annual general meeting 2013 report -...
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Annual General Meeting 2013 Report
The Stepping Stone Association 2151 Gottingen Street
P.O. Box 47032 Halifax, NS B3K 5T2
Tel: (902)420-0103 Fax: (902) 422-9665 Website: www.steppingstonens.ca
Our Mission Stepping Stone is a user-directed non-profit organization that supports individuals formerly and currently involved in the sex
trade by contributing to their health, safety and well-being.
Our Vision Stepping Stone will act as a best practice sex worker organization
that champions sex workers as people first. Stepping Stone increases community engagement including education, health
promotion, harm reduction, advocacy and support to ensure that sex workers in Nova Scotia are given a fair voice.
Our Values The Stepping Stone Association holds the philosophy that all
individuals have the right to self-determination. That those who work as sex trade workers have the basic rights to safety and
access to services regardless of their occupation; and that these individuals are entitled to social alternatives to the sex trade. The Stepping Stone Association incorporates into its service
delivery the knowledge that individuals who work as sex trade workers may choose to continue this occupation. Therefore,
Stepping Stone does not interfere with or attempt to stop their work but rather assists in making their choices in life as safe as
possible.
About Stepping Stone Stepping Stone was founded in 1987. Originally Stepping Stone was a program of the Elizabeth Fry
Society and was implemented in response and concern over the violence against sex workers in the
downtown core of Halifax, which resulted in several murders of sex workers in the 1980’s.
A group of dedicated staff and volunteers took to the streets and established a relationship of trust
and access to support with sex workers, distributing condoms, a friendly voice and reducing the
isolation and vulnerability that street-based sex workers experience. Today, Stepping Stone is the
only organization east of Montreal that deals specifically with street based sex work from a harm
reduction model.
Our offices and drop-in centre are located in a modest, no-residential house where program users can
receive peer support, advocacy, a hot meal, safer sex supplies and a supportive and non-judgmental
environment to network and access community resources. All of our programs and services are
designed, delivered and integrated throughout the organization for a streamlined service delivery
system.
Stepping Stone still provides street-based outreach services and works collaboratively with other
organizations, increasing the capacity of services available to program users on outreach. In addition,
Stepping Stone connects with people through the Court and Corrections Support program to provide
advocacy, support and access to individuals who have come in contact with the Criminal Justice
System.
We Support Choice: Stepping Stone believes that all individuals have the right to self-
determination. We do not interfere with or attempt to stop their work; rather, we assist them in
making their life choices as safe and positive as possible.
We Protect: The Stepping Stone house is a safe-haven from the street, and a hub of activity. Much
more than a place to shower and have a nutritious snack, the house host’s regular visits from many
community partners.
We are a one-stop shop for access to services such as: one-on-one peer counseling; workshops on
health and legal issues; recreational and personal growth activities; and computer access,
employment and educational opportunities. The house is where sex workers meet and form a
community; the house is also a home.
We Advocate: Our trained staff provide advocacy through a variety of ways such as court support,
housing support, building community relations, and through harm reduction.
We Reach Out: We do Street Outreach in collaboration with our community partners so that there is
someone on the street providing services, access to resources and support every day of the week. We
also partner with community resources to provide an evening drop-in within the community on a
regular basis.
We provide condoms, food and drinks, Bad Trick Lists, crisis intervention, and referrals to in-house
staff for further aid. Outreach workers forge friendly and trusted relationships with street-based sex
workers who may otherwise be isolated from their communities.
The Sex Work environment has changed over the past 25 years and Stepping Stone is responding to
the changes to the environments in which sex workers live and work. As much as we have grown
over the past 25 plus years, we still maintain our core values and purpose to reduce the isolation and
harms associated with sex work and are creating new and innovative ways to reach sex workers and
respond to the ever changing environments in which we all live and work.
Our Funders
United Way of Halifax Region www.unitedwayhalifax.ca
Stepping Stone is a funded agency of the United Way of Halifax Region. The United Way funds the
core activities of our drop in centre and our street outreach program.
Law Foundation of Nova Scotia www.nslawfd.ca/index.html
The Law Foundation of Nova Scotia provides funding for our Court Support and Legal Advocacy
program for current and former sex workers. Through this program we provide one to one court
support, legal education and referrals, weekly visits to correctional facilities, workshops and
community education.
Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia www.ahans.ca/
In 2012 Stepping Stone was awarded a grant through Service Canada as part of the Homelessness
Partnering Strategy to implement a program to address the substantial need to safe, adequate, and
sustainable housing for former and current sex workers. This grant was administered through the
Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia. This program ended March 31st, 2014.
