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The Canada–BC Housing Benefit (CBCHB) Program is a rent subsidy that helps individuals and families with low to moderate incomes afford safe, stable housing in the private rental market.

A place for parents/caregivers to meet and share their parenting concerns while learning and cooking nutritious meals together in our teaching kitchen. Participants get to enjoy a nutritious lunch together, prepared by themselves, and participants also get to take a nutritious meal home for a nominal fee. A qualified childminder is provided to look after and provide educational opportunities for the children of the participants. At DS Cooks, we also provide information about many community resources available to parents.

In partnership with B.C. Housing, we currently operate 18 units of affordable housing in Oliver. These units are currently occupied. Because we know there is a critical shortage of affordable housing in the South Okanagan, we are currently advocating for additional affordable housing in both Oliver and Osoyoos.

Our Community Kitchen Program aims to help educate families about healthy eating, grocery budgeting, cooking techniques and more in a fun and social environment. Our drop-in teaching kitchen program is a place for parents and children to gather together to cook, learn about parenting, and gain healthy meal preparation strategies. Free childcare is provided.

Desert Sun provides youth at risk of homelessness with a safe, supportive living environment where we encourage them to continue with their schooling, find an after-school job, and we take on the role of a supportive parent. We provide youth with food, clothing and shelter at no charge in an environment where we strive to stop the cycle of trauma and hurt.

The Community Connector Program plays an important role in helping older adults age safely and independently at home. By bridging the gap between health care and social support, this program connects seniors to local services, resources, and community programs that enhance quality of life.

At Desert Sun, we believe sharing a meal is about more than food — it’s about connection, dignity, and belonging. Our Social Meals Program provides seniors with access to warm, nutritious, home-style meals in a friendly, welcoming space where everyone feels valued and included.

Frustrated that you can’t make your computer do what you want it to? Not sure where to start with email? Getting stuck with a program you can’t quite figure out? Our computer tutor can help! From laptops to tablets to smartphones, our computer tutor can help you overcome technology frustrations and build your digital confidence too.

At Home is a program designed to help seniors remain independent at home through professional and volunteer support. Better at Home helps seniors with simple day-to-day tasks and to stay connected with their community.

Many men in our community, especially men who are retired, have time on their hands and a tendency to suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression. Our Men’s Shed is a space reserved just for guys: a place where men meet together to do woodworking projects and other projects, fix electronics and machines and connect with other men. The goals of the program are to help men facilitate connection, reduce isolation, stay productive, and contribute to our community.

Funded by the United Way Healthy Aging program, the Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors, commonly known as TAPS, is a wellness program located in Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls. The program primarily supports isolated seniors who want more social interaction in their lives. TAPS works with older adults and focuses more on health promotion, wellness, and socialization. In addition, while TAPS’ participants may have cognitive impairments or health conditions, they generally have lower healthcare needs than those in traditional adult day services.

The Tablet Lending Library was designed for seniors in isolation, low-income families and new immigrants living in the Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls areas. It allows them to connect with friends, family, government agencies and the business community. The program comes with training on handling, how to use, internet security and fraud prevention. All tablets, stylus and cases are the property of Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre Society.

Community Lift Accessible Transportation Service Announcement
Introducing Our New Accessible Bus for Osoyoos, Oliver, and Okanagan Falls!
We are thrilled to announce a new accessible bus service to support seniors and residents facing physical, mental, or financial barriers in accessing essential services. This service aims to make transportation more accessible for medical appointments and community resources.

A place for parents/caregivers to meet and share their parenting concerns while learning and cooking nutritious meals together in our teaching kitchen. Participants get to enjoy a nutritious lunch together, prepared by themselves, and participants also get to take a nutritious meal home for a nominal fee. A qualified childminder is provided to look after and provide educational opportunities for the children of the participants. At DS Cooks, we also provide information about many community resources available to parents.

The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program is a fun, bonding and play-based program of songs, rhymes and stories for parents and young children aged 0-4. The program runs in a group setting throughout the year. Together, parents and children in the program

Parenting toddlers and young children can be hard work! Our Early Years program is a fun and social, play-based learning environment where children aged 0-6 years old can enjoy engaging activities and parents can connect. The Early Years program is offered free of charge on a drop-in basis, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm. The program occurs at different sites around Oliver.

Our Community Kitchen Program aims to help educate families about healthy eating, grocery budgeting, cooking techniques and more in a fun and social environment. Our drop-in teaching kitchen program is a place for parents and children to gather together to cook, learn about parenting, and gain healthy meal preparation strategies. Free childcare is provided.

Roots of Empathy is a program that links a newborn baby and his/her parent/caregiver to a primary school classroom for a school year. Every three weeks for 27 weeks, the parent and baby visit the class. The children sit around a green blanket and observe the baby and parent while learning about the baby’s growth and development. The program is facilitated by a Roots of Empathy instructor, who visits the class every week.

Our Circle of Security program is offered to parents/caregivers who want to strengthen healthy attachments with their children and help their children build secure relationships. Circle of Security includes both group and individual training for parents/caregivers.

