Vancouver’s only remaining dedicated drop-in space for sex workers could be forced to close in the coming years as the City of Vancouver considers changing how it funds critical support services along the Kingsway corridor. The potential shift from stable service-based funding to a competitive grant system has sparked deep concern among advocates, service providers and the vulnerable community the centre serves.
Located at the intersection of Kingsway and Windsor Street, the Kingsway Community Station has provided essential nighttime support to street-based sex workers for the past five years. Operated by non-profit organization RainCity Housing, the centre is more than just a physical space — it is a lifeline that helps prevent violence, fosters safety and offers dignity to people often pushed to the margins of society.
A Safe Haven for One of Vancouver’s Most Vulnerable Communities
The Kingsway Community Station operates as a trans-inclusive, women-focused drop-in facility open six nights a week from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The timing is deliberate, as these are peak hours for street-based sex work activity. According to program director Amelia Ridgway, the location was strategically chosen because it serves the area with the highest concentration of street-based sex workers in the city.
Beyond Basic Services: A Space of Care and Empowerment
Visitors to the centre can access a warm and welcoming environment where their immediate and long-term needs are addressed. Services include:
- Access to washrooms and hygiene facilities
- Hot food and beverages
- A quiet space to rest or nap
- Harm reduction supplies
- Peer support from individuals with lived or living sex work experience
- Connections to housing and healthcare services
- Assistance in reporting violent or harmful encounters
The centre also fosters a sense of community. The interior is carefully designed with input from the sex workers themselves, featuring makeup stations with mirrors and bright lighting, comfortable seating, art spaces for creative expression and uplifting messages that reinforce self-worth and safety.
A Funding Change That Could Put Everything at Risk
RainCity Housing recently learned that the City of Vancouver is considering transitioning from its current service agreement model to a grant-based funding system. Since opening in 2021, the Kingsway Community Station has relied entirely on city funding, which provided consistent operational stability.
Ridgway expressed serious concern that this change could undermine the centre’s ability to function effectively.
Two Major Concerns: Reduced Funding and Long-Term Instability
Ridgway highlighted two primary risks associated with the proposed funding shift:
1. Potential Funding Cuts
There is widespread belief that city grants are often capped at approximately $100,000. If that applies here, the centre’s annual budget could be reduced by nearly 75 per cent, dramatically limiting its programming, staffing and operational hours.
2. Barriers to Securing a Permanent Location
Without guaranteed core funding, RainCity may struggle to secure a new long-term lease. The current building is scheduled for redevelopment, and the present lease expires in March 2026, adding another layer of uncertainty to the centre’s future.
While the City of Vancouver has disputed the notion of a fixed grant cap, noting that many grants exceed $100,000, it acknowledged that no decisions have been finalized regarding future funding levels or service agreements.
City of Vancouver Responds to Concerns
In a formal statement, the city confirmed that it has been exploring a new funding model for approximately one year. Officials stated the shift to a grant-based approach would align more closely with how similar social services are funded across the city.
Ongoing Discussions But No Final Decisions
The city emphasized that it remains in dialogue with RainCity Housing to understand service delivery needs and explore potential options. If any changes proceed, they would not take effect until 2026 and would require approval through the standard council and social grants process.
“No decisions have been made about future funding levels for Kingsway Community Station,” the city stated. “Any future funding decisions would be based on service needs, alignment with city priorities and available funding sources.”
Despite these assurances, the lack of clear guarantees has left workers and advocates uneasy.
Historical Context: The Cost of Losing Safe Spaces
Vancouver has a painful history of violence against sex workers, particularly in the Downtown Eastside during the 1980s and 1990s. The crimes of serial killer Robert Pickton exposed systemic failures in protecting marginalized women, many of whom were Indigenous and engaged in survival sex work.
Subsequent inquiries and national reports consistently recommended creating third spaces — safe, neutral environments where vulnerable individuals can gather, build community and access supports — as a key strategy for preventing violence and exploitation.
The Importance of “Third Spaces”
Third spaces like the Kingsway Community Station allow sex workers to:
- Reduce isolation
- Build peer networks
- Receive early intervention support
- Stay safer while working
Advocates argue that removing such spaces risks undoing years of progress in protecting vulnerable individuals.
A Community Designed by Those It Serves
One of the defining features of the Kingsway drop-in centre is its collaborative design process. Sex workers contributed ideas that shaped both the atmosphere and functionality of the space, helping create an environment that feels respectful and affirming.
From art nights at the central table to creative décor such as a glittery pole-dancing skeleton, the space reflects joy, identity and resilience — elements rarely afforded to those facing systemic stigma.
Funding Confirmed Until 2026 — But What Comes After?
RainCity has confirmed that operational funding is secure until March 2026, which coincides with the expiration of the current lease. Beyond that date, the drop-in’s future remains unclear.
Bill Briscall, RainCity’s manager of communications and fund development, confirmed that efforts are underway to find a permanent location, but success has so far been limited due to property availability, zoning challenges and rising commercial rents.
The Consequences of Closure
Ridgway described the potential closure as “devastating,” warning that it would leave Vancouver with virtually no dedicated services for sex workers.
What Closure Could Mean:
- Increased exposure to violence
- Reduced access to harm reduction supplies
- Fewer opportunities to report abuse
- Greater social isolation
- Higher health risks
Advocates stress that the closure would not only harm sex workers but also undermine broader public health and safety goals.
A Critical Moment for Vancouver’s Social Policy
As Vancouver balances redevelopment, public safety and budget pressures, the fate of its last sex worker drop-in centre has become a litmus test for the city’s commitment to harm reduction and inclusive social services.
The decision ahead is not merely budgetary. It is fundamentally about whether vulnerable residents continue to have safe, dignified access to support or are once again pushed further into the shadows.
For many, the Kingsway Community Station represents far more than a building. It symbolizes trust, safety and recognition of humanity — something advocates say cannot be replaced by temporary funding or fragmented services.
As the city moves forward with its funding review, sex worker advocates, non-profit organizations and community members will be watching closely, hopeful that Vancouver chooses compassion, stability and care over uncertainty.
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