Info for participants:
InReach Program Manager
604-669-9474 (Ext. 106)
InReach Worker
604-669-9474 (Ext. 115)
Housing Support Worker
604-669-9474 (Ext. 103)
InReach and Housing Support Workers at WISH provide one-to-one support helping to inform participants about—and connect them to—all of the programs and services WISH has to offer, as well as opportunities and services outside of WISH.
The InReach program aims to coordinate and collaborate with other service providers to support wraparound care for WISH participants. This may include mental health, medical teams, or outreach teams, as well as community services and interpersonal support.
Examples of the type of assistance needed vary in complexity, and may include:
- Emotional support, counselling referrals and safety planning.
- Filling out forms and applications (housing, ID, filing taxes, Ministry support).
- In-person support for appointments and follow-up.
- Technical support for online appointments.
- Employment support (resume writing, job applications, interview prep).
- Connection to health care and legal supports.
- Skills development and goal setting.
For sex workers, systemic forces like sexism, racism, transphobia, colonization, and the criminalization of sex work create immense barriers to accessing housing, labour rights, health care, and much more.
It’s nice when sex work doesn’t become my whole identity, my whole thing. I’m a lot more than that. It’s my job, it’s not everything. People find that out and suddenly that’s what you are, it’s all you are. Not here, here I can laugh and actually talk to someone who will listen and help me.
– WISH Participant
With great care, each member of the InReach team builds trust with the people they work with. This allows InReach staff to provide individualized support and can create the opportunity to collect critical feedback through participant consultations.
Sex workers may choose to connect with InReach to report a Bad Date, and the InReach team is responsible for compiling and distributing the Red Light Alert each week.
While this program provides support through a lot of difficult situations, it also creates avenues for peer support, fun and laughter. InReach staff help facilitate Sex Worker Circle, and also organize social events including:
- BINGO
- Beauty nights
- Monthly participant birthday parties
- Special event programming (Sex Worker Pride Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, Orange Shirt Day, Red Dress Day, Trans Day of Visibility, International Sex Workers’ Rights Day, International Women’s Day).
Learn more about InReach in this WISH Story:
Celebrating 5 years of one-to-one support for participants
