Valuable services offered by PEERS are shutting down because the non-profit agency鈥檚 work doesn鈥檛 fit well into a government box. The province should rebuild its box, so PEERS can go on helping people who have no one else on their side.
For almost 20 years, the society that helps sex workers has operated a drop-in centre and a pre-employment program. The centre offered safe shelter, hot lunches, information on rehabilitation programs and support without judgment. A 鈥渂ad date鈥� sheet warned of violent clients.
The Elements program gave those who wanted to leave the sex trade the tools they needed to look for work or education. It did more than teach basic computer skills and resum茅-writing. One part is described this way: 鈥淎 group focused on recognizing abuse, violence and trauma, and their connection to addictions; provides participants with skills and tools for staying safe when trauma responses are triggered.鈥�
It takes special skills and experience to help sex workers make the difficult transition to regular jobs.
Last year, the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation went from providing core funding to a fee-for-service system, under which personal information had to be provided on each client. The system snatched away the confidentiality that was an important part of making Elements work.
Although the crucial day and night outreach programs continue through other funding, the agency鈥檚 operating budget has been cut in half and three full-time positions eliminated.
Instead of trying to force the agency into a model that doesn鈥檛 fit, the government should be able to tailor its funding rules so this unique and important work can continue.
