Our Mission

e4c exists to limit, alleviate and ultimately eliminate poverty.

For over 50 years, e4c’s services have grown to over 20 programs, operating in four quadrants of the city and impacting over 12,500 people every year.  Through the expression of e4c’s values – courage, compassion, connection, commitment – our programs and services address the fundamental causes of vulnerability for children, youth, families, individuals and communities.  We focus our work in four main areas:

Shelter and Housing

Having a home is essential to a person’s wellness and quality of life. e4c provides a range of housing services such as emergency shelter, interim housing, affordable housing, permanent supportive housing and supports to get permanent housing and staying housed.

Food Security

People living in poverty are more likely to experience food insecurity due to their lack of access to sufficient and nutritious food. e4c increases food security by providing essential support such as three meals a day in our emergency shelter, providing children with a nutritious lunch or snack at school, and building knowledge and skills around food access and nutrition.

Education and Skill Development

Education presents one of the pathways out of poverty. e4c works across the lifespan to help people to develop their potential such as providing children with an early advantage to be successful in school, assisting youth to overcome training and employment barriers, and working with vulnerable persons to develop life skills and make positive life changes.

Community and Connection

Healthy communities come from healthy relationships between community members. e4c works to grow community capacity through supporting people’s participation within their community, grassroots community projects, and collaborative ventures with other community organizations.