Funding Cut Leaves Vulnerable Students in the Lurch
The provincial government's decision to terminate its $20-million student and family affordability fund is creating a severe crisis for impoverished students across British Columbia. This program, established in 2022, was a critical lifeline, and its cancellation means students who lack food at home or other basic necessities can no longer rely on this essential support.
A Devastating Blow for Yale Secondary
At Yale Secondary School in Abbotsford, the impact is deeply personal. Hayley Davey, a youth and family worker, expressed her shock and confusion. "I just don’t understand why they have cut funding when the needs are way higher than they’ve ever been," Davey stated. She discovered the fund was unavailable on the first day of school in September, calling it a "huge loss."
The fund was originally designed to assist families with school supplies and class trips. However, schools like Yale Secondary frequently used it for more urgent needs, such as sending food home with students for weekends or providing them with essential clothing.
Davey recounted a poignant example of the fund's impact, describing a student who was caring for a sick father and a younger sister. "Mom’s not in the picture," Davey explained. With no money for food, the student also needed basics like clothes, socks, underwear, laundry soap, and shampoo. Thanks to the fund, Davey was able to take her to Walmart to purchase these necessities, as well as groceries like ground beef, chicken, and vegetables to make meals for her family.
Staff Forced to Fill the Gap
Now, without the provincial funding, Davey's ability to perform her job—supporting students who struggle both academically and personally—has been severely compromised. "I have to be really mindful now how I am to support these kids because I can’t say, ‘Don’t worry that’s a stress I can take away’ and then not be able to do it," she said.
Faced with students "coming in with nothing," Davey has felt compelled to use her own money, spending hundreds of dollars in the first week of school alone. She has also been bringing clothes and shoes from her own closet to help students in need. The loss of the fund is expected to affect approximately 140 students at Yale Secondary.
While the school can still provide a breakfast sandwich and a yogurt parfait for lunch through the provincial government’s feeding futures program, this addresses only a fraction of the profound needs created by poverty at home.
This situation underscores the critical role that community support plays. Since 2011, the Adopt-A-School program has directed $15.1 million to schools across B.C., funded by generous Vancouver Sun readers, to help students facing similar challenges.
