For Immediate Release
November 9, 2015
St. John’s, NL

The Anglican Diocese offers Safe Harbour Outreach Project a New Home

The Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador has partnered with Safe Harbour Outreach Project (S.H.O.P.) to provide a new location to operate their human rights-based sex worker advocacy program.

After two years in operation, S.H.O.P. has long outgrown their single office space at the St. John’s Women’s Centre where they now serve over 100 women in the St. John’s area. S.H.O.P.’s human rights-based mission was well-suited to the commitment of the Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador to actively respond to the needs of the broader community.

“The Anglican Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to partner with Safe Harbour Outreach Project to provide assistance to women in need and others who are vulnerable,” said Bishop Geoffrey Peddle. “This collaboration reflects a wider mission in our church today, which calls us to respond to human need by loving service, to transform unjust structures of society, and to challenge violence of every kind. The Anglican Church is honored that we can assist the work of S.H.O.P. and the St. John’s Women’s Centre by providing a safe place for their work.”

“We celebrate this new partnership that will allow women who do sex work in our city to have a confidential place to come and receive supports and services, as well as a safe space to build community,” said Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the St. John’s Status of Women Council/Women’s Centre. “It is through this kind of creative partnership that we can truly begin to meet the needs of this historically underserved population in our city.”

The new location will remain confidential in order to ensure the safety and privacy of those who access S.H.O.P. and to reduce the stigma sex workers often face when accessing services.

S.H.O.P. serves women for whom sex work is an occupation. They also serve women who are in the industry not by choice, who are wishing to exit. S.H.O.P. supports everyone who identifies as a current or former sex worker.

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Media contacts:
Jenny Wright, Executive Director
St. John’s Status of Women Council/St. John’s Women’s Centre
709-753-0220
jenny@sjwomenscentre.ca

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Geoff Peddle
Diocese of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador
709-576-6697
geoffpeddle48@gmail.com