The executive director of Burnaby Community Services is leaving the organization after 14 years to take the helm at the Homelessness Services Association of BC.
Stephen D’Souza will begin transitioning between the two executive director roles in September and will be working full time at his new job in November.
“I feel like I'm still continuing in my work, just looking at it from a different role and a different perspective,” said D’Souza, who will also be moving on from his his lead roles with Burnaby Meals on Wheels and Burnaby Seniors Outreach Services Society.
D’Souza said leading HSABC will allow him to expand on his existing work, which has included sitting on a variety of local and provincial boards addressing poverty, homelessness and seniors’ issues.
“I think this is a critical time in our communities to have conversations around what our support services look like for those who are homeless and how do we make sure that everyone feels included in our communities,” he said.
The chair of HSABC’s board of directors, Randy Benson, welcomed D’Souza in a press release.
“We are very excited about Stephen’s vision for addressing poverty and ending homelessness in our communities,” he said. “Based on his dedication, expertise and qualifications, Stephen is the right person to lead HSABC at this time.”
