SISTERING

Sistering’s Mission Statement:

Sistering is a women’s organization that offers practical and
emotional support through programs which enable them to take greater
control over their lives. Guided by the principles of Anti-racism/Anti-
oppression, Sistering works to change social conditions which endanger
women’s welfare. (www.sistering.org)

Sistering is a women’s agency (located in the downtown Toronto area)

serving homeless, marginalized and low-income women in Toronto. Our
programs and services help women gain greater control over their life
circumstances. Our advocacy focuses on changing the social conditions that put
women at risk. And our service philosophy is to ensure that women’s dignity is
not eroded by poverty and homelessness. (www.sistering.org)

Address: Phone: (416) 926-9762

962 Bloor St. W. Fax: (416) 926-1932
Toronto, ON Email: general_info@sistering.org
M6H 1L6 Website: www.sistering.org

Services:
 Drop-in centre o Inspirations
 Breakfast, lunch  English As A Second Language
 Counseling  Access to free:
 Help in accessing healthcare o Clothing
 Access to a Doctor o Toiletries (toothbrush,
o Nurse toothpaste, soap,
o Psychiatrist shampoo, sanitary
o Dentist, Dental Hygienist napkins, deodorant)
o Harm Reduction Model o Household items
Kits  Availability of Showers (3),
 Help in accessing housing, Case Washrooms, Beds (3), Laundry
Management Facilities, Telephones (2), Daily
 Economic Development Newspapers
Program  Haircuts, Dancercise, Manicure,
o On The Path Beading, Massage Therapist,
o Spin Studio Piano
 Outreach to women with
substance issues
Sistering is an agency that is for women, any woman. It is a place where women can stop by

during the day. They can have most of their immediate physical needs met whether it is a meal,

a nap, a shower, or a phone call. They can get counseling. They can get health care. There is

no discrimination. Sistering is inclusive, accessible to those with or without special needs

whether it is physical, mental or financial.

Who uses this organization? Although any woman can use the services, most of the

clientele is over forty-five years old. Women with disabilities, physical or otherwise, are

welcomed. There is a ramp (not stairs) going into the building and elevator access within the

building. Women of any race or religion are allowed in. The top four language groups are

Mandarin, Spanish, Cantonese, and Portuguese. There is no process for tapering off services,

except regarding health care. The women can come indefinitely to receive food and the other

physical care offered by the centre. They can also speak to a counselor any time they visit. If a

woman breaks the agency’s guidelines they will be asked to take a break and be welcomed back

in a few hours. Regarding healthcare, there are limited health care professionals (one doctor,

nurse, and psychiatrist) that only come once a month.

The reasons women may use the services are varied, but homeless is one of the major

reasons. Homelessness is a serious problem in Toronto, serious enough that 150-200 women

come to Sistering every day. Every day Sistering sees new people (Donna, Sistering). Sistering

defines homelessness in the broad sense, including women that have no home, that live in a

shelter and that move from couch to couch. It also includes women who live in inadequate

housing where there are health and safety issues such as no running water or electrical cords

hanging from the ceiling. Most of these women are homeless and on low or no income. The
homelessness is a result of poverty, mental health issues and in many cases abuse. Sistering not

only provides a safe place for these women where they can eat and have their basic needs

considered, but it is a place that seeks to empower women and seek social change. Sistering

realizes that many of these women have a long history of abuse and trauma and seeks to break

patterns of abuse for those who are ready for this. Sistering is for any woman – she does not

have to be homeless. As per Donna from Sistering, some women come because they are

socially isolated. This is especially true for women who have come from another city or

country.

Women can walk in to the centre during the daytime. There is no waiting list. There is no

intake – a woman can use most of the services without giving her name or other personal

information. The exception to this is if a woman is pursuing housing or health care. There is no

direct financial support where cash is given but all of the services are provided free of charge.

(Actual housing would cost the women, but not the help getting or maintaining the housing.)

The hours are usually from 9:30am except for Mondays when the centre is open at 11:30am.

The centre closes at either 3:00pm or 5:00pm. Once a month, the centre is closed for staff

meetings. All during the day, food is available except for ½ hour during the breakfast/lunch

transition. There is a healthy breakfast and sit-down lunch provided by one of the three cooks.

Besides having access to two meals, the women can do one load of laundry, they can use

one of the three available beds, showers or washrooms. There are sanitary supplies available to

the women such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sanitary pads, and deodorant.

There is access to information and technology: telephones, daily newspapers, and a television.

There are provisions for those who are new to Canada such as English as a Second Language
classes and signs in different languages. There are two Spanish workers who also translate and

accompany women to court, hospital appointments, housing meetings etc. as need be.

Other services offered are dancercise, yoga, beading and sewing. Haircuts and manicures

are offered to the women on particular days as well. There is even a massage therapist who

comes in and gives massages. Not only does this address their physical needs, but it does

enormous good for one’s emotional well being. Volunteers are a main source of many of these

services.

