The John Howard Society of Okanagan & Kootenay is a registered charity and social service agency operating in the Okanagan community for more than 60 years.
Our organization has a strong history of assisting individuals experiencing a variety of challenges and social issues such as poverty, homelessness, mental health concerns, neurodevelopmental disabilities, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
Our goal is to contribute to community wellness by offering services that support clients in a number of areas, including providing and assisting with housing, community reintegration, advocacy, support with mental health and addictions, while learning how to be accountable to others and responsible for themselves. It is important to have compassion balanced with strength so that we may provide the best in care for all of our program participants.
The work of JHSOK is possible because of the combined drive and effort of staff and volunteers, interagency collaboration, partnerships with funders, support by the community, and the amazing and resilient people we serve.
Johann Hari said that, “the opposite of Addiction is Connection”, could we go further then, and say that, “the opposite of Homelessness is Community”? At JHSOK we do just that, we help to bridge the gap and build strong communities, where everyone is welcome, included, and safe.
Our Mission
A safe, healthy and inclusive community for all
Our Values
The Way We Execute the Work
Accountable Leadership
The People We Serve
Exceptional Investment in Employee Development
The Programs We Deliver
CARF ACCREDITED
“On balance, John Howard Society of Okanagan & Kootenay demonstrated substantial conformance to the standards. JHSOK provides services that are meaningful and valued by the clients, families, and other stakeholders. JHSOK is widely respected in the community as a staunch advocate for clients, including clients reentering society form incarceration, clients affected by drug addiction, and clients with developmental disabilities. JHSOK uses technology and innovation to foster better communication and to promote an inclusive, supportive work culture.” (CARF Accreditation Report June 2023)
We receive funding and grants from community members, government, and private sector partners in addition to other sources. For more details on our region’s funding, please refer to our financial statement or contact us.