Nova Scotia Department of Community Services www.gov.ns.ca/com
Stepping Stone receives core funding from the Department of Community Services. This funding is
allocated to areas such as salaries, audit costs, insurance, utilities and rent
Our Partners and Collaborators
AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia (ACNS) www.acns.ns.ca
Stepping Stone and ACNS have a long history of collaboration. Currently our relationship with
ACNS includes cost-sharing on condoms, planned workshops/education, Knowledge Exchange and
Health Promotion (Ceilidh), and the AIDS Walk for Life fundraiser.
Dalhousie Legal AID http://law.dal.ca
Dalhousie Legal AID provides important evidence based information and program support to
Stepping Stone on specific legal issues that impact sex workers in Halifax. This includes access to
landlord and tenancy information, as well as current and new legislation that affects sex workers.
Feed Nova Scotia www.feednovascotia.ca
Stepping Stone is a member of Feed Nova Scotia, along with more than 150 agencies. Hot meals and
snacks are delivered to the Stepping Stone drop-in daily (Monday-Friday) and a monthly grocery
order is received and disseminated to our Program Users either in the Drop-in or on outreach.
Mainline Needle Exchange www.mainlineneedleexchange.ca/
Stepping Stone collaborates with Mainline, Direction 180 and MOSH to ensure that there is a street
outreach presence on a daily basis in the HRM. Working collaboratively within the community is a
key strategy to ensure thorough service delivery and reducing duplication of services.
Direction 180
Stepping Stone collaborates with Direction 180, Mainline and MOSH to ensure that there is a street
outreach presence on a daily basis in the HRM. Working collaboratively within the community is a
key strategy to ensure thorough service delivery and reducing duplication of services.
Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH) http://moshhalifax.ca/
Stepping Stone has partnered with MOSH to provide street outreach and mobile health services
during the Friday night outreach. MOSH and Stepping Stone deliver these services collaboratively
during this time.
Matrix Women’s Services, Addiction Program of Capital Health www.cdha.nshealth.ca/ Once every two weeks Sarah Bray comes to Stepping Stone for in house one to one counseling,
referrals and personal program plans for the Program Users of Stepping Stone. This services is
offered to all Program User’s (women, men and transgender)
Halifax Housing Help (HHH) www.halifaxhousinghelp.com
Stepping Stone partnered with HHH to establish an Emergency Housing Found which was
administered through the AHANS housing program. This fund was used to provide security deposits,
assist in Hydro connection and moving costs and was administered on an individual basis.
North End Community Health Centre (NECHC) www.nechc.com
Stepping Stone has partnered with the NECHC to provide access to health care services and referrals
for Program Users.
Mi’Kmaw Legal Support Network (MLSN) www.mlsn.ca/ Stepping Stone works collaboratively with MLSN to provide support to Aboriginal youth who have
come into contact with the Criminal Justice System and have identified being involved in sex work.
This is an ongoing collaboration and aims to assist youth in making safer decisions about their health
and life choices.
Pride Health www.cpath.ca
Pride Health is a Capital Health and IWK Health Centre sponsored program that aims to improve
safe access to health care by offering primary health care services for the GLBTI community.
Outreach health care services will continue to be offered at Stepping Stone once a new nurse has
been hired.
Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre
The Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre is a community resources to many of our program users as
they provide a community context to many programs in the area. In addition Stepping Stone supports
the Friendship Centre’s Sexual Violence Program and we work collaboratively on many community
initiatives.
