Women living in Vancouver encampment victims of violence, including sexual assault: survey
A new survey is highlighting safety concerns among women living in the tent encampment on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, with every respondent reporting they have been victims of violence, including sexual assault.
The survey was conducted by Atira Women’s Resource Society, and looked at the experiences of women living in tents and on the street around the intersection of Main and West Hastings streets.
Out of 50 women who took part in the survey, all reported feeling unsafe in the area, and all had been subject to violence, including sexual assault. Nearly 54 per cent of women reported living in a tent, 33.8 per cent were sleeping on sidewalks or in alleys, and 12.6 per cent were living in single room occupancy (SRO) accommodation.
The survey was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023 by Atira staff. All respondents identified as female with 41 per cent identifying as white, 38.1 per cent as Indigenous, 7.9 per cent as African/Carribean/Black, 1.6 per cent as Asian, and 11.3 per cent did not disclose.
The survey was referenced by Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim during an announcement Sunday, where both Sim and Housing Minister Ravi Khalon outlined plans for more housing for the Downtown Eastside.
“Being on the street right now is not a safe environment,” Sim said. “There was a recent survey done amongst 50 women on the DTES, and all 50 had been sexually assaulted and all 50 do not feel safe.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.