Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society has become a certified Living Wage Employer!

Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society has committed to pay their staff and contracted workers a living wage by certifying as 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.

“Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society is proud to become a Certified Living Wage Employer for Families in BC.  Women, single-parent families, seniors and people with disabilities, especially from Indigenous and equity deserving groups, who are disproportionately impacted by the high cost of living, unaffordable housing prices and unsustainable wages in our region. As a non-profit housing organization dedicated to enhancing people’s lives by creating diverse and inclusive communities where everyone has a place to call home, we are pleased to join the Living Wage movement to promote living wages in the non-profit sector, support gender equity and poverty reduction in our communities.” Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society

Founded in 1984, Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society is one for the first women led community housing development organization in Canada that is focused on housing development for single parent households and families.  Entre Nous was started by three single mothers who created this organization in hopes of improving their lives and others as well. The name "Entre Nous Femmes" comes from the French phrase "Amongst us Women" speaks not to the individual but about "us together" in a community; A philosophy that ENF still follows today.

“We’re delighted that Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society 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. Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society join 247 other employers in Metro Vancouver in committing to pay their direct staff and contracted workers a Living Wage.

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.