Drop-in Centres

The foundation of our services is the ability to offer low-barrier spaces for women to exist safely in the Downtown Eastside.

Our drop-in spaces operate as community living rooms, where women can do all the little things that most of us take for granted: meet with their friends, have a hot meal, watch a film or do a jigsaw puzzle. DEWC’s open-door policy creates an invitation to come in, rest and take a break from the ongoing challenges women face daily.

While the Downtown Eastside can be a place with a strong sense of community for many who live and work here, it is also, unfortunately, a place where especially women and fem-presenting individuals experience extreme violence, including sexual assaults, at alarming rates. A recent survey of 50 women experiencing homelessness found that 100% reported feeling unsafe, and 100% had experienced violence and/or sexual assault.

In response to the immense challenges faced by women in the Downtown Eastside, DEWC is committed to offering a sanctuary where women can feel safe, respected, and supported.

At our Drop-In Centres, women can access:

• Hot and nutritious meals
• Free clothing
• Safe washrooms and showers
• Secure mailing address
• Phone and computer access 
• Toiletries
• Feminine hygiene products
• Harm reduction supplies 
• First aid
• Peer support

We support women who struggle with mental wellness and or problematic substance use, who are low-income, may have disabilities, and who do sex work. We support women who face multiple barriers to accessing “traditional public services” and who experience racism, ableism, marginalization, as well as other forms of oppression, every day. Our goal is to provide a space where women can rest, eat, shower, and access the support they need to move out of survival.

Over this past year, our staff have been a support network for more than 1000 women and kids through the drop-in centres. These spaces provide the women with an opportunity to rest away from the constant threats from the outside world, and, like the rest of us at the end of a hard day, process their experiences and be able to exercise their self-determination. Even when housed, a woman may not have access to a communal space she feels safe in. For women housed in SROs with limited space or safe amenities, DEWC is their living room.

Our drop-in spaces offer a community hub, where through our partnership with other organizations, women can access services such as income assistance support, mobile health teams and mental-health workers.

Our Drop-in Centres are located at: