New report sheds light on life for women inside Downtown Eastside rooming houses

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – On a day the premier is recalling what it was like to be a victim of sexual violence, we’re learning more about what it’s like to be woman in one of the Downtown Eastside’s rooming houses.

A pilot project conducted by the Atira Women’s Resource Society found women living in fear and isolation.

They are subjected to sexual abuse by private Single Room Occupancy hotel staff and have their belongings stolen on a regular basis.

The society’s Janice Abbott says part of the problem is that women are a minority in these places.

“Women are fearful of using the bathrooms because they are shared bathrooms, particularly at night when they don’t know who they are going to run into in the hallway,” Abbott explains.

“They are fearful of leaving their rooms especially during weeks when drug-use and drug-dealing is rampant. They are often isolated and not getting their primary health-care needs met.”

Since February, the project called SheROes, has paired up 86 vulnerable women who live in the Astoria, Balmoral, Cobalt, Regent and West hotels with other women who visit them, provide sandwiches and help them get to their appointments.

The volunteers themselves are women that have been homeless themselves and now live in supportive housing.

Abbott hopes the pilot will result in a permanent program coordinator being appointed.

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