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Penticton  

Trading sex to survive

Help is just around the corner for a shockingly large amount of people involved in trading sex to survive in Penticton.

The South Okanagan Women in Need Society, SOWINS, has received a federal grant to better the lives of those caught up in survival sex.

"We are ecstatic that we are able to do this," said Debbie Scarborough, the executive director for SOWINS. "Because it's someone's son or daughter or other relative and we will now have services and a safe place for them to exit this lifestyle."

About two years ago, workers at SOWINS started hearing about individuals in the city, ranging in age from their teens to early 60s, that were trading sex to make ends meet.

Scarborough says it’s being traded for everything from shelter, to showers, food and drugs.

"It is pretty much for everything. Just being in a flophouse you are expected to put out and for those immersed in addictions because of trauma, this further adds to their exposure to trauma."

Knowing what was happening, SOWINS applied for a Public Safety Canada grant.

They’ve been approved for $2.5 million over five years, which will fund an office downtown where individuals can seek assistance. The mobile outreach van will also be rolling again.

Scarborough said they are also trying to locate a apartment where individuals can get away from people exploiting them in the community.

Gwen Wain, who has been involved in mobile outreach in the community, will serve as project coordinator.



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