About YEP

Youth Employment Project

Here in Victoria, our CEO and Founder, Richard Leblanc operated the Youth Employment Project (YEP) from 1998 through 2002 as the CEO. YEP focused on providing job and life skills training, mirrored many of the principles and methodologies of Therapeutic Community models, and therefore produced similar results. During its span, YEP helped approximately 400 high-risk youth gain meaningful employment, enjoyed a 76% success rate and produced lasting change in each person’s life, including financial self-reliance. All of us who were involved in YEP are proud of the results achieved.

The Society is proud of the results achieved. For example:

Total # accepted into the program:  485

Successful completions:  92%

Employed within 10 days of graduation:  87%

Maintaining employment (from 4-year population):  76%

Employment was chosen as the measure of success based on the belief that gaining and maintaining employment can only be achieved if therapeutic and vocational aspects of the program have come together effectively. Just as companies measure success in the form of burgers sold, locations (Starbucks) etc…, YEP’s success was measured by the number of employed graduates.

Long-term results – lasting change

Most significantly, we are now witnesses to the long-term positive impacts of YEP’s work. The CEO of the Homefulness Society has recently had the good fortune to reconnect with many graduates from 5-9 years ago. Once considered “high-risk”, their current stories include:

•“I bought a commercial janitorial franchise and sold it 3 years later for a nice profit”

•“I’m a retail manager at the Bay Center now, I have a 4 year old and my wife is pregnant with our second”

•“I’m managing a small Bed and Breakfast in Tofino”

•“I saved my money from doing janitorial work and bought a used limousine. I’m now running a small limousine service in Victoria”

•“I work the graveyard shift at a call center out on Keating … making $12.50/hr”

•“I’m still a janitor at the Legislature…life’s pretty good”

•“I just graduated from UVIC with a degree in English Literature”

•“I’m a bouncer and janitor at a local dance club”

•“I’m a janitorial supervisor making $45,000/yr”

Many are commercial cleaners at Royal Roads University, the Legislature, UVIC, Bear Mountain, etc, earning $10-$18/hr. A few now have several years of service with the Canadian Armed Forces and plan to remain in the forces. Others are stay-at-home moms and several are construction helpers making $15-$17/hr and loving it! They are doing well. They have apartments, homes, jobs, spouses and children. They have smiling faces. They are fully integrated into society and their communities and they have lives. They are proud of their success, of their employment, and of their children. They express genuine gratitude for the ‘hand-up’ they got years ago.

They are doing well. They have smiling faces, apartments, jobs, spouses and children. They really do have lives. They express genuine gratitude for the ‘hand-up’ they got years ago. Since so many YEP graduates (and graduates of similar programs throughout the world) have been busy earning honest livings and building their families and lives, it is therefore important to note the impact on our communities:

¬A lot of drugs didn’t get dealt and/or ingested

¬A lot of assaults, thefts, and prostitution didn’t occur

¬A lot of street corners and business fronts had fewer panhandlers and dealers loitering

¬A lot of medical services were available for other people

¬A lot of police services and court time weren’t wasted

¬A lot of shelter beds and food banks were available for others

¬A lot of family stress, hardship and grief were averted

Instead, graduates of the YEP TWC program are paying taxes and creating new lives for themselves. Their stories are inspiring, and it’s affirming to know this work has had such far-reaching positive impacts on so many people’s lives.