Powell Street Getaway — Local services in Vancouver

This is in the location formerly occupied by The Living Room, which catered exclusively to clients with mental illnesses. Now, the Getaway is a one stop shop for getting snacks at posted times throughout the day, for having your laundry done (sign-up list), having a shower (also a sign-up list) or using the washroom. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance and a toilet for the handicapped. Karaoke occurs two days a week - a few very talented singers, and mostly the barely in tune celebrity wannabes! There is a television high on one wall (but the audio is rarely discernible over loud conversations, arguments, and the occasional fight - these are rapidly defused by staff). Clothing donations can be had in the afternoon, and regular you-choose donations of bread and baked goods, yogourt and produce) There is a nurse available in a safe injection office up front and bins of harm reduction supplies. Last winter, during extreme weather only, the Getaway became a sleeping location for the homeless (find a space on the floor, no mats, no blankets, and the lights stay on and the movies on projection were blared at thunderous volume all night. Grrrrr.

When I am in the downtown east side, I hang out here fairly regularly for the services mentioned. The entertainment (in the personalities present, their raucous interactions - arguments? - fights?) is non-stop. The staff run the gamut from the friendly, quiet, helpful & concerned to the polar opposite - rude, loud, inattentive and dismissive. Those in the latter category should really not be working with the marginalized, poor, deranged drug addicts, nor with the also common working poor or acutely jobless or homeless clients. The environment takes some getting used to but overall I have been helped here far more often than I have been disappointed. A special kudos to Marta - a...

The Powell Street Getaway offers a variety of structured and unstructured programs to encourage people to participate in social life skills development. The goal is to enhance their ability to create healthy outcomes, leading to a better quality of life.

Some of the Powell Street Getaway programs and services include: One main meal, plus snacks daily; Medications administration program (working with medical professionals); Necessities of life such as emergency food and clothing supplements; Social activities which may include bowling, a day trip hiking on Mt. Seymour or a game of cards; Safe Consumption Site; Peer Volunteer, pre-employment and internship programs; Substance use programming; Mental health community connections and support, and;...

The Powell Street Getaway is a place of refuge, in the topsy turvy reality of the D.T.E.S. Services include but are not limited too, safe injection site, coffee at 9:00am, lunch at 1:00pm, and supper at 4:00pm. Shower, washroom, phone, and laundry services are included as well. I have found the staff to be user friendly to the clients, always trying to help in prosocial ways. All in all, the P.S.G. does more good than harm, and is a necessary resource that the community can benefit from. Come on down, donate some food or clothing, maybe volunteer a few hours a week, or just have a coffee and fellowship with the people. Chances are, you just might like what you find....