Atira Women’s Resource Society Announces Temporary Closure and Relocation of SisterSquare Overdose Prevention Site to a Permanent Location

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Vancouver, BC – February 27, 2025

Atira Women’s Resource Society is announcing the temporary closure of its SisterSquare overdose prevention site in the Downtown Eastside (DTES) as the program prepares to move to a new, permanent location. The site, which has been operating exclusively to support women in the DTES, is currently located on the same land as Aneki, a modular housing project operated by Atira. Due to plans for the re-establishment of Aneki, SisterSquare must vacate its current location by the end of February.

Despite this change, Atira has secured a new site for SisterSquare with significant support from Vancouver Coastal Health. The team is currently navigating the permitting and design processes required to facilitate the move. In the meantime, Atira is using one of its existing spaces to continue operating the program, ensuring that women who rely on SisterSquare for critical overdose prevention services will not face disruption.

“SisterSquare was originally established as a rapid, temporary response to the overdose crisis during the pandemic. While we worked under intense time constraints, we’ve encountered several operational challenges at this location, especially related to the environmental factors and the limitations of the site,” said Hajar Masoud, Executive Director, Operational Excellence at Atira Women’s Resource Society. “With our new site, we are focused on addressing these challenges and ensuring that the lessons we’ve learned translate into a safer and more effective space for the women who rely on our services.”

The original SisterSquare site was designed to provide inhalation overdose prevention services and was set up with large tents to accommodate this need. However, the open structure has posed difficulties during winter months, and restrictions on digging at the current location have made it challenging to protect the site from wind exposure and other environmental factors. These issues have required ongoing adjustments each year.

The new site is being planned with a strong focus on health, safety, and environmental factors to ensure that all needs are met without compromising the quality of services provided. Atira is working closely with City staff and other stakeholders to ensure that the transition to the new location is smooth and that the program continues to serve women without interruption.

“SisterSquare is a vital service for the women of the DTES, and we are committed to ensuring that this critical work continues,” Masoud continued. “Our focus is on creