Shurli’s Story: A Tax Clinic With A Difference

After an undiagnosed mental illness left her homeless and living in shelters in the Downtown Eastside, Shurli Channe found permanent housing and mental health supports through Coast Mental Health. Now, Shurli is an active Board Director with Coast, and she works as a Peer Support Worker, heading up the tax clinic.

“Coast Mental Health saved my life,” says Shurli.

Shurli was part of the second cohort to graduate from the Peer Support program in 2009. And she’s been working with the tax clinic ever since.

What is Peer Support?

The Peer Support program was developed at Coast Mental Health, thanks to the generosity of donors. It is vital in helping folks on their journey to recovery. The program harnesses the lived experiences of folks who live with mental illness, and offer them training to help others with similar challenges. Not only do Peer Support Workers help others, they gain employment and a sense of purpose.

The Peer Support program developed by Coast has become the gold standard across the province. Over the years, hundreds of folks have been trained. They go on to be employed by Coast, health authorities and other community organizations, impacting hundreds of thousands of lives.

The program is entirely funded by our generous donors.

And the impact is incredible. For example by filing their taxes, Shurli alone has helped hundreds of people access funds that are essential for their survival.

A tax clinic with a difference 

“The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax,” Albert Einstein once said to his accountant. Just imagine the added challenges for folks who are precariously housed, who don’t have access to a computer and internet, or live with a mental illness.

Shurli understands the challenges many face and that “taxes are scary for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.”

Yet, when you don’t file taxes, you miss out on vital social assistance, like quarterly GST returns. The annual $500 GST rebate is truly a lifesaver.  And if someone hasn’t filed for ten years, that $5,000 can be life changing.

“There’s no way of stating the importance of filing these taxes. Nothing happens unless taxes are done,” adds Shurli.

Giving Back

Brought up to always think of others and to give back, Shurli has never stopped helping others. She takes the extra time with each client because if she doesn’t “they’re lost.” These folks risk falling through the cracks and not receiving government benefits that are so desperately needed, for food, for housing, for life.

“When you sit on the edge of life and death, one act of kindness is the difference between life and death.”

Shurli is looking forward to being able to help more people this year at the tax clinic.

Her story is just one example of the exponential impact of Peer Support. Thank you for making this possible.