Demonstration project
Recognizing the need to move the community engagement process into action, Living in Community secured funding to build on its experience and address how the sex industry and sexual exploitation can be approached within neighbourhoods. A framework, developed by LIC, addresses community concerns about sex work and sexual exploitation in an inclusive and respectful way and seeks better outcomes for residents, businesses and sex workers.
SAFE (Sex Work Awareness For Everyone) in Collingwood is a neighbourhood-based project in Renfrew-Collingwood that is working to improve the health and safety of sex workers and address the safety concerns, as they relate to sex work, of the residents, business people and other community members. The project is bringing together different neighbourhood groups to identify the issues and challenges and take steps to produce practical and tangible results.
Priority goals for Phase 1 of SAFE include:
- reducing the health and safety concerns related to sex work experienced by residents, visitors and businesses
- improving the health and safety of sex workers
- improving healthy lifestyle decision-making of children and youth and their parents
- reducing sexual exploitation of youth
Activities of SAFE for Phase 1 include:
- developing a steering committee composed of a diverse group of residents, sex workers and business people
- initiating dialogue in the neighbourhood around the issues
- creating printed materials and a website
- providing outreach and support services to sex workers in the Collingwood-Renfrew neighbourhood
- holding Kitchen Table Dialogues with different stakeholders in the neighbourhood to raise awareness and understanding about sex work issues
Civic engagement
The Civic Engagement Working Group of Living in Community is working to change public attitudes and to counter negative media stories.
Priority goals for this working group currently include:
- creating public awareness and understanding of the realities of sex work and sex workers, and dispelling myths
- creating greater acceptance of and respect for sex workers
- reducing and preventing sexual exploitation
