The Herstory, Risk and Survival of BC Women's Centres: June 2003

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The Herstory, Risk and Survival of BC Women's Centres
A Discussion Paper | May 2003

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VI. Risk Assessment of Women’s Centres

This information is based on an initial assessment of Centres who are at highest risk of closure or have/will experience extremely reductions. It does not include those that may still be at significant risk. Twenty out of 33 Centres reported directly. The information was gathered through a number of surveys, MWCAS 6 month report, interviews, and provincial meeting.

The Daily Struggles Top 6
1. Perception of Hopelessness 2. Political Climate 3. Funding Crisis 4. Viable Strategies and Ideas 5. Paid Staff 6. Increased Demand

Funding Crisis: closure of Centre within 18 months
Campbell River Fort Nelson Golden Grand Forks Howe Sound Kamloops Nanaimo *North Shore Port Coquitlam Port Alberni	Queen Charlottes Quesnel Richmond Ridge Meadows Sunshine Coast Terrace Westcoast Vernon Victoria
*at imminent risk of closure (i.e.: next 6 months or less)

Facilities: will need to move, have had to move, have long-term leases, mortgages, or face loss of facility
Kamloops North Shore Penticton Port Alberni	Sunshine Coast Westcoast Victoria Williams Lake

Paid Staff: decrease or change in staffing levels, wages and/or benefits
Cranbrook Fort Saint John Golden Grand Forks Kamloops North Shore Penticton Port Alberni Port Coquitlam	Queen Charlotte Islands Quesnel Ridge Meadows Sunshine Coast Terrace Westcoast Vernon Victoria Williams Lake

Service Cuts: cuts to direct services offered by Centres, cuts in hours of operation, et cetera, between May 16 2001 and present
Grand Forks Kamloops Penticton Port Coquitlam Port Alberni Quesnel Ridge Meadows	Surrey Terrace Westcoast Vancouver Vernon Victoria Williams Lake

Increased Demand: Centres experiencing a dramatic increase in demands for their services since May 2001, due to cuts and closures of other services
Campbell River Cranbrook Fernie Grand Forks Nanaimo North Shore Port Coquitlam Port Alberni	Quesnel Ridge Meadows Surrey Terrace Vancouver Vernon Victoria Williams Lake

Community Support/External Pressures: financial backlash, harassment, targeting, pressure to conform to the status quo or shift focus, other forms of backlash from groups, institutions, et cetera, within communities (i.e. anti-choice groups, media, anti-woman activists)
Fort Saint John Kamloops Terrace	Vancouver Vernon Williams Lake

Financial Pressures: leases, obligations, equipment, debts, deficits, lines of credit
Campbell River Grand Forks Kamloops Nanaimo North Shore Port Coquitlam Port Alberni	Quesnel Ridge Meadows Terrace Westcoast Vancouver Victoria Williams Lake

Viable Strategies and Ideas
17 Centres have begun strategic planning

Community Impact of Centre Closure: communities which will be hurt by closures or reductions, i.e.: no other women’s services exist
Campbell River Golden Grand Forks Nanaimo Port Alberni Quesnel	Sunshine Coast Terrace Vancouver Westcoast Vernon Williams Lake

Geographical Risk: isolation, access to support and resources
100 Mile House Campbell River Comox Valley Fernie Fort Nelson Fort Saint John Golden Grand Forks	Nanaimo Port Alberni Quesnel Sunshine Coast Terrace Westcoast Williams Lake

Political Climate: working relationships with provincial/municipal/federal government representatives
100 Mile House Campbell River Chetwynd Comox Valley Cranbrook Fort Saint John Golden Kamloops Kitimat Nanaimo North Shore	Penticton Port Alberni Port Coquitlam Queen Charlotte Islands Quesnel Ridge Meadows Terrace Westcoast Vancouver Vernon Williams Lake

Risk Assessment Breakdown by Community

Financial Survey for the Years 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05

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If you have questions/comments for BCCWC, please e-mail us at bcwomen@telus.net For other contact information, please go to our Information Page

BC Coalition of Women's Centres • British Columbia, Canada
100 Mile House • Campbell River • Chetwynd • Comox Valley • Cranbrook • Fernie • Fort Nelson • Fort St. John • Golden • Grand Forks • Howe Sound • Kamloops • Kelowna • Kitimat • North Shore • Penticton • Port Coquitlam • Queen Charlotte Islands • Quesnel • Richmond • Ridge Meadows • Sunshine Coast • South Surrey/White Rock • Surrey • Terrace • Vancouver • Vernon • Westcoast • West Kootenay • Williams Lake

This page last updated: June 20, 2003
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