Family Violence Initiative

COMPENDIUM OF PROMISING PRACTICES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE AND INCREASE SAFETY OF ABORIGINAL WOMEN IN CANADA

SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Outreach to Sex Trade Workers

Program Name:

Sex Trade Out Reach Mobile (S.T.O.R.M.)

Organization/Community:

Minwaashin Lodge

Location:

Ottawa, Ontario

Website:

www.minlodge.com

Goals and Objectives:

To assist women with immediate medical, safety and shelter needs and to reduce vulnerability to violence and harm that women experience in their lives.

Target Group Description:

Women in the sex trade.

Program Description:

The program assists sex trade workers in finding emergency shelter and seeks out workers to talk to them about ways of staying safe on the street. It is a mobile service that utilizes vehicles and staff to seek out female sex trade workers in the street environment. The program assists sex trade workers in helping police identify "bad date list" individuals by providing police with details such as physical descriptions of perpetrators, car descriptions and details of the incidents. Staff keep track of female sex trade workers (who they are; where they hang out), check in on them and ask about them if they haven't been seen in a while. The program also files Missing Person Reports when necessary.

Program Successes/Impact:

Clients are now seeking out the services the program offers. Through word of mouth other women have become aware of and started using the services.

Key Lessons/Challenge:

Women are being pushed more out of sight in communities that do not want to see sex trade activity. This puts women in more danger and makes it more difficult for them to seek help if needed.

Program in operation since:

2008.

Program:

Ongoing.