Aunt Leah’s Place has become a certified Living Wage Employer.

Aunt Leah’s Place has committed to pay their staff and contracted workers a living wage by certifying as a Living Wage Employer.

The living wage is the hourly amount a family needs to cover basic expenses. The calculation is based on a two-parent family with two children – the most common family unit in BC – with each parent working full-time. The Living Wage for Metro-Vancouver is $24.08 an hour.

“Aunt Leah’s Place work is focused on the entry and exit points of the child welfare system. As such, we know that poverty is one major influence on how involved the child welfare system becomes in a family. We are happy to be a certified Living Wage Employer not only because we want to make sure that our hard-working and amazing staff is well rewarded but because this is another way for us to advocate for government policies that would help families make ends meet.” Sarah Stewart, Executive Director, Aunt Leah’s Place.

Aunt Leah’s Place has been supporting children in foster care and young mothers achieve a better future for the last 30 years. By providing guidance, housing support, job training, and education on necessary life skills, they’ve provided individuals with the feeling of safety, care, and belonging. With their 3-step plan over the next 2 years, Aunt Leah’s hopes to provide resources and services that are well supplied and designed to ensure that individuals are given the support they need and opportunities to attain growth and hope. Additionally, they plan to evolve their organization design, communication, and staffing infrastructure to better reflect the youths and current, as well as future, staff needs.

“We’re delighted that Aunt Leah’s Place has become a Living Wage Employer. We hope it encourages other employers to join the Living Wage movement. Paying a living wage is good for workers, employers and the local community” said Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families BC.

Over the past two years, the number of Living Wage Employers in BC has more than doubled – there are now nearly 400 Living Wage Employers in BC.

Employers have found paying a living wage to be a key tool in their post-Covid economic recovery. 97% of Living Wage Employers in BC have found some benefit to being part of the program.

Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment employers make to invest in their communities and local economies.