Author: Christine Robertson

In the face of crisis — COVID-19 and its aftermath, housing, toxic drug supply,
mental health, and so much more — the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
endures as a beacon of hope and resilience.

As an organization committed to gender justice in resilient communities, The Houssian Foundation is proud to be an ongoing partner of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. For 45 years, the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre has fostered a sense of belonging for women across diverse backgrounds and cultures. Their care provides nourishment, safety, and friendship, for cis, trans, and Two-Spirit women living and working in the community.

The work done at DEWC is monumental and the demand for support is staggering. Despite staffing and resourcing challenges, throughout 2023 DEWC served nearly 1,200 women daily, offering shelter, food, counselling, healthcare, and support services. The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre – under the leadership of Executive Director Alice Kendall – is a formidable force in the community.

“We wish there was no need for our services but the reality is that our safe spaces for women are needed now more than ever.”

Alice Kendall, Executive Director.

With support from The Houssian Foundation and others, the food program at DEWC underwent a notable transformation in 2023, expanding across all five service sites with regular meal availability. And, the member reviews are coming in at five stars. “Our kitchen initiative has had a profound impact, as evidenced by one of our members who shared, ‘I like to come in here. I can have a meal; the food is amazing, and to see my friends to have a cup of coffee. I really like the cook; she is amazing and gives us good food,’” she adds.

Amid challenges, the stories of impact from the community are invigorating. Lena, a First Nations woman who had been historically marginalized due to her drug use and sex work, found a sanctuary at DEWC. And, Samantha, an Indigenous woman who had been unhoused for over half her life, found a new sense of belonging and security after securing housing through the centre’s efforts. She’s secured work, is making strides in her goals for stability and self sufficiency, and for the first time in a long while, she feels at home.

“When looking back on 2023, we are most proud that as an organization we worked hard to keep our doors open and provide the women of this community safe with advocacy, connection, and safety amid many barriers,” concludes Kendall.“ We are so very proud of the incredible team we have and the strength of the women we work with.”

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Because of the amazing $10aDay campaign, the BC Government is beginning to implement quality, affordable, universal child care.

Their work has led to significant public policy changes, resulting in the first social program at this scale in decades and transforming the lives of families in British Columbia, in particular the lives of women. 

COVID-19 brought attention to what women have known all along: childcare is essential to our economy. The work of the Childcare Advocates of BC has taught us that childcare workers must be compensated fairly for the work they are doing – to build the care economy – and that affordable childcare must be universally accessible and culturally-informed. 

Below are testimonials that speak to the  impact of this advocacy work and the outcome of the investment: 

“This was a meaningful public policy announcement that will make a real difference for so many families and women. Adding my voice to the chorus of appreciation for the tenacity and focus of the $10aDay campaign, Sharon Gregson and the countless other women over several decades.” – Maria Dobrinskaya 

“I cried today listening to this announcement. These investments have been so hard fought for, and they are relieving so much pressure for those of us with young ones. History making changes that leave a legacy of hope and greater equality.” – Kristen Keighley-Wight

“My child care fees have dropped by close to 50%. In one day. Thank you for the tireless work to get us closer to affordable, high quality childcare in BC.”

Chantelle Krish, Supporter 

In September 2022, provincial and federal ministers unveiled details of new subsidies that will apply to 96,000 children across B.C. Affordable childcare advocates say the move puts the government’s promise of $10-a-day affordable child care on the horizon.

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The Houssian Foundation is proud to partner with WISH (Women’s Information Safe House) Drop-In Centre Society in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, an organization that improves the health, safety and well-being of women who are involved in Vancouver’s street-based sex trade.

Many of the participants who walk through the doors of the WISH face limited options. When Avery Gray* was living in a tent on Alexander Street, she didn’t know what WISH was. One freezing night, she was invited into the drop-in for a hot chocolate and decided to check it out.

“I didn’t share any details of the work I did at all because I just felt that if I, you know, made enemies with even my closest friends, that they would somehow rat me out to the ministry and it would go against me and my kids, right?”

Avery Gray*, WISH client

Avery describes how experiencing homelessness and living with substance use severely limited her options, “I had no choices at that time,” and even now she says, “I don’t really know what got me through it to be honest with you. Things kinda just started slowly day by day, increasingly getting better and better and a lot of that is because of the support I got from here.”

Having support available when she needed it made a difference, “anytime that any, you know, upsetting situations happened or anything, I’d be able to come here at any hour of the day. Like midnight, three in the morning, anytime, and [WISH] was always here.”

Avery Gray is modest about her accomplishments, but her journey is truly incredible. After joining WISH’s Supportive Employment Program, she found work that she enjoys and is great at. Now, she has progressed from an entry-level role to become a program supervisor at WISH, overseeing nearly 40 employees.

Having staff with personal experience accessing services at WISH is immensely valuable to WISH’s community. Avery Gray knows firsthand how “it takes somebody to feel welcome before they feel that they have choice or options to do anything else.”

To do this, we need to create opportunities that meaningfully engage street-based sex workers, while prioritizing their safety, autonomy, and self-determination.

“I definitely am starting more and more to feel like, oh, I could be this somewhere else too. It’s not just here. I’m valuable everywhere, right?… I can do it, so I think everybody else can.”

*Alias used to protect confidentiality

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Committed to providing compassionate, professional, and affordable social services to those who live or work on the North Shore, Family Services of the North Shore (FSNS) offers counselling, support, education, and volunteer engagement opportunities on a range of issues faced by individuals and communities. 

The Houssian Foundation provides general operating support to Family Services of the North Shore’s (FSNS) Proud2BE program which supports queer, trans, non-binary, two-spirit, gender diverse and/or gender-questioning children and teens. 

Many youth who come out as non-binary may also struggle with mental health, and want to go on hormones. For their parents, the FSNS Parents of Gender Diverse Children and Youth Support Group can help answer questions and provide support for all members of the family.

Initially, parents of queer, trans, non-binary, two-spirit, gender diverse and/or gender-questioning children and teens can feel confused, scared, and overwhelmed. After hearing from other parents and realizing they were not alone, they can begin to process their own feelings. 

These parents can find connection in an environment where their feelings are validated. As more was disclosed within the group, the facilitators recognized that there are other issues going on at home and offered individual family support outside of the group. 

Group and individual support sessions are available for families where they can have honest conversations in an environment where their child feels safe enough to express themselves and ask for the support they need from their parents while navigating their gender affirming journey.  

FSNS also offers the PROUD2BE Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Conference presented in partnership with West Vancouver Youth Services which brings together youth, parents, and service providers for activities, panel discussions, workshops, entertainment, and clinical services. Open to children, youth, families and professionals, it’s a thoughtful weekend designed to support and connect our diverse LGBTQ2S+, gender-diverse and allied communities.

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