Too Sad for a Pun - Women's Clothes Needed

The Vivian suffered severely from a fire last night, burning the transitional home for "hard-to-house" women to the ground. None of the staff or women who lived at this 24-unit housing development were hurt but many of the women lost their belongings, in some cases they lost it all.

Michelle at AntiSocial has put out a call to everyone for clothing donations. Whatever you can spare can be dropped off at Antisocial or directly to Triage Homeless Shelter (the organization that ran The Vivian)

The Vivian Transitional Housing Program is located in the Downtown Eastide and is "specifically for at-risk women with mental health and substance abuse disorders." It opened in November, 2004 by David Ash and his family in memorial of his mother who suffered from mental illness and passed away alone and destitute as her mental health issues isolated her from her family and their willing support. The Ash family's sponsorship ended in April 1, 2006. In March, 2006 the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance awarded The Vivian a $450,000 grant. Vancouver Coastal Health contributed $117,000 in funding for a support worker and to help cover operating costs. If it hadn't been for this funding The Vivian would have already closed although the city lacks such an institution.

To read more on the history of Triage and The Vivian please check out Triage's page.

Triage Homeless Shelter is located at 707 Powell Street
AntiSocial is located at 2425 Main Street