Downtown Eastside Women~s Centre

Description

About Us
High levels of violence homelessness addictions and poverty characterize the Downtown Eastside community and women and children are particularly vulnerable to exploitation injustice and injury Founded in 1978 DEWC is one of the few safe spaces within the Downtown Eastside exclusively for women and their children

We provide practical support to over 300 women children and seniors every day As well as providing a refuge and shelter from conditions of poverty and violence the Centre provides basic necessities including

hot meals

free clothing

secure mailing addresses

phone and computer access

functioning and secure toilet and showers

We also help reduce the effect of economic disadvantage by providing

toiletries

haircuts

sewing machines

feminine hygiene products

computer access

harm reduction supplies

first aid

The Centre assists women with their immediate and crisis needs so they can develop stability and access the resources they need to improve health family employment and housing situations We promote positive change by offering individual longterm support education advocacy peer mentorship and exposure to alternatives

Our community also works towards increasing awareness of systemic injustice and inequalities that contribute to womens vulnerability One of our goals is to bring awareness of poverty and violence issues to the general public and to the government