Sexual Exploitation
WISH Drop-in Centre
Phone: 604-669-WISH (9474)
Address: 515-119 W. Pender St., Vancouver
The WISH Drop-in Centre Society is run by women, for the exclusive use of female survival sex workers. The centre offers a safe place to find support, a hot meal, showers, basic supplies and health care.
WISH and PACE also jointly run the Mobile Access Project (MAP) van, which delivers outreach to known and emerging strolls in Vancouver from 10:30pm to 5:30am nightly. To learn more, please visit their web site!
Onyx Program
Phone: 604-708-2647
Web: www.plea.ca/our-services/youth-outreach and www.asaferspace.com
Onyx offers support services to youth who are or have been sexually exploited. This is a voluntary program that assists male, female and trans clients that are 18 years of age and under, with a wide variety of support services available: counselling, 1-on-1 support, advocacy, financial assistance (food, clothing, bus pass, etc.) housing and connection to community resources.
Service plans are put into place during initial intake and consultation with the client. Coordination of services range from formal (counselling, detox, school, one-to-one support) to informal (recreation, clothing, bus pass). Referrals can come from the community.
Program provided by PLEA and covers Metro Vancouver, Tri-cities, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
PEERS (Prostitution Empowerment Education and Resource Society)
Phone: 250-388-5325 Toll-free: 1-888-733-7722
Address: 1 – 744 Fairview Road, Victoria BC
Web: www.peers.bc.ca Email: info@peers.bc.ca
PEERS Victoria Resource Society is an organization that provides resources, support and services for male & female sex workers in Victoria, BC.
Provides various programs, including:
- ELEMENTS – A multi-phased, 6-month program designed for those wanting to transition from the sex trade towards mainstream employment and/or education. Includes substance recovery support, counselling, group work, health and wellness information, help with resumes, certification in various training areas (Food Safe, etc), art therapy and more.
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention and Education Services, including weekly support group for mothers of children with FASD
- Nightly outreach (7pm-11pm) in Victoria on the downtown stroll with needle exchange, condoms, food and coffee; And daytime outreach (9am-3pm) for referral, advocacy, hospital/detox visits, whether you’re ready to leave the streets or not.
- In-house access to female doctor & nutritionist
- Help with finding affordable housing
- Advocacy: with regards to legal and custody issues, discrimination based on someone being in the sex trade, and court support
PACE (Prostitution Alternatives Counselling Education) Society
Phone: 604-872-7651 Toll-free: 1-866-872-8751
Address: 49 W. Cordova Street, Vancouver BC
Web: www.pace-society.ca
PACE Society in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver is committed to providing sex worker-led and -driven programs and services to survival sex workers, including support, educational programs and outreach.
Offers various services including:
- One-on-one support workers
- Education, including the Violence Prevention program built around relevant, contextual safety issues in the lives of survival sex workers
- Outreach via the Mobile Access Project or MAP Van (which they run jointly with WISH) that visits the strolls of Vancouver every night (10:30pm to 5:30am) offering respite, supplies and support.
- Their office is also equipped with harm reduction supplies (such as condoms & clean needles) for their members
NOW Canada Society
Phone: 250-763-3876 (Kelowna)
Web: www.nowcanada.ca Email: info@nowcanada.ca
New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada provides programs, services and ongoing support to women who have been victims of sexual exploitation, have addictions and/or mental health challenges. The society also provides emergency shelter as well as transitional housing and affordable, independent living to women, with and without children, who have a proven financial need.
Services include:
- Alexandra Gardner Women and Children Safe Centre – A 20-bed homeless shelter for women & children.
- Residential Safe Home Program – Transitional living in homes for sexually exploited young women
- NOW Place Apartments - Long-term second stage accomodations to women (with or without children) who demonstrate proven financial need.
- ASK Learning Centre – A 3-month life skills and employability program to help female youth to reintegrate into the community.
- See their Services Page for more details
