Comox Valley non-profit becomes a Living Wage Employer

Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North has been certified as a Living Wage Employer – committing to pay its staff and contracted workers a Living Wage.

Habitat for Humanity joins other certified Living Wage Employers; Tree Craft, Hakai Energy Solutions and Wayward Distillery in helping to address working poverty in the Comox Valley.

"Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North provides a hand up through affordable housing for families who partner with us. We understand the importance of ensuring that our team of dedicated staff also have the ability to provide for their family's needs by providing them with a living wage compensation package," said Tom Beshr, Habitat VIN's Director of Retail Operations and IT.

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 the Comox Valley is $16.44 an hour.

We’re delighted that Habitat for Humanity has committed to paying their direct and contracted staff a Living Wage. We invite other employers in the Comox Valley to join the Living Wage movement,” said Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families Organizer

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

The Living Wage can be made up of a combination of base wage and additional non-mandatory benefits that an employer provides. Habitat for Humanity’s commitment for workers to receive additional paid sick leave has helped them qualify as a Living Wage Employer.

Photo: Habitat's Build Site Supervisor Larry Poirier, Lead Carpenter Shelby Rollefson, and Carpenter Apprentice Darryl Guthrie | Photo Credit: Karen McKinnon