Whole Way House Society | ReConnect. ReBuild. ReCenter.

Whole Way House is dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming environment where we can build meaningful relationships and a community that instills worth, value and dignity.

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Whole Way House Society provides community building programs and tenant support services for 133 vulnerable seniors and veterans in the Downtown Eastside living at the Veterans Manor in partnership with BC Housing.

MISSION

At Whole Way House, our MISSION is to support the vulnerable and isolated on their journey of healing in a safe and welcoming community, equipping them to recognize their inherent worth and purpose.

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DONATE TO OUR PROGRAMS VOLUNTEER

Thank you to Coastal Church for creating this video and helping us share our story.

Coastal Church’s mission is to help make the city a better place and they are doing just that at Whole Way House by donating this video.

MORE MEDIA

Amazing Race to the Family Picnic

Date: Saturday, July 13, 2019

Time: Race 10am-12pm, Family Picnic 12pm-3pm

Get your team of family, friends or colleagues together, create your fundraising page and then race your way over to the Family Picnic while completing fun challenges along the way.

You will be raising money to support vulnerable seniors and veterans in the DTES. Celebrate with a BBQ lunch by Earls Restaurant (everyone is welcome to join – entry by donation) and enjoy live music, lawn games, a silent auction and good family fun!

All you need to know about the race

Can’t make it to the Amazing Race? No Problem!

**Join us for our 7th Annual Family Picnic and cheer them on at the finish line.**

Join us on Saturday, July 13 at Prospect Point in Stanley Park for a relaxing day of delicious BBQ prepared by Earls Restaurants, live music, lawn games and lots of fun! Your ticket donations will directly support our community programs and tenant support services like: Family Dinner, Super Smoothies, Assistance with Medical Appointments, Free Haircuts, Morning Coffee, onsite Workshops & Counselling, Safe Bank Trips and more.

Get Tickets to the Family Picnic

A huge thank you to Hundredfold Productions for creating our amazing video.

How we work

ReConnect with people by building meaningful relationships

ReBuild a sense of community, belonging and purpose through education and training

ReCenter around a meaningful and purposeful life through a re-integrative clean-housing support system

Our mission

who

Whole Way House is a registered Canadian charity serving vulnerable seniors and veterans who are facing marginalization, disabilities, addiction issues and/or mental health issues at the Veterans Manor in the Downtown Eastside. It was co-founded by Jenny, Josh and Mary Konkin in 2013.

what

Our vision is to reach the people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside by creating a safe and welcoming environment where we can build meaningful relationships and a community that instills worth, value and dignity.

why

We believe that when a person feels loved and valued, they are able to find purpose in life and be a part of something greater. We offer friendship and support to those who are often lonely, isolated, rejected and forgotten.

Giving Week

We are so thankful for your donations and to more efficiently manage our storage of all the wonderful items we receive, we are adopting a new Giving Week process! Starting April 22nd, from Monday to Saturday the last full week of each month we will be accepting donations at the Veterans Manor (310 Alexander Street, Vancouver). This way, once donations are in we can easily organize and store the items until they are needed!

Items we always need:

Men’s clothing and footwear of all sizes
Linens and other housewares
Men’s toiletries
Canned or non-perishable food items

Items we don’t need but know who does:

Women’s and children’s toiletries, clothing and footwear – UGM Women’s & Family Centre, Sheway, Wish Drop-in Centre Society
Large Furniture Items – HomeStart Foundation, UGM Thrift Store, Salvation Army Thrift Store

Thank you again for your generosity and support. We couldn’t do what we do without you! To arrange a drop off time during Giving Week, please email programs@wholewayhouse.ca or call 604-687-4566.

President named Top 40 under 40

We are excited and extremely proud to announce that our very own Whole Way House President Jenny Konkin is a winner of Business in Vancouver’s 2018 Forty under 40 Awards!

Jenny has had a tremendous impact on the Vancouver community by working tirelessly to help vulnerable adults to feel more connected and less lonely in our city.

Jenny has an astounding entrepreneurial spirit and she uses these gifts to benefit the at-risk and vulnerable adults in our own backyard. Jenny constantly does more, with less, by being resourceful, strategic and employing sheer tenacity. She has the qualities of a true leader.

Join us in congratulating our strong and committed leader as she received this impressive recognition from the business community! Read her full story below.

(Every year Business in Vancouver highlights the achievements of BC’s young entrepreneurs, executives and professionals by finding 40 outstanding professionals worthy of the Forty under 40 distinction.)

Read Jenny's Story

Happening right now

To apply or learn more, visit the Supportive Housing website.

Supportive Housing Partnership with the Veterans Manor

Whole Way House Society serves the residents of the Veterans Manor at 310 Alexander St, Vancouver, BC by providing Community Building Programs as well as one on one tenant support to 133 marginalized seniors and Veterans living in the Downtown Eastside.

In May of 2017, Whole Way House was proud to partner with the Veterans Memorial Housing Society through funding generously provided by BC Housing to provide the Supportive Housing Services at the Veterans Manor. Because of this partnership, we are able to receive new tenants from the Supportive Housing Registry waitlist, provide support and access to vital resources, as well as a safe and welcoming community.

The Veterans Manor was built in 1986 in response to the housing crisis during Expo ’86 and many Veterans were being evicted. It is owned and operated by the Veterans Memorial Housing Society, has 133 units (mix of single room with 2 piece bath and full bachelor suites), a beautiful rooftop garden and outdoor courtyard and 24/7 reception staff for security.

More info at the Veterans Manor website.

Learn more about the history and people behind Whole Way House.

Our Story

WWH has changed my life.

Richard

Photos by Mary Konkin Photography

The 'I Get To' Legacy Chain

Each uniquely hand-stamped necklace helps ReBuild confidence, value and dignity by providing a low-barrier, part-time job to a Whole Way House member and supports our Community Programs while honouring the I Get To Legacy left by Co-Founders Jenny & Josh’s father, Ron Konkin.

When Co-Founders, Jenny & Josh’s dad Ron Konkin was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he changed his perspective from “I have to” to “I get to” and these necklaces are a great reminder to leave a legacy of gratitude and generosity.

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Get involved

There are several ways to support the many programs and activities that take place at Whole Way House!

Sponsorship

We rely on the generousity of local businesses to support our programs. Learn more about how your organization can sponsor a program at Whole Way House.

Sponsor

Donate

All donations go directly to funding our programs and activities. All donations will receive a charitable donations receipt.

Donate

Volunteer

Volunteers are the life blood of any non-profit organization! Find out how you can get involved as a volunteer and make a meaningful difference in our community.

Volunteer

In the news

We’re thrilled to have our stories featured in media outlets across the lower mainland, and even beyond! A complete archive of Whole Way House in the media is available here.

Restoring Dignity To Those On The Downtown Eastside

August 20, 2015

Breakfast Television host Riaz Mehgi sits down with Whole Way House Co-Founder Jenny Konkin and Kris to discuss the “I Get To” program and how it empowers members of the Downtown Eastside community to work creatively with their hands, while building confidence, skills, value and purpose in their lives.

Source: Breakfast Television

Whole Way House provides a welcoming space for DTES tenants

August 12, 2016

The Daily Hive provides an in-depth feature of recent events and projects at Whole Way Hous, including Family Dinner, Monthly Hair Cuts, the “I Get To” Legacy Chain, UGM Alumni Super Smoothies, Emergency Medical Training, Family Birthday Parties, Art Sessions with Gerrard and the upcoming annual Family Picnic in the Park.

Source: Daily Hive Vancouver

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