Emergency Rent Relief Program
Donation protected
A lot of sex workers have been reaching out to us over the last months sharing that they were unable to pay rent because of being restricted from working, having limited work opportunities, a decline in clientele, and/or having increased health challenges - whether it be dealing with being infected with COVID and managing it longterm, suffering from a lack of access to the overwhelmed medical care system, facing disabling mental illness, and/or lacking funds to pay for treatments/medication. Some sex workers were/are even facing eviction.
Last year we were able to help a few sex workers file their taxes, which allowed them to access emergency assistance through CERB. This year, while we are still living in the context of a pandemic and its drastic impact on the industry, governmental aid that's accessible to sex workers is nonexistent. Also, since sex workers have to be self-employed, many do not qualify for some supports, and unfortunately many organizations helping housing-insecure folks are at capacity or have long waitlists. We have recently applied for a grant that would give us funds to provide some rent relief to folks in need, as well as help pay damage deposits for new tenants, and are hoping for a successful answer in a few months.
In the meantime, we have used our main ANSWERS account to assist as many folks as we could, and our funds are now completely depleted after giving out $700 in financial rent assistance in January. We still have presently a lot of sex workers contacting us who need urgent help to stay housed, and this is where we would really appreciate your support.
We are launching a fundraiser so we can continue helping sex workers in need of rent relief. Please donate to our GoFundMe campaign, and share/talk about it far and wide. We are hoping to raise at least $2500, please help us get there in whichever capacity you're able to contribute - every dollar counts!
All funds accumulated from this campaign will go towards our rent relief endeavor, and will significantly and directly help sex workers in Alberta.
Last year we were able to help a few sex workers file their taxes, which allowed them to access emergency assistance through CERB. This year, while we are still living in the context of a pandemic and its drastic impact on the industry, governmental aid that's accessible to sex workers is nonexistent. Also, since sex workers have to be self-employed, many do not qualify for some supports, and unfortunately many organizations helping housing-insecure folks are at capacity or have long waitlists. We have recently applied for a grant that would give us funds to provide some rent relief to folks in need, as well as help pay damage deposits for new tenants, and are hoping for a successful answer in a few months.
In the meantime, we have used our main ANSWERS account to assist as many folks as we could, and our funds are now completely depleted after giving out $700 in financial rent assistance in January. We still have presently a lot of sex workers contacting us who need urgent help to stay housed, and this is where we would really appreciate your support.
We are launching a fundraiser so we can continue helping sex workers in need of rent relief. Please donate to our GoFundMe campaign, and share/talk about it far and wide. We are hoping to raise at least $2500, please help us get there in whichever capacity you're able to contribute - every dollar counts!
All funds accumulated from this campaign will go towards our rent relief endeavor, and will significantly and directly help sex workers in Alberta.
Co-organizers (2)
Answer Society
Organizer
Edmonton, AB
Mina Elmadi
Co-organizer