“Channelling Our Inner Sex Workers”: How SafeSpace provides for their community amid funding challenges
SafeSpace is a local not-for-profit organization in London which serves “women and gender non-conforming Londoners experiencing crisis, including sex workers and their allies”. In March 2024, SafeSpace released a community request for donations to facilitate their re-opening of a physical space. While there are various supports existing in London for women experiencing violence and home loss, the importance of services that address the specific needs of sex workers is often overlooked. Sex workers experience unique issues and require specialized support. They face greater safety risks in terms of health and violence, yet often struggle with stigmatization such as judgement, discrimination, and blame when accessing unspecialized healthcare. Sex workers benefit from peer-led organizations because they consist of networks of people who are more knowledgeable, non-judgemental, and equipped to help with unique issues faced by the community.
Much of mainstream news coverage on SafeSpace has focused on the work they did between 2022 to 2024 when they accepted a grant from the London City Council as a temporary measure to provide services such as overnight beds to fill a need in the city. This funding came to an end at the same time as a core funding grant was ending, leaving SafeSpace without funding.
SafeSpace has since been relying on community donations as they work to reopen and restart services focused on sex workers. While the organization has always benefitted from community donations, they could no longer afford to keep their space in Old East Village open. Having a physical space had allowed SafeSpace to provide overnight beds, access to washrooms, laundry services, food services, and visits for basic needs to the community members they serve. Some of these services were outside of their scope as an organization which seeks to provide a community space for sex working individuals as well as education for community organizations who aim to support them. The organization has been running since 2009 and hopes to return to their roots as they focus on reorienting and reopening.
I met with SafeSpace front line coordinators Jenna and Tish over coffee to ask them about their efforts to support SafeSpace, and the best ways for Londoners to support the organization. Jenna has been with the organization since 2023, and Tish has been volunteering with them since 2017. Most of the news about SafeSpace does not address volunteer efforts to continue showing up for their community after losing their physical space.
What difficulties does SafeSpace face since losing funding?
When SafeSpace lost City funding in 2024 and their core funding grant came to an end, one of the worst consequences was losing the physical space on Dundas and Lyle they used to run their outreach programs, workshops, and hold a physical space for sex workers needing support.
“Staying connected to the community without a physical space has been a challenge,” said Jenna. “I feel like the trust has been broken a little bit with the community. They relied on us, and they trusted us to be there, and when we shut our doors and disappeared, that was broken.”
Tish added, “We’ve lost people in our community from the comorbidities that exist within the world of the folks we serve.” Comorbidities include homelessness, drug addiction, and greater risk of being subject to violence.
Additionally, without core funding, those who were employed by SafeSpace have faced job loss. Many of those who are now volunteering were originally paid employees. “This transition has been so hard on us, and we’ve worked so hard to remain where we are. We’re staying because we know and we believe in the work we’re doing,” said Tish.
Jenna added, “the group that left SafeSpace when it closed is essentially the same group that is still there today, and we are happily working away at this on a volunteer basis for something we used to get paid to do. We’re part of that community as much as the people that we serve are. These are the people we love. It was never just a job to any of us.”
How are volunteers supporting SafeSpace?
Outside of working their paid jobs, the volunteers at SafeSpace are putting hours of work into organizing events, running workshops, arranging fundraisers, and having a presence at festivals held around the city. They also offer Naloxone training and harm reduction supplies for the public at events they attend and organize. A large part of their responsibility is maintaining community partnerships. All of these tasks take a great amount of time and effort.
I have attended numerous events run by SafeSpace, one of which was a garage sale fundraiser that one of the volunteers held at their home. Without core funding which would allow SafeSpace to afford a physical space, the volunteers are giving their own space, time, and energy to maintain the organization and support their community.
Upcoming opportunities to support SafeSpace
Tish is most excited for the upcoming Punk Rock Flea Markets taking place on July 31 and August 28 on Market Lane (137 Dundas St.), and a Tattoo Flash fundraiser taking place August 16.
Jenna was looking forward to a live music event with Silversmith productions that happened on July 25. At each event, volunteers provide Naloxone training, harm reduction information and gear, and volunteer-made items to sell for fundraising.
The Instagram run by SafeSpace volunteers is always kept up to date with upcoming events and opportunities to support. It is a primary resource for accessing information about their fundraisers and city-wide appearances.
Best ways to support SafeSpace: Participate, Donate, Fundraise, Share
The best ways to support SafeSpace are by donating to their GoFundMe, showing up and buying items at their events, hosting fundraisers which can be arranged through an application form, and sharing information about their events through social media as well as with friends and family.
Tish emphasized, “having hard conversations about sex work and gender based and interpersonal violence” with friends and family is a vital step in raising awareness about the importance of peer-run organizations like SafeSpace for sex workers.
Tish is aligned with Regional HIV/AIDS Connection (RHAC), SafeSpace, and Street Level Women at Risk (SLWAR) as a collective through the Sex Work Initiative for Health & Safety (SWISH). SWISH created a free in-person training program open to all about the barriers sex workers are facing in London.
When asked for their final thoughts, Jenna said, “I think it’s common to see sex workers stand up in the face of things that are difficult and thrive, and I think that’s what’s going to happen to us.” The resilience of SafeSpace and the volunteers keeping it running is a reflection of the sex workers in our community who they support. In their efforts, Jenna added, “We’re channelling our inner sex workers”, because volunteers are working harder than ever to maintain their organization and rebuild.
Links to support SafeSpace:
E-transfer donations@safespacelondon.ca
