Service Changes in Response to COVID-19

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Service Changes to Peers Until the End of June 2020, Effective May 15th, 2020

Due to the COVID 19 virus, we are reorienting our services to increase social distancing. Our aim is to decrease contacts while still having opportunities to connect and receive basic supplies.  Right now, the schedule for drop off supplies is Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Phone support and texts can be received daily.

***Night Outreach is back! The van is currently operating Monday to Friday, 6:30-10:30***

***We are looking to suspend meal deliveries and reopen our drop-in center in a limited capacity starting June 15th, 2020. More to follow.***

Drop In: Services at the drop in center will be by appointment or door service Monday Wednesday and Friday from 11-1. We will have food, harm reduction supplies and bus tickets to hand out, but we are discouraging folks from entering the centre unless it is an emergency. We are planning to transition from meal deliveries back to limited drop-in services starting June 15th! More to follow.

Night Outreach:  Night Outreach has now restarted! Our van is out in the community providing food, hard reduction supplies, and support from Monday – Friday, 6:30-10:30.

Housing and Harm Reduction Outreach: Staff can be reached by phone during their usual hours and we will be providing phone support and arranging drop off harm reduction and food (and other essentials).

There will be NO GROUPS at Peers Victoria including SACRED, Men’s Dinner, Indoor, and Trans and Non-Binary, Night Outreach, Drop in until further notice.

Counselling: Carin will be available for counselling sessions as usual during this time, but will be switching to phone only. Sessions can be booked by contacting Carin via email at carinfreimond@protonmail.com Usual hours are Mon-Thurs from 11am-3pm. Sessions outside of these hours may be possible as well, so people can inquire when they email if these hours don’t work for them.

Phone Numbers:

Admin/Operations/Volunteers 250.388.5325 ex. 2 Answered Monday to Wednesday 11-4

Drop-In: 250-388-5325 ex. 1 Answered Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11-3

Housing: 250.415.1874 Answered Monday to Thursday 10-4; text anytime

Harm Reduction: 250.217.0410 Answered Monday to Thursday 10-4; text anytime

Men’s Program 250.217.1386 Answered Monday to Thursday 10-4; text anytime

Night Outreach 250.744.0171 Answered Monday to Friday 6:30-10:30; text anytime

Prevention: 250.217.5937 Tuesday to Thursday 12-4; text anytime

Program Coordinator 236.638.2311; text anytime

Volunteers and Students: All volunteer and student shifts are cancelled until further notice.

Facebook: You can message us on our FB page @PeersVictoria

Emails:

Executive Director: ed@peers.bc.ca

Admin/Operations/Volunteer: admin@peers.bc.ca

Drop-In: dropin@peers.bc.ca

Housing: housing@peers.bc.ca

Harm Reduction: health@peers.bc.ca

Men’s Program: men@peers.bc.ca

Night Outreach: outreach@peers.bc.ca

Prevention: prevention@peers.bc.ca

Program Coordinator: programcoordinator@peers.bc.ca

For More Info about COVID 19: https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/diseases-conditions/novel-coronavirus-information

Temporary Motel Outreach Worker(s) Job Posting – Application Deadline MAY 15, 2020

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Job Posting – Motel Outreach Worker(s) – Application Deadline MAY 15, 2020

Letter writing campaign for economic justice for sex workers in COVID-19 response plan

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Join the letter writing campaign for economic justice for sex workers in COVID-19 response plans. Ota Strange, a local sex worker, put together the attached letter template. Find addresses, links and templates here: Sex Workers and Canadas Economic and Safety Supports_

Peers Powers Our People Up Fundraiser

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“Without Peers, in this time of COVID 19, I would have no food, shelter or support.”-Marnie

Fundraiser link

Please help us raise $30,000 this month by dollar for dollar matching a generous donation of up to $15,000 from a community member with a big heart.

Peers Powers Our People Up Emergency Fund is for current and former sex workers in Victoria. Many are falling through the cracks of the emergency response to COVID-19 because they don’t meet the eligibility criteria for federal and provincial government aid.
We’ll use these funds flexibly to help people make ends meet over the coming month. 100% of the proceeds will go towards emergency rent supports to prevent housing loss, food and basic necessities and hygiene and prevention supplies.Peers community members are experiencing a loss of income, some new expenses due to social distancing, and a loss of access to the supports they used prior to this pandemic.Although the focus of the Peers Powers Our People Up fund is on the Peers community, other current Vancouver Island sex workers will be considered. We sincerely appreciate any assistance or support you might be able to provide.

Violence Prevention and Support Worker Job Posting – Application deadline extended to Dec 31, 2018

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Job Posting _ Violence Prevention and Support Worker Nov 2018  –  Application deadline extended to Monday December 31, 2018

2018 Holiday Gift Bag Drive

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Holiday Gift BagsWe are collecting gift bags again this year for our program participants.  Following up on the successful drive last year, we are again doing three themes: snack bag, cozy bag, and weather bag.  See posters for details on what to include. holidayGiftBagsPoster-2018