A place for parents/caregivers to meet and share their parenting concerns while learning and cooking nutritious meals together in our teaching kitchen. Participants get to enjoy a nutritious lunch together, prepared by themselves, and participants also get to take a nutritious meal home for a nominal fee. A qualified childminder is provided to look after and provide educational opportunities for the children of the participants. At DS Cooks, we also provide information about many community resources available to parents.

The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program is a fun, bonding and play-based program of songs, rhymes and stories for parents and young children aged 0-4. The program runs in a group setting throughout the year. Together, parents and children in the program

Parenting toddlers and young children can be hard work! Our Early Years program is a fun and social, play-based learning environment where children aged 0-6 years old can enjoy engaging activities and parents can connect. The Early Years program is offered free of charge on a drop-in basis, Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm. The program occurs at different sites around Oliver.

Our Community Kitchen Program aims to help educate families about healthy eating, grocery budgeting, cooking techniques and more in a fun and social environment. Our drop-in teaching kitchen program is a place for parents and children to gather together to cook, learn about parenting, and gain healthy meal preparation strategies. Free childcare is provided.

Many men in our community, especially men who are retired, have time on their hands and a tendency to suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression. Our Men’s Shed is a space reserved just for guys: a place where men meet together to do woodworking projects and other projects, fix electronics and machines and connect with other men. The goals of the program are to help men facilitate connection, reduce isolation, stay productive, and contribute to our community.

Community Outreach is a Desert Sun service that provides: Information, Referral services, Advocacy, Support and assistance for individuals and families accessing legal, provincial or federal services.

Desert Sun facilitators regularly deliver a Parenting Skills Program to Inmates at the Okanagan Correctional Centre. The goal of the program is to stop the cycle of family violence and incarceration that impacts many of the OCC inmates. The program helps inmates explore how the trauma they experienced in childhood may have influenced the way they parent and helps them learn different, healthier ways to parent.

Desert Sun operates three counselling programs for children aged 3 to 18. Counselling is provided free of charge on a self-referral or parent/teacher referral basis.

Our Men’s Counselling Program provides individual and/or group counselling to men who would like to improve their relationships, reduce stress and better manage conflict.

Desert Sun provides short-term shelter and support to women and children fleeing abusive situations. We provide all the basic necessities, free of charge. We can also help connect women escaping violence with legal and financial informational resources and referrals.

Desert Sun Counselling provides individual and group counselling to women over the age of nineteen who have experienced childhood abuse, abuse in adult relationships, and/or sexualized violence. The goal of our program is to support and empower women who are currently being or have in the past been abused.

Our Crisis Line is available 7 days a week, 8 am to 10 pm. This provides support to women 16 years and older who live in the South Okanagan. A Support Worker is always available to listen and to provide support, information and referrals.

The PEACE Program for Children Experiencing Violence
The Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) Program is a free, confidential program for children and youth aged 3 to 18 who have experienced violence. The program is offered in either group or individual counselling sessions at Desert Sun.

Desert Sun provides youth at risk of homelessness with a safe, supportive living environment where we encourage them to continue with their schooling, find an after-school job, and we take on the role of a supportive parent. We provide youth with food, clothing and shelter at no charge in an environment where we strive to stop the cycle of trauma and hurt.

Our Men’s Counselling Program provides individual and/or group counselling to men who would like to improve their relationships, reduce stress and better manage conflict.

Desert Sun Counselling provides individual and group counselling to women over the age of nineteen who have experienced childhood abuse, abuse in adult relationships, and/or sexualized violence. The goal of our program is to support and empower women who are currently being or have in the past been abused.

Many men in our community, especially men who are retired, have time on their hands and a tendency to suffer from isolation, loneliness and depression. Our Men’s Shed is a space reserved just for guys: a place where men meet together to do woodworking projects and other projects, fix electronics and machines and connect with other men. The goals of the program are to help men facilitate connection, reduce isolation, stay productive, and contribute to our community.

The PEACE Program for Children Experiencing Violence
The Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Counselling and Empowerment (PEACE) Program is a free, confidential program for children and youth aged 3 to 18 who have experienced violence. The program is offered in either group or individual counselling sessions at Desert Sun.

The Tablet Lending Library was designed for seniors in isolation, low-income families and new immigrants living in the Oliver, Osoyoos and Okanagan Falls areas. It allows them to connect with friends, family, government agencies and the business community. The program comes with training on handling, how to use, internet security and fraud prevention. All tablets, stylus and cases are the property of Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre Society.

Community Outreach is a Desert Sun service that provides: Information, Referral services, Advocacy, Support and assistance for individuals and families accessing legal, provincial or federal services.

This program is in partnership with Interior Health. Desert Sun provides one CSW to each of the communities of Oliver and Osoyoos to work in local family practices to provide socio-emotional support to patients as part of the new Team-Based Care Primary Network. The CSW provides outreach-based support (help with following treatment plans, psychosocial support, stabilizing vulnerable patients), helps with the completion of government forms, assists patients and their families with life skills support, and maintains health continuity to support family physicians. Community Support Workers are the connection between patients in need and the services they need in the community.

Community Lift Accessible Transportation Service Announcement
Introducing Our New Accessible Bus for Osoyoos, Oliver, and Okanagan Falls!
We are thrilled to announce a new accessible bus service to support seniors and residents facing physical, mental, or financial barriers in accessing essential services. This service aims to make transportation more accessible for medical appointments and community resources.