Job matching website launches for positions in shelters, social housing

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — A new website, set up by the BC Non-Profit Housing Association, matches those who are now out of work with positions in social housing or at shelters.

Association CEO Jill Atkey notes there are around 130,000 people in B.C. who find themselves sidelined due to the outbreak.

“That mass job loss really is coming at the same time that non-profit housing providers are increasingly desperate for qualified workers,” she explains.

Most of the people out of work right now are prime candidates for the open positions, Atkey says.

“Large portions of those people who are out of work are from the hospitality and service sectors, and those are a number of areas with very transferrable skills to those in demand from housing providers,” she adds.

And if the website turns out to be a success, Atkey says the association may consider keeping the program running even after the pandemic ends.

“We’re really hoping that people can be turned around, trained and into employment very, very quickly. Much quicker than a traditional hiring process,” she says.

A person looking for work can sign up on the website and, depending on their skills and experiences, will be directly matched with organizations offering positions. From there, organizations will provide training if an applicant chooses to go forward with the application, according to the website.

Both people looking for work and people looking for employees can sign up on the website.