSTART gave her an idea of what it was like to be back at work again through the work experience placement. And while she hasn’t found a job yet, Melanie feels she has gained the courage to go after interesting volunteer positions and has learned how to manoeuvre the interview process and to take rejection in stride.
When asked to share their feelings around the government’s decision to close newSTART, participants expressed devastation, disbelief, frustration and disappointment. “How can we look for work and do well in a job if our self-esteem is so fragile? How would they feel in our shoes?” Anne asked. Other participants agreed that the right approach was not being taken, and that the BC government needs to develop more compassion and understanding when setting its priorities. Susan pointed out that it will now be much more difficult for single mothers to find the same kind of training that provides a monetary top-up for child care. Instead of being closed down, it was suggested that newSTART should be expanded into programming for men so that they can learn how to deal with their anger and find a way to break their own cycle of abusive behaviour.
The motivation behind government’s decision to move towards a more centralized employment service was unclear to the newSTART participants, but they reasoned that ‘money talks’. They also raised the question of why there was enough money for the Olympics and to put a new roof on BC Place, but not enough money to fund education. Participants discussed the possibility of reversing the government’s decision by writing letters. Melanie reflected: “It would be pretty crappy if they ignored our letters. I see evidence all over this space—on the floors and on the walls-- a whole history of people here. Where would all those women be if they didn’t go through this program? This program has been a catalyst for thousands of women.”
