About

Mission Possible is a community economic development agency in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, founded in 1992. 

Mission Possible addresses barriers to employment by providing supportive, transitional employment for those who are ready to enter, or re-enter, the workforce. For those overcoming homelessness, poverty, addiction, incarceration, and physical and/or mental disability, it can be difficult to build a sustainable livelihood. Through its Employment Readiness Program and two social enterprises, Mission Possible transforms lives by helping people experience a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work.

Mission Possible currently runs two social enterprises, MP Maintenance and MP Neighbours, that employ an average of 90 individuals per year in transitional jobs. Our work can be summed up in the phrase “Empowerment Through Opportunity”.

There is an untapped human potential that goes undetected amongst the poor and homeless in our cities. 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.

Mission Possible is helping people achieve a renewed sense of dignity and purpose through meaningful work. By providing opportunities for people to work, we have proven that it is a myth that people challenged by homelessness and poverty lack desire to work. Most are simply struggling for an opportunity—eager and ready to trade dependency for opportunity any day of the week. Everyone needs something that gets them out of bed in the morning—a sense of purpose for their day. 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.

Mission Possible creates jobs that lead people to lasting change. Working works! People need a job today that is flexible and supportive, where they are given an opportunity to continue on to employment success. Mission Possible provides the context for self-learning and confidence building, which is a bridge to stability.