More importantly, there is access to healthcare. We learned that many homeless and poor

women are discriminated against in the health care system. What Sistering does is provide

healthcare professionals that come periodically, usually every month, to the centre. The doctor,

nurse, and psychiatrist can treat patients, but they mainly want to get women back into

mainstream healthcare. Often women need encouragement going back to a doctor, hospital or

counselor if they have been poorly treated in the past. The doctor is affiliated with St. Joseph’s

Health Centre so the resources of that hospital are often used. Any women can get medical

care; however, dental care is only available to women on Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario

Disabilities Support Program (ODSP). This is because the dentist and dental hygienist are

volunteers and that service is not covered for those outside OW or ODSP.

Since mental health issues are a major problem for a majority of the women who use the

services, mental health support is a critical service offered. The centre provides two case

management workers. There is also a psychiatrist that visits monthly. Furthermore, all workers

and volunteers are specifically trained. Women can talk about their problems in a safe

emotional place. Confidentiality and privacy are respected. Women are never pressured to get

any sort of help. The organization lets women know what help is available and when the
women are ready they assist further, perhaps getting the woman into rehabilitation or to see a

specialist.

Since housing is a common and major problem faced by the women who use the

organization, the agency helps women get safe, affordable housing and goes further to help

women maintain their housing. According to Donna, maintaining housing is a difficulty for

many women because of different issues such as unemployment, mental health issues and life

situation. Sistering helps women who are facing eviction, helping them with landlord issues,

“including help for women appearing at the Landlord Tenant Board (www.sistering.org).”

Sistering wants to get women off the street and into housing if they are ready and willing. Not

only does Sistering help get women housing, but they often provide household items to help

women get established. Women can even get help after they are settled. Housing support is

offered three days a week, one day a week for outreach (www.sistering.org).

Because poverty is a big issue, Sistering has an Economic Development Program which

helps some of the low-income women generate an income. There are two main programs: ‘On

The Path To Employment’ and ‘Inspirations Studio’ (Donna, Sistering). ‘On The Path To

Employment’ offers training in sewing and knitting (www.sistering.org). They also provide

other courses such as computer training (www.sistering.org). There is one-on-one help

mentoring women, where women can learn about job search strategies (www.sistering.org). For

example, women can get help create or fix their resume (Donna Sistering). Inspirations Studio

is for women who are artistically inclined. Their work, which is made up of pottery, painting

and jewelry, is available for sale to the general public (Donna Sistering). Their work is featured

at exhibitions (www.sistering.org). The Inspirations Studio is at a different physical location

 although some of their artwork is for sale at Sistering. All of these services increase a woman’s

chance of getting employment and empowers the woman.

In terms of outreach, women that have recovered from substance abuse and/or from the sex

trade reach out to other women in the community. It is done this way because women who have

recovered from substance abuse and/or worked on the streets know where the vulnerable women

are and they have experienced what they have been through. They tell women about Sistering.

They also hand out Harm Reduction Kits which they have made which consist of such things

like sanitized needles, condoms, and information. The outreach workers would also follow-up

with specific women depending on the individual situation.

In conclusion, Sistering is an organization that cares about women. They provide both

physical and emotional support and safety for women. In fact they provide a comprehensive

amount of help in both concrete terms and in terms of empathy. They seem to have thought of

every need that a woman might have. Their goal is to empower women. They seek social

change such as their “No Fair” campaign which is about women being able to afford

transportation. Forming a relationship with the women is very important to Sistering. The

women are people they know, not just numbers and faces. Sistering values respect and does not

discriminate in any way. In fact, their inclusiveness is evident everywhere – the ramp when you

walk in to their centre, the signs in languages besides English, the smiles they give to everyone.

All of our group members would recommend this agency because this organization acts with

compassion and makes a difference in the lives of women which affects not just them but

society as a whole.

Note: All information in this document is from Donna from Sistering who was interviewed in
October 2010 and from the Sistering internet website.
 WORK CITED

Fieldwork

Donna. Sistering. Interview October 2010.

Internet

Sistering. www.sistering.org. October 2010.

 GROUP CONTRACT

Meetings:

Monday, October 25 – Adriana Granata, Ana Martinez, Baole Liu, Shuang Zhang,
Tamara Ellis
15 minutes
- Ana made phone calls to confirm appointment with Sistering, write down address,
agree on Wednesdays group meeting time

Wednesday, October 27 – Adriana Granata, Ana Martinez, Baole Liu, Shuang Zhang,
Tamara Ellis
8:30am – 2:20pm – meeting with Donna at Sistering, printed the photographs,
planned and worked out artistic layout for poster

5:00pm-6:30pm – worked on poster, started written portion group analysis

Saturday, October 30 – Ana Martinez, Baole Liu, Shuang Zhang, Tamara Ellis
11:00am – 2:30pm
- written portion group analysis