The Howe Sound Women’s Centre (HSWC) has been serving the needs of survivors of gender-based violence in the Sea to Sky Corridor for nearly 40 years. The Society provides emergency housing, rental subsidies, crisis support, sexual assault support, outreach programs, operates Pearl’s Value & Vintage and more.
The home of HSWC’s operations in Squamish is the Squamish Drop-In Centre, located at 38021 Third Avenue, where the society has provided drop-in services, children, youth and family counselling, and crisis support to women, trans, non-binary, and Two Spirit survivors of gender-based violence and their families for the past 15 years.
Over the past several years the building has begun to show its age. The society has had to repair the building following a few floods, as well as a perpetually leaking roof causing on-going water damage. In addition, the community of Squamish has grown incredibly fast putting increased pressure on the services HSWC offers.
HSWC endeavors to serve the needs of all who experience gender-based violence in the Sea to Sky Corridor and as the community continues to grow HSWC needs to expand its capacity to meet the community need.
The HSWC’s renovation plans for this project include moving the administrative and staff spaces onto the existing second floor in order to allow for the creation of expanded children’s counselling space, crisis support rooms, and accessible washroom facilities, in addition to converting the existing staff kitchen to group support space.
Upstairs, what was previously housing in need of significant renovations will be converted into administrative offices, a staff kitchen, a boardroom, and a staff reflection/quiet room. Each design change has been made to better support the needs of the Sea to Sky community.
Working with AKA Architecture, and in consultation with the community, staff, Board of Directors and volunteers of HSWC a thoughtful re-design of the existing Squamish Drop-In Centre has been conceptualized. Through this renovation project, HSWC will better meet and prepare for the increased demand for client support services, support the emotional wellbeing of staff, and increase organizational space to grow over the next 10 to 15 years.
While construction is underway, the Squamish Drop-In Centre is providing services to the community jus a few blocks away at 2-37749 2nd Avenue. The society will operate out of this temporary location until the renovation is complete.
As of January 29th, HSWC is nearly 80% funded for this renovation. Through until the end of February, HSWC and Whistler Blackcomb Foundation are running a matching gift campaign! Every dollar donated, up to $70,000 will be matched. That means your contribution has twice the impact! HSWC needs to fundraise an additional $50,000 to reach the renovation fundraising goal. Please visit www.hswc.ca/donate and select Squamish Drop-In Renovation from the drop-down list to have your gift matched and ensure this much needed community space serves Squamish’s needs in the future!
Ashley Oakes is the executive-director of the Howe Sound Women’s Centre.
