Those fleeing gender-based violence now have a permanent safe place in Whistler.
In a release on July 15, PearlSpace announced it has finalized an agreement with BC Housing to operate a new safe home in Whistler to support the needs of survivors of gender-based violence and their children.
The agreement includes about $1.9 million, along with annual operating funding of about $135,000, from the provincial Women Transition Housing Fund to help PearlSpace expand its services in the resort, the release said.
“PearlSpace has long been aware of the need for emergency housing for survivors of gender-based violence in the RMOW and has advocated for housing solutions that provide safety for survivors and their children fleeing violence," said PearlSpace's executive director Ashley Oakes in the release.
"We are thrilled that these advocacy efforts have led to securing a Safe Home in community that will provide temporary emergency housing with access to crisis support services.”
PearlSpace has provided safe housing in Whistler for the past two-plus years, utilizing hotel accommodations, with funding for emergency response from the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) and the Union of BC Municipalities.
"This funding, which expired in September 2023, allowed the organization to pilot a safe home in the community and collect data to share with BC Housing in support of long-term operational funding for a permanent Safe Home in the RMOW," the release said.
The new Whistler safe house comes on top of a safe home in Pemberton and transition house in Squamish, which was recently renovated and expanded from three bedrooms to eight (including a two-bedroom wheelchair accessible auxiliary house). Addressing a lack of similar services in Whistler has long been a strategic priority for the charitable organization.
"Previously, survivors of gender-based violence in Whistler were forced to make the difficult decision to leave their community or decline short term emergency housing available through PearlSpace. This has left many survivors and their children in dangerous or difficult situations," the release said.
"The RCMP has reported an increase in domestic violence calls over the past year, and PearlSpace has housed individuals in need of emergency housing for nearly 2,495 nights throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. The Whistler safe home will not only address the increased demand for emergency short-term housing, with stays up to 10 days, but will meet the needs of Whistler survivors like never before."
Read more at pearlspace.ca.
