About the Sex Trade Housing Support (STHS)
The Sex Trade Housing Support program helps support male, female, and transgender individuals who are involved in the sex trade or occasionally trades sex for cash, shelter, etc., and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to gain stable housing.
What kind of support does it offer?
While in the Sex Trade Housing Support program, you will receive ongoing housing support to meet your needs. This may include the following: goal setting, employment and education training, life skills, and social support. Services are available on an individual basis and/or within a group setting.
What do you do in the program?
You will work on things to help your housing situation. An individual plan will be created by you and the Support Worker to address homelessness or risks of becoming homeless.
Some of the things you MAY work on:
- Finding or keeping housing, getting furniture, securing income supports, get information on landlord/tenant rights and responsibilities; get assistance and referrals for legal consultation including support at the Landlord/Tenant Tribunal
- Access education or career assessments. Get job ready by obtaining resources for appropriate work clothes and/or hygiene items
- Budgeting, meal planning, healthy relationships, communication skills, self-esteem, start regular daily and weekly routines, get to know the public transit system
- Help accessing health care/community supports and referrals (ie. doctors, counsellors, addiction and mental health services, family and criminal court support)
- Build support by connecting with friends, family, and special interest groups in the community as requested (ie. recreational activities or special interest groups)
When does the program start and how long is it?
Individuals who are accepted into the Sex Trade Housing Support program will pick a start date and set goals with the Support Worker. Each plan is individual and will be based on individual needs with the end goal being to maintain long term stable housing.
Where is this program located?
The main point of service for the Sex Trade Housing Support program is the Oshawa office at 75 Richmond Street West, and services are available out of the Ajax, Bowmanville, and Whitby offices as requested.
The Support Worker can meet you at one of the office locations and also does Outreach so will meet you in the community in a variety of settings: coffee shops, restaurants, public libraries, employment resource centres, community centres, and locations of other community partners.
When and how do I apply for the program?
For community agencies, you can use this referral form (a PDF document), and this Q&A document (also PDF) may be helpful for you to keep on hand.
