Peers blog -

December 15, 2020/in Peers News /by office_admin

Peers Victoria is launching a new community consultation project to make our services more relevant, accessible, and safe for Trans, Nonbinary, and Two-Spirit Sex Workers!

Trans, non-binary and two-spirit (TN2S) people, especially trans women, are disproportionally represented in the sex trade. These people are more likely to experience economic marginalization, unstable housing, unmet physical and mental healthcare needs, gender-based violence, harassment and stigma. These same experiences make it difficult to access service and support organizations. Not to mention that some of these experiences happen in attempting to or while accessing services. There is a lack of information and we are exploring this gap.

Peers is holding a series of consultations with the TN2S sex worker community to discover how to make essential services for sex workers safer, more accessible and more relevant to the needs of the TN2S community.

We are beginning this project with an online survey that will help ensure our attempts to improve services at Peers will be guided by the self-identified needs of the community we serve. As always, Peers prioritizes the experiential voice. This is key in authentic learning and exploring real solutions.

If you identify as a Trans, Nonbinary, or Two-Spirit sex worker (current or former) and would like to participate, please check out our survey below:

https://surveys.vch.ca/Survey.aspx?s=e683b2bcd7f9471ba6fd69f75df89ab9&forceNew=true&test=true

For more information about this project, please email trans.support@peers.bc.ca or call 236.638.3340

Peers is Hiring!!! Housing Support Workers for Paul’s Motor Inn

June 24, 2020/in Peers News /by office_admin

Peers is hiring Housing Support Workers for people temporarily sheltered at motels.

Multiple part-time and casual shifts available. All $25 hour.

If interested, please send a cover letter and resume to peershiring@gmail.com

Motel Posting – Paul’s Motor Inn

COVID-19 Service Update, Effective June 15th, 2020

June 22, 2020/in Peers News /by office_admin

Service Changes to Peers Effective June 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.

***Drop-In is open for pick-up of hot meals, supplies, bus tickets, & grocery cards! Open Tuesday to Thursday, 11:30-2:30***

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

***Meal Deliveries have been suspended with our Drop-In center re-opened***

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

Indigenous Housing Support Worker

June 19, 2020/in Peers News /by office_admin

Peers is hiring an Indigenous Housing Support Worker!

$25-28/hour, 30 hours/week.

This position will be open to Indigenous persons with consideration given to applicants who have lived
experience in sex work/trade or experience working with people in sex work/trade. It is beneficial to
identify in the cover letter if you have lived expertise relevant to the position. We also encourage
applications from, but not limited to, people with diverse abilities, and people representing diverse
genders and sexualities.

Please submit a cover letter and resume to peershiring@gmail.com by June 29th.

Indigenous Housing Support Worker – Final (1)

Communications Specialist – Canada Summer Job Position

June 19, 2020/in Peers News /by office_admin

Peers is hiring a Communications Specialist!

This position is through the Canada Summer Jobs Program. Individuals must be 15-30 years of age at the start of employment to qualify for this
position. Applications from individuals with direct experience in any aspect of the sex
industry are especially welcome. We also encourage applications from Indigenous
people, persons of colour, persons of differing abilities, and people representing diverse
genders and sexualities.

$25/hours, 30 hours/week (until 280 hours are fulfilled).

Please submit a cover letter and resume to peershiring@gmail.com by June 25th

Peers Communications Specialist Posting