At Family Services of Greater Vancouver, we’ve been here for our community since 1928.
At our roots, we support people to create positive change in their lives. Our staff— including experienced counsellors and support workers—help unhoused youth, families and children impacted by trauma, survivors of domestic violence, and others in need with a client-centered, evidence-based, and trauma-informed approach.
In 1927, a survey of child welfare services in British Columbia was conducted by a team of social workers. Two of its major recommendations were the establishment of a family agency and the re-establishment of a social service exchange. Mary McPhedran was hired as the first Executive Director of the agency, then known as the Central Welfare Bureau, and stayed in the role for 27 years. Over the decades, FSGV has evolved its service offerings but always with a focus on social good and empowerment.
WHAT WE DO
Youth Services
FSGV operates services for children and youth with support needs, provides employment and education supports, and runs Directions Youth Services for homeless and at-risk youth (with an outreach team, overnight shelter, two safehouses, and more).
Family Supports
Family Supports includes counselling, mediation, and parenting groups. These programs operate on a foundation of compassion and respect. Participants deepen their connections to their families, build new skills and knowledge, and redefine their relationships.
Trauma Counselling
We have Trauma Counselling programs for children, youth, adults, and seniors who have experienced sexual abuse, family violence, intimate partner violence, and other traumas. With compassion and respect, we meet survivors where they’re at with supports they need.
Victim Support Services
Victim Support Services provides compassionate, trauma-informed support to victims and survivors of all ages—from children to seniors—impacted by violence. Our approach is client-led so that, with us, each person defines their situation, needs, and next steps.
Financial Empowerment
Financial Empowerment helps people build confidence with money so they can make empowered choices for themselves and their families. We provide accessible one-on-one coaching, community workshops, and support for filing taxes and navigating benefits.
Employee & Family Assistance Program
FSGV supports employees and families from across BC and the Yukon through FSEAP. Organizations can personalize services such as short-term counselling for employees, critical incident response, crisis response, work/life services, workplace training, and more.
Our Impact
Stories from Our Backyard
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Movement and Momentum: Housing Support at Directions
Throughout the last year, youth came through the doors of the Directions Drop-In Centre in downtown Vancouver nearly 23,000 times…
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FSGV’s Submission to the 2026 Federal Pre-Budget Consultation
In September, FSGV made a submission to the Government of Canada’s pre-budget consultations, highlighting the growing need for financial empowerment supports among British Columbians.
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Change We Can See
In this year’s annual report, we highlighted programs from our three core pillars of support: youth, families, and survivors. There is a common thread woven throughout these stories—the role the client plays in creating change.
CAMPAIGNS & ADVOCACY
HOMELESSNESS ACTION WEEK
Your gift goes twice as far today
Amazon will match every dollar you give to FSGV, up to $50,000.
That means your donation can open doors for twice as many youth to access life-changing programs, opportunities, and essential resources. This year, our goal is to raise $100,000 to sustain critical programs and 1:1 support at Directions—so every youth in our community can get the help they need when facing a crisis.
