Fact #1. Overall, the number of homeless people In Vancouver has doubled to approximately 2,174 people, since 2005.
Fact #2. At 2:00PM this afternoon, flocks of Vancouverites will march in solidarity with their support for the protection and development of Women’s Housing in the Downtown East Side. The march starts @ the DTES WOMEN’S CENTRE (302 Columbia, @ Cordova).
Fact #3. It is estimated that the rate of rapid gentrification leading to the Olympics will triple the number of homeless in Vancouver. These numbers are staggering! And they can affect every single one of us!
So, join Vancouverites today! I’m taking half my day off, and am heading down with a few DTES lawyers and paralegals to stand in solidarity on this issue. Because affordable housing is an issue for everyone in Vancouver, like students, single parents, young couples, sex-workers, among others. So, let’s JOIN WOMEN IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE TO DEMAND HOUSING NOW! Because housing is an inalienable human right, and the backbone necessary for the sustenance and growth of everyone’s potential as a human being with dignity, shelter, privacy, and respect.
In response to the growing violence, the growing poverty, and growing homelessness in the DTES, women in the Downtown Eastside and the Power of Women to Women Group (PWWG) are joining together to organize for and demand safe and long-term affordable housing.
More Facts. According to the 2005 GVRD Homelessness Count, a stunning source of information on Vancouver in general I might add, there has been an increase of 60% in the number of homeless women since the 2002 Count, with shelter beds available for no more than 50% of homeless women. In this document you can find that cuts to income assistance, cuts to legal aid, cuts to women’s centres, and attacks on women’s advocacy and support services, all amount to increasingly dire living conditions for women. Furthermore, the lack of childcare support, rising costs of living and housing, and low-income work all have had devastating impacts on women.
We encourage and hope that all our supporters will join us. This is a drug and alcohol-free event.
For more information, contact the Downtown East Side Women’s Centre @ 604-681-8480 x 234 or email them at project@dewc.ca. See you there!
PHOTO CREDIT: Ardenstreet’s photostream
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