Healing Our Nations (HON) www.hon93.ca
Stepping Stone receives resources and significant amounts of condoms from HON. Working
collaboratively, HON enhances stepping Stone’s cultural sensitivity and HepC information and is
available to Program Users
Our Board of Directors
Fiona Traynor, Chair of the Board [email protected]
Alan Brown, Vice Chair of the Board [email protected]
Emily Coyle, Secretary of the Board [email protected]
Michelle Cohen, Board Member [email protected]
Mary Francis Finnigan, Member of Board [email protected]
Debra Perry, Member of the Board [email protected]
Kim Grant, Program User Representative to the Board [email protected]
Norma Kennedy, Member of the Board [email protected]
Our Staff
Tammy Gloade, Coordinator
[email protected] (902)420-0103 ext 223
Kathleen Pyke, Drop-in Coordinator
[email protected] (902)420-0103 ext 221
Linda Grandy, Court and Corrections Support
[email protected] (902)420-0103 ext 225
Nicole Lydiard, Program Support
[email protected] (902) 420-0103 ext 222
Tina Anderson, Outreach and Relief Staff
Oscar Francis, Casual Relief Staff
The Stepping Stone Association
Annual General Meeting
September 30th, 2014, 4:30 pm Dalhousie Legal AID, Downstairs Meeting Room
2209 Gottingen Street Halifax, NS
AGENDA
Welcome and Call to Order
o Introduction of Board Members and Staff
Adoption of the Agenda
Adoption of Minutes of 2013 Annual General Meeting
Presentation of Chair Person’s Report
Presentation of Coordinator’s Report
Presentation of Financial Report for 2013-2014
Appointment of Auditors
2014-2015 Board of Director’s Nominations
New Business
Adjournment
Board Chair Annual Report
BOARD CHAIR REPORT – 2014 AGM Fiona Traynor
September 30, 2014 I am happy to be able to present this report on behalf of the Board of Stepping Stone Association on the occasion of the 2014 Annual General Meeting. This year, the dedicated volunteer Board has consisted of: Debra Perry Kimmy G Emilie Coyle Alan Brown Mary Frances Finnigan Norma Kennedy Michele Cohen Fiona Traynor The Board usually met on a bi-monthly basis over the past program year. The organization was faced with a year of rebuilding and renewing its commitment to providing program users with support and advocacy. This commitment continues. The Board has been hugely supported by the work of the staff at Stepping Stone. A big thanks goes out to Linda Grandy, Kathleen Pyke, Tina Anderson and Nicole Lydiard for dedicating their time to making Stepping Stone a welcoming, non-judgmental and effective center for program users. A special thanks to Charlene Gagnon who worked with the board and staff during the tumultuous transition following the departure of previous management. Charlene worked with tireless dedication to stabilize the day-to-day operations at Stepping Stone. Thanks very much, Charlene. Last year around this time, Tammy Gloade was hired as the co-coordinator of the organization. Before Tammy’s hiring much of the heavy lifting to keeping the programs running fell to the staff, and the board pitched in when needed. Tammy has created administrative systems that keep Stepping Stone operating efficiently. Her expertise in building a fair workplace environment mean that the staff are able to focus on their work and respect has returned to Stepping Stone. Thanks so much Tammy! Our financial statements for the year ended March 31, 2014 and are attached to this report. What this report shows is that Stepping Stone has a modest operating surplus, which is a huge improvement over the previous several fiscal years. New funding opportunities were explored; tough administrative decisions were made, past management positions were terminated – all of which financially repositioned the organization successfully.
Stepping Stone has seen many successes over this past year. Programs that were nonexistent for a few years have been reinvigorated and improved. The house is once again a center of respect and caring for program users, which is shown by the increased numbers of people accessing social, legal and health-related programs on a daily basis. The organization has also forged stronger community partnerships and one of the highlights of this work is the transformation of outreach services, which are now offered in conjunction with Mobile Outreach Street Health (MOSH), Mainline Needle Exchange and Direction 180 to ensure that there is a street outreach every day of the week. This year the Board also rewrote the organization’s by-laws to accurately reflect our membership and focus. Thank you to Emilie Coyle and Kirsten Temporale (senior law student at Dalhousie Legal Aid Service) for their perseverance in getting this task done. This has also been a year of a great legal breakthrough for the rights of sex workers across the country. On December 20, 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada struck down several sections of the Criminal Code, which criminalized sex workers. That was a day of great celebration. The Supreme Court gave the federal government 12 months to respond to this decision. The government did respond with Bill C-36 which includes several other additions to the criminal code which would further endanger the lives of sex workers. Stepping Stone joined with other sex worker support organizations in decrying Bill C-36. The organization participated in Justice Minister Peter MacKay’s countrywide consultation on Bill C-36, appeared on television and radio shows to publically disapprove of the proposed bill. As Bill C-36 makes its way through the government approval process the organization will continue to raise the issue of sex workers’ human and employment rights on a national and local level. The Board also met with program users to discuss their ongoing concern with the past management practices at Stepping Stone. The meeting we had in the summer was a tough one, but one that needed to happen. Program users voiced their genuine concern and dissatisfaction with the outcome of past board decisions regarding previous management. We listened to program users and we acted on their wishes. In the near future the Board will meet with program users to discuss next steps on this issue. We enter this coming year with renewed optimism and focus on continued and improved financial stability and expansion of services to program users. The last couple of years have been difficult and the transition away from the past has been a slow process. It is the Board’s hope that we can move into the coming year with a focus on strengthening the organization that gives a voice to sex workers in our community. The Board wants to engage with program users and staff and offer effective and respectful support to all the people who make Stepping Stone a vital and important part of the community. It has been an honour to serve with our volunteer board of Stepping Stone. Sincerely, Fiona Traynor Stepping Stone Chair, 2013/14
Coordinator’s Report 2013-2014 In 2013 Stepping Stone went through many changes and growing pains. However, with a dedicated voluntary Board of Directors, committed Staff Team and the strength and resiliency of Program Users, Partners, Funders and community networks Stepping Stone has been able to respond to every challenge that was presented. In actuality, Stepping Stone has regrouped, reorganized and establish a solid foundation for current and future programming, support services and resources that contribute to the safety and well-being of program Users. Our organization is committed to working with community agencies, government and various stakeholders to increase the resources, and access to services by Program Users to create safer communities for everyone. This has been challenged by the proposed new legislation, Bill C-36 which directly affects the lives of Program Users and the resources Stepping Stone provides. As a result Stepping Stone has been active in the National response to the proposed legislation and we have identified a large community support for our position and focus of creating safer environments for people involved in sex work. This is evident in our partnerships, networks and community collaboration to ensure that our Program Users have access to supports, advocacy, health promotion programs and resources. As the Coordinator for Stepping Stone since October 1st, 2013, it has been my pleasure to work with a dedicated Staff Team, committed volunteer Board of Directors and persistent and resilient group of Program Users. In this short time much has been accomplished including; reporting systems, program delivery systems and supports, partnership and networking development, team building and establishing a work environment that is respectful for everyone. At the end of the fiscal year we completed the Housing program and the direct funding for our street outreach program came to an end. With a little bit of patience and restructuring we are able to still provide basic housing supports and a modified street based outreach program. In addition, we secured funding for additional health promotion programming that is being implemented in 2014 including; healthy bodies, healthy minds; active bodies active minds; and Keystone Kennections. These programs are funded through the United Way of Halifax and will be implemented over the upcoming year. The programs and services made available through Stepping Stone are complimented by a committed staff team including Kathleen Pyke, Drop-in Program Coordinator; Linda Grandy, Court and Corrections Support; Nicole Lydiad, Housing Coordinator (now Program Support) and Tina Anderson, Outreach and Casual relief. The following is a brief summary of their work over the past year:
Drop-in Coordinator, Kathleen Pyke There were approximately 2,162 incidents of program use in the drop-in during this past fiscal year, with a monthly average of 70 individual Program Users. The changes to management and scheduling have directly benefited the Drop-in centre where we do not experience under staffing and need to close. One of the greatest successes this far is the number of return Program Users and new Program Users we have accessing the Drop-in. This increase has staff doing more advocacy work than ever before. Court and Corrections Support, Linda Grandy Total court contacts for this fiscal year were 159 with 65 individual contacts; and 237 contacts were made at the correctional centre with 42 individual contacts. The breakdown of referrals and supports in Court support program reached a total of 1762 and the referrals and support through the correctional centre reached a total of 1762 incidents. These contacts include Advocacy, Addictions, Education, Housing, Legal, Peer Support, Violence, Community resources and Clinical Issues. The need to connect with community networks, partners and collaborators is an essential part of the services available through Stepping Stone and the Court and Corrections Support Program. In addition, I have been working with MOSH on Friday nights to help ensure the health and safety of sex workers on the streets contributing to our street outreach program. With a lot of team effort I feel Stepping Stone has once again become an organization that I feel proud to be part of and program users will benefit from our Team Success. Housing Coordinator, Nicole Lydiard During this fiscal year there have been 103 referrals, supports and services on a case-to-case basis within the housing program. There was also an emergency fund implemented which assisted 4 clients with either hydro hook up, damage deposit or related moving expenses. In addition, the housing program delivered 8 workshops related to housing including an in house Money Matters workshop, Tenants Rights and Responsibilities from Dal Legal AID, What the “Bedford Case’ means from Emily Coyle and Maria, information sessions from Elizabeth Fry, Halifax Housing Help, Feed NS and Celebrate Resources Recycling. A highlight of the successes experienced during this year was reconnecting with a client who had received addictions and housing support and had remained in stable housing and addiction free for over one year. It is unfortunate that this funding has ended, however Stepping Stone is committed to delivering housing support to our Program Users and will continue to do so in a reduced capacity until further funding is obtained.
Outreach Summary, Nicole and Tina During this fiscal year Outreach served approximately 80 Program Users 1,798 times. Services include; referrals to MOSH, Mainline, Hep NS, Dal Legal AID, Dal Dental, Avalon, Addictions Services and WISH (Women in Supportive Housing). While on outreach we deliver harm reduction supplies; condoms, lube, nutritional snacks, bad date list, little black books, hats, scarves etc. as well as peer support and networking. Although the environment for sex work is changing the need to still maintain a street based presence remains in order to reduce the isolation and harms associated with street based sex work. From the Coordinator, Tammy Gloade I would like to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication to Stepping Stone, it is clear that this is more than a job for all of you. Thank-you for the opportunity to work with an amazing group of people including Program Users, Staff and Board of Directors; I look forward to our work, challenges and success over the next year. Wel’alin! Thank-you! Tammy Gloade