Downtown Eastside Women's Centre

The mission of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC) is to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for women from all walks of life, who live and/or work in the Downtown Eastside. DEWC operates a low-barrier drop-in centre and emergency night shelter, offering safe, women-only space, meals and basic essentials, as well as a continuum of care that nurtures and empowers members towards long-term change. DEWC sees over 500 women every single day, providing refuge from conditions of poverty and violence, hot, nutritious meals, toiletries and clothing, phone and computer access, as well as specialized support including cultural programming, advocacy, victim services, and housing assistance. In a severely marginalized community, DEWC provides a place where women can come as they are, find resources, support, and sisterhood, and build personal capacity so as to bridge the gap from survival to self-sufficiency.