“I thought I would be on welfare all of my life”.

That’s not something Tiffany wanted for herself and her two young children. The single mom from Abbotsford was on assistance following the breakdown of her marriage almost two years earlier.  

But then Tiffany found out about the Single Parent Employment Initiative (SPEI), a unique government program aimed at helping single mothers and fathers on assistance find a job. The program includes up to 12 months paid tuition for eligible single parents receiving income or disability assistance, child care costs, and transit costs to and from school. Additionally, child care costs are covered for one full year after participants find employment.

Tiffany says she jumped at the program.

“I looked at it and thought...I can build a new future."

With the help of the friendly staff at the AbbotsfordWorks WorkBC Employment Services Centre, Tiffany signed up for SPEI and is now enrolled in the Health Care Assistant program at Vancouver Community College.

“The staff at AbbotsfordWorks were amazing. I am a single mom and had to bring my girls to a few appointments and reschedule a few others as well. They were so accommodating. I had so much anxiety over getting everything done and they made me feel so much better about it all and kept me on track. They are so professional, personable and sweet."

Tiffany hopes to build a new career working in a long term care facility or hospital, and would also like to work with children one day.

The Single Parent Employment Initiative “has truly given me and my girls a new lease at life”, Tiffany says. “I have so many goals and dreams that have started because I knew I could do it with the help of WorkBC and the Single Parent Employment Initiative.”

Tiffany is one of 3,300 single parents who are part of the Single Parent Employment Initiative, with dozens more joining every week. 

Read more stories of single parents getting support to build a better future for their family.

Learn more about the Single Parent Employment Initiative.