Percy, I disagree. The program works precisely because it takes a non-judgmental attitude towards the women who come.

By not having the work restrictions that you suggest, women can choose to get off drugs, off the streets, etc.etc. on their own terms with support from PG city council. This is a much more effective strategy, because it empowers women to make changes on their own terms - not on someone else's.

You know as a citizen, homeowner, and taxpayer in Prince George, I would gladly pay a little more in city taxes to help out sex trade workers.

Having been fortunate enough to have never had to live on or survive in the streets, I am in no condition to make a judgement on the lifestyle these folks live. I wish all people would realize that.

I don't think terms like non-judgmental are very useful here. We're not judging the person, we're judging the lifestyle. The reason there are (and should be) transition programs is that we've made a public policy decision that this is not a good way for people to live, and we want to help them to go on to something else. That's a judgment. If we don't really care whether they "keep working" or not, then government outreach can be just a subsidy that facilitates. I'm a citizen and ratepayer, too, and I don't object to paying may share to help people, but I would like to see them helped.

Christal is trying, but she did manage to offend my daughter by assuming (because of her dress and the fact she was unemployed) she was a hooker.
On the other hand, my kid now dresses a little classier, put herself thru rehab and has a chance of finding work. So the strategy actually worked in a 'preventitive' way. It opened the little brat's eyes as to where she was headed!
Thank you Christal. You chalked up one victory within a week of opening New Hope.

Percy have you ever been sexually molested or gone w/out a good healthy meal for days, been forced out into the night @ all hours?
New Hope is just what it says "We Care"
BC Politicos have lots of Taxpayer $ to jaunt around the world throw a 2 week billion dollar fiasco it's already cost 110,000,000. over budget BC payed $55 million of that.

How much N/H budget for 1 year?

Perhaps if more people cared about prostitutes there wouldn't be a mass grave less than a mile from my home in Port Coquitlam. 60, 100, 200, 1000 how many prostitutes have to be dead before someone "cares". These women are someone's daughters, wives, mothers and are God's children and deserve love and support even if they are still making bad choices.

So, what about the men who are assaulting these women on a regular basis? The men who raped them when they were children, the men who buy them now they are adults (or while they are still children), the men who make the laws that restrict access to welfare, to educational programs, to a fair wage? What about the men who demand that these women submit to rape in exchange for money? I'm glad that New Hope exists for women. Now, how 'bout some new hope for men, so they can see these women as human, as equal to them, as worthy of respect? We all deserve no less than the abolition of prostitution in all of its forms. dancing in bars, escort and 'massage' services, phone sex, porn movies, peep shows, whatever. Women certainly deserve much better. And so do men. Men need to hold one another accountable for their reprehensible actions against women (yup, judgement, yes indeed). When men stop demanding prostitutes, women will begin to have more 'choices'.

"If that means they continue to work, that's alright with us," she added."

I say this because I have no control over whether they work or not. It is difficult to work with women who are active sex workers. Especially if they also struggle with addiction issues. New Hope is there to work in the immediacy of what they need in that moment. Sure, it would be great if we could help all of the women to exit sex work, but that is not realistic. As a former sex worker and drug addict, I have the experiential skills to understand where they are coming from at a different level than those without the personal experience. Many of them do not want people to tell them not to work, but they do want to know that there are supports out there for them if they choose to exit. As for the quote in a previous comment: "I don't think terms like non-judgmental are very useful here. We're not judging the person, we're judging the lifestyle." Who are we to say that the lifestyle should be judged? Women are out there because they are surviving. Why should we judge them for that? For some women, it is all they know. They are caught up in generations of abuse. This is how some of them have been taught to cope and survive. These women are amazing individuals with a lot to give. I will do everything in my power to be supportive and provide a safe place for them to come together. We do self reflection, skills building, advocacy, referrals, education and so much more. Thank you to those who support us in the work that we do!

Peasantwoman is right on! Christal, you are missing the gist of what Percy meant, I think. There should be more choices for women, and prostitution is giving in to the Bad Guys who think women are just there for their pleasure, who put women down and prevent them from having opportunities for a decent lifestyle. Allowing men to take advantage of them, prostitutes are enabling bad men to stay bad. It is saying that it's OK to cater to men who, by their selfish actions, support decions and policies that perpetuate female and child poverty. Way back in my poverty days (hell, I'm still one paycheque away from that now!)I'd damn well have starved first, loudly and in public, instead of lying down and taking it. I make noise! I bring inequities to light in the loudest way I can. I will not, never have, and never will acquiesce to "pleasure" the sort of men who would vote for female repression or think it's all right to buy women for their orgasm. I'm too damn stubborn and angry to acquiesce. I would not give the men that satisfaction or "proof' that women are sluts. Addiction? Pretty simple. You just don't take the first drug. This is not a brainer! That is part of the male oppressive plan, too. They got you then. No, women must stay angry and on their toes, on their guard, not trusting men--until the man can prove beyond all doubt that he is trustworthy. This is sad, but it is true. We have to do a better job of raising our menfolk not to be so selfish and inconsiderate and lacking in understanding. We have to raise our females to be more physically and emotionally able to defend themselves, to not trust men and to press for free post secondary education for all. And we need to lock up rapists and pedophiles for life.