Support for Women
Any woman who has experienced abuse in an intimate relationship, childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault may access our services.
Support for Women
Any woman who has experienced abuse in an intimate relationship, childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault may access our services.
Abuse takes many different forms and BWSS recognizes all types of abuse.
Every woman has the right to be safe and free from violence. BWSS provides a secure environment in which women are free to express themselves without being judged or threatened.
In this section:
Crisis & Intake Line
Women seeking our services are welcome to call our Crisis & Intake line at 604-687-1867 and toll-free at 1.855.687.1868. Our Crisis & Intake line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The BWSS Crisis and Intake Line is staffed by trained support workers. They provide emotional support, information and referrals to community resources, specific information about coping, and to help create a safety plan for women who are dealing with violence and/or the effects of abuse.
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
TOLL-FREE 1-855-687-1868
Counselling, Support Groups & Programs
BWSS provides long-term individual Stopping the Violence counselling for women who are currently experiencing violence and/or who are survivors of violence including childhood sexual abuse or adult sexual assault. BWSS also provides support to women survivors of Indian Residential Schools and/or foster care.
Additionally, BWSS is committed to offering drop-in, closed and specialized support groups to women dealing with violence and its effects. BWSS support groups provide a safe place for women to connect with each other in order to alleviate isolation, share information, raise awareness, heal by developing coping and recovery skills and plan for a life free from violence.
Indigenous Women’s Program
Battered Women’s Support Services offers culturally appropriate services run by Indigenous women for Indigenous women. The Indigenous Women’s Program offers direct services through drum groups, counselling, and different ceremonies such as full moon and sweat lodge ceremonies. We are decolonizing and healing from the trauma of colonization, the effects and intergenerational effects of residential schools, the loss of our children, and living life in a patriarchal society. By using holistic practices through traditional medicines and ceremonies, we are healing from these traumas and reclaiming our rightful roles as strong Indigenous women in our community, finding our voices and standing strong in our power.
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
LGBTQ2S and non-binary survivors of violence
BWSS recognizes that despite its absence in common media and anti-violence information, same gender and same sex abuse is widespread and prevalent. It is a reality in our communities and may be confusing to identify. BWSS is committed to facing this reality and providing relevant services and support for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, queer, transgender, two-spirit, and non-binary survivors of violence.
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
Victim Services Program
BWSS Victim Services Program provides direct services, legal assistance and systems based information, crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, court accompaniment and referrals to women and female youth survivors of violence in intimate relationships and/or criminal harassment.
The core services in the program are assessment and safety planning, lethality and risk assessment, and the provision of general information to women regarding the criminal justice system including crisis intervention, emotional support, assistance with filling out Crime Victim Assistance Program Forms and Victim Impact Statements. Additionally we provide information on the status of police investigation and information on the role of the various players in the justice system and the practicalities of testifying as a witness, including court preparation and witness orientation. We also provide referrals and systemic advocacy for women who are navigating the Canadian legal system.
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
AWARE Program
The BWSS Advancing Women’s Awareness Regarding Employment Program (AWARE) seeks to bring the very best in service design and delivery to employment and economic development for women survivors of violence. This program recognizes and addresses unique barriers facing women and supports women who have experienced violence and abuse to move towards independence and self-reliance.
My Sister's Closet & Social Enterprise
One of the many ways we meet the needs of women in our community is through social enterprise. This includes our Retail Program and our thrift boutique, My Sister's Closet with two locations, 1092 Seymour St., Vancouver and 1840 Commercial Dr., Vancouver. Clothing and accessories for all genders are donated to our boutique and the proceeds go to fund the services and programs BWSS offers.
My Sister's Closet provides volunteer experience which often increases esteem, confidence, and employability. Local fartisans are also supported by having their creations sold at My Sister’s Closet. The boutique provides a safe and welcoming space for community to engage with BWSS and join our efforts in ending violence against girls and women. For more information about My Sister's Closet, please 778-996-5451.
Legal Advocacy Resources & Services
The Legal Services and Advocacy Program at BWSS provides legal information, accompaniment to court and legal appointments, we appeal when legal aid has been denied and provide assistance for documents and affidavits preparation. BWSS legal services and advocacy work spans family, immigration, refugee, and criminal law as well as the Indian Act.
Information, Resources & Reports
BWSS has a growing collection of resources, reports, and publications including handouts for any woman dealing with abuse, articles on related issues, BWSS pamphlets, and reports detailing our anti-violence activities. See the full list here.
- Wallet Size Card of Resource Contact Numbers for Women Facing Abuse
- BWSS Resources & Publications
- The Facts about Violence Against Women
- Legal Resources
- Resources for Youth
- Resource Manuals for immigrant women working with a lawyer
- When Battered Women are Arrested: A Growing Problem
- Economic Empowerment Strategies for Women
- Personalized Safety Plan
- Resources for LGBTQ2S & non-binary survivors of violence
Translated Resources
Black Women’s Program
BWSS offers a range of support groups and specialized support groups as part of the Black Women’s Program. Participants are surrounded and supported by women who have a common and distinctive shared ancestral history without the need to censor themselves, or perform for others. This network of women comes together to bear witness and create a healing space each in other’s lives, struggles, and transformations.
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
Latin American Women’s Program
At BWSS, we acknowledge the struggles of Latin American immigrant women who are fleeing violence from their native country, who may have been tortured, or undergone systemic violence and oppression. The program offers survivor assistance support, long term counselling and a support group in their own language.
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
Thrive Program
Through individualized programming that builds capacity, Thrive holds a stigma free space for women’s diverse experiences to create pathways for different opportunities at a pace women are comfortable with. Thrives takes a rights based approach and meet women where they are at to best identify their needs, goals and challenges. Thrive continuous intake process helps women find what she requires for her individual situation and needs. For more information about Thrive please email [email protected]
CRISIS LINE 604-687-1867
Volunteer Training & Opportunities
Working from a feminist, anti-oppression perspective BWSS offers our Violence Prevention and Intervention Volunteer Training Program twice a year. Through the training volunteers gain knowledge and skills in crisis intervention, safety planning, advocacy, community resources, and group facilitation skills to then be able to provide support to women who call our crisis line and attend some of our support groups.
We also have additional opportunities for volunteers in our office.
