BURNABY—CUPE’s Community Social Services Presidents’ Council has endorsed an important campaign to end waitlists for community living supports and services for children, youth and adults.
The campaign was launched in December by a number of organizations including the BC Association for Community Living (BCACL), the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities (BCCPD) and BC Family Net Society.
CUPE represents close to 2,000 members who work in the Community Social Services sector, many of whom see firsthand the lack of services that result in lengthy waitlists for children and youth with special needs and adults with developmental disabilities.
According to Rory Summers, BCACL president, waitlists are forcing individuals and their families into crisis, and driving parents into poverty and despair. “We are seeing an unprecedented need in our province and the B.C. government needs to do right by families. No compassionate society would allow this to happen to families. Families have been waiting far too long for safe, secure and quality community living supports,” said Summers at the campaign launch.
The campaign brings together individuals, families and community groups across B.C. to call on the Campbell government to significantly invest in the necessary community living supports and services.
For more information and to support the campaign go to www.endwaitlists-now.org.