It's an odd feeling not thinking about meals, not taking a lunch to work. Even for someone like me who doesn't put a lot of thought into it generally. Definitely have a lower energy level but not too bad yet.
So today I offer you this thought. Homelessness results from AND leads to a whole host of other issues and challenges for individuals and society. People aren't homeless because they think that's a cool way to live. They don't 'fit' into our lives; they've left or been pushed out for a variety of reasons such as health (including mental health and addictions), relationship breakdown, violence and our inability to allow them to function differently than the rest of us. Here is a group that can tell us a lot about that:
While there has been much focus on housing issues in the past few years, many of the systemic issues are intensifying and this is a march organized and led by many women in the DTES to have their realities expressed directly. Thank you for supporting! With respect and solidarity, Harsha
Harsha Walia
DTES Women Centre Project Coordinator
Email: project@dewc.ca
604-681-8480 x 234
302 Columbia Street, Vancouver BC V6C 1B4
- please forward widely -
* Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyNC7fjLhT8
===> 3RD ANNUAL WOMEN'S HOUSING MARCH <===
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Sat June 13 @ 1:30 pm
Starts outside Downtown Eastside Women Centre
(302 Columbia- corner Cordova, just west of Main)
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On Saturday June 13 at 1:30 pm, join women in the Downtown Eastside Women Centre Power of Women Group in the 3rd Annual March for Women's Housing and March Against Poverty! Everyone welcome!
We are marching for:
- Social Housing, Childcare, and Healthcare for all!
- No more Evictions and No more Condos in the DTES!
- People Before Olympic Profits!
- Stop Criminalizing the Poor!
Although we are still suffering in shelters and on the streets, we are not yet defeated! We are making our voices heard, we are bringing empowerment into our lives, we are fighting for positive change, and we are expressing the humanity of our neighbourhood. We hope all of you will join us.
For more information contact project at dewc.ca or call 604-681-8480 x 234. We are also seeking endorsements, please contact us if you would are interested in being added to a list of supporters.
On facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=80841139629
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* Power & Perspectives: An Interview with Power to Women group
http://knollpaper.wordpress.com/current-issue/gender/power-perspectives/
* Election won’t change lives of Downtown Eastside women:
http://straight.com/article-216138/harsha-walia-and-andrea-pinochet-election-promises-won%3F%3Ft-change-lives-downtown-eastside-women
* Downtown Eastside Women Ask Politicians for Housing Swap
http://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/1286
The Power of Women Group is a group at the Downtown Eastside (DTES) Women's Centre, located in the DTES of Vancouver (the poorest off-reserve postal code in Canada). We are a group of women from all walks of life who are either on social assistance, working poor, or homeless; but we are all living in extreme poverty. Our aim is to empower ourselves through our experiences and to raise awareness from our own perspectives about the social issues affecting the neighbourhood.
Many of us are single mothers or have had our children apprehended due to poverty; most of us have chronic physical or mental health issues for example HIV and Hepatitis C; many have drug or alcohol addictions; and a majority have experienced and survived sexual violence and mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional abuse. For indigenous women, we are affected by a legacy of the effects of residential schools and a history of colonization and racism.
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