RainCity Housing and Support Society

Published purpose

This 27-month project will develop, implement, and test harm reduction practices within the child protection system, health systems, housing systems and schools of social work to effectively address the root causes of gender-based violence. The RainCity Housing and Support Society will achieve this by mapping existing harm reduction service organizations, developing peer-led family advocacy groups to inform policy and practice around child protection; creating a service provider network and practice reference group interested to advance harm reduction policy and practice around child protection; engaging Indigenous Elders and Host Nations to inform of cultural safety within a harm reduction practice and advocacy while integrating project learnings into a social policy recommendation document to broaden system change within the child protection system and schools of social work in Canada. At the end of the project, the organization will have developed a promising practice that helped dismantle barriers that women face when accessing supports through the child welfare system and services; built capacity for peer support and advocacy; and created a network of service providers working towards these goals.