[van-announce] Fri June 8- March for Women's Housing

[Harsha]

* pls forward *

MARCH FOR WOMEN’S HOUSING
FRIDAY JUNE 8 AT 2 PM

STARTS @ DTES WOMEN’S CENTRE
(302 Columbia, corner Cordova)

JOIN WOMEN IN THE DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE TO DEMAND HOUSING NOW!

In response to the growing violence of poverty and homlessness, women in
the Downtown Eastside and the Power of Women Group at the Downtown
Eastside Women's Centre are joining together to organize for and demand
safe and long-term affordable housing.

According to the 2005 GVRD Homelessness Count, there has been an increase
of 60% in the number of homeless women since the 2002 Count, with shelter
beds available for no more than 50% of homeless women. Cuts to income
assistance, legal aid, women’s centres, attacks on women’s advocacy and
support services, the lack of childcare support, rising costs of living
and housing, and low-income work all have had devastating impacts on
women.Overall, the number of homeless people has doubled to approximately
2,174 people in 2005. It is estimated that the rate of rapid
gentrification leading to the Olympics will triple the number of homeless
in Vancouver.

This march is also being organized in solidarity with our sisters in the
Women Against Poverty Collective in Toronto, who on June 3 are organizing
a housing takeover in Toronto to draw attention to the links between safe
housing and women’s ability to live free from violence. We are joining
together from Toronto to Vancouver to demand that safe, long-term
affordable housing for women be made available immediately!

We encourage and hope that all our supporters will join us.

ORGANIZED BY POWER OF WOMEN GROUP. For more information, contact us at
DEWC at 604-681-8480 x 234 or email us at project at dewc.ca.

--------------------------

Harsha Walia
Project Coordinator
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre
302 Columbia Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 4J1
Email: project at dewc.ca
Tel: (604) 681-8480 x234
Fax: (604) 681-8470