Melissa

Women engaged in survival sex work often face a tangled web of challenges—homelessness, addiction, and trauma. The Street Level Women at Risk (SLWAR) program supports these women by helping them find stable housing and a chance to rebuild their lives, free of judgment or preconditions.

Jaclyn Seeler, former program manager with SLWAR, emphasizes that the program is driven by women with lived experience. “They know the barriers and understand the system in a way others can’t,” she says. Their input is woven into every aspect of the program, from planning to implementation.

Housing is SLWAR’s top priority, providing women with a stable foundation from which they can set goals and connect with local services. The program’s personalized approach allows each woman to define her own needs and path forward.

Melissa, a former participant and SLWAR advocate, knows firsthand the struggles many of these women face. “What makes SLWAR special is that we meet women where they are, with no strings attached,” she explains. “Basically it’s a program that offers multiple options for support. The main thing is: housing first.”

Through collaboration with dozens of local partners, including the London Police Service, SLWAR achieved a 100% success rate in securing housing for the women they work with. Many women have decreased their involvement in sex work, and relationships with their children have improved. SLWAR is proof that by listening and learning from those who need assistance, and collaborating with other, we can make a real difference for the most vulnerable people in our communities.