We are here for you during COVID-19
Battered Women’s Support Services (BWSS) crisis line remains open providing emotional support to women experiencing gender-based domestic violence and/or uncertainty during these difficult times.
Call the BWSS Crisis Line at 604-687-1867 or toll-free at 1-855-687-1868. Phone lines are open from Monday to Friday, between 10 am and 5 pm and on Wednesdays, between 10 am and 8 pm. If you’re unable to speak safely, please email intake@bwss.org. Find out more from our newly revamped website with helpful information on dealing with COVID-19 while co-quarantined with an abusive partner.
“I’m so concerned about what’s going to happen in the future with COVID-19. I have been self-isolated with my two children. I couldn’t imagine how it would be living with an abusive partner right now. I’m so glad that I’m not living with mine during this difficult time.” -S.T.
Spreading the word, not COVID-19
Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram if you haven’t already! Check out our new video on our YouTube channel and please share it with your friends and family.
Have you seen our PSA (public service announcement) across social media and various news outlets? It has been getting lots of attention and shares which is so important during this unprecedented time.
We are here to stay connected with you.
Although self-isolation may help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, for many victims of domestic violence, staying home is not a safe option. If you are co-quarantined with an abusive partner, we are here for you. The COVID-19 pandemic is a dire situation so Battered Women’s Support Services and other front-line organizations need to remain available to provide support to women and their families.
My Sister’s Closet will be temporarily closed
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have decided to temporarily close our stores and programs at My Sister’s Closet at both locations on Commercial Drive and Seymour Street. This has been a difficult decision for us, as we recognize that My Sister’s Closet has a tight-knit community made up our volunteers, donors, shoppers, and staff. Community is especially needed at a time like this, but we also realize the need to prioritize all of our health and safety.
We are brainstorming as a team to come up with new business development ideas, so in the meantime, please stay connected with us for updates on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
And Still We Rise podcast
If you want to get your mind off things and are looking for extra empowerment, we recommend listening to our podcast, And Still We Rise, which is free and available on iTunes, and Spotify. The podcast is hosted by our Executive Director, Angela Marie MacDougall, who speaks with activists, advocates, survivors, lawmakers, politicians, academics, bureaucrats, and reporters. Together, they explore how women are taking action on gender oppression from an intersectional lens.
Profoundly west coast, the And Still We Rise Podcast shines a light on the action underway toward addressing and redressing some of the most pressing social issues facing people today. Episodes include Black Women in Canada, as well as a conversation with Atira Women’s Resource Society’s Janice Abbott; and another one with Women Against Violence Against Women (WAVAW)’s Dalya Israel. We hope you enjoy it and let us know what you think!
Homes aren’t safe for everybody.
We need your support now.
In dire situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, women-serving organizations such BWSS need to remain available and provide support to women and their families. Due to COVID-19, our sources of funding are even more drastically affected with limited resources available due to the temporary closures of our social enterprise stores, My Sister’s Closet. We hope that you’re able to help us support survivors, and we truly appreciate your donations.
Please consider making a donation online or call 778-996-5451.
