Mission Possible

Mission Possible is a community economic development agency in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. Since 1992 Mission Possible has walked alongside people challenged by homelessness and poverty. Through its employment readiness program and social enterprises Mission Possible is transforming lives by helping people experience a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work. As a leading community economic development agency, Mission Possible currently runs two social enterprises, MP Maintenance and MP Neighbours, that employ an average of 50 individuals per year in transitional jobs. Our work can be summed up in these three words: People, Purpose, and Paycheque. People: There is an untapped human potential that goes undetected amongst the poor and homeless in our cit-ies. Most people see communities like Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside as overly challenged. While true in many respects, these communities are often equally under-challenged. People simply lack available opportunities. Mission Possible provides the training, support and opportunities to help people create a sustainable livelihood that benefits participants and the community. Purpose: Mission Possible is helping people achieve a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work. By providing opportunities for people to work, we proven that it is a myth that people challenged by homelessness and poverty lack desire to work. Most are simply struggling for an opportu-nity—eager and ready to trade dependency for opportunity any day of the week. While challenges and barriers remain, so does a stubborn desire for a sense of purpose and a hope to contribute to the world in a meaningful way. Everyone needs something that gets them out of bed in the morning—a sense of purpose for their day. Work is an integral part of being human. When the work is good and meaningful we experience dignity as the best payment for our effort. Paycheque: Mission Possible is creating jobs that lead people to lasting change. Working works! People need a job today that is flexible and supportive, where they are given an onramp to employment success. This job provides a context for self-learning and confidence building. A paycheque is a bridge to stability. Mission: People ~ Purpose ~ Paycheque. Mission Possible is a community economic development agency that transforms lives by helping those challenged by homelessness and poverty achieve a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work.