DTES Women’s Centre
The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre is one of the busiest women’s centres in the country, operating a non-profit Drop-In Centre and 24-hour Emergency Night Shelter in one of the poorest communities in Canada. DEWC provides practical support to over 500 women, children and seniors, every day.
Founded in 1978, DEWC is one of the few safe spaces within the Downtown Eastside exclusively for self-identified women and their children – a group which is particularly vulnerable to exploitation, injustice and injury.
As well as providing a refuge and shelter from conditions of poverty and violence, the Centre provides basic necessities including hot meals, free clothing, clean, and secure toilets and showers, access to computers, and first aid.
DEWC’s advocacy programs assist women in developing stability and access the resources they need to improve health, family, employment and housing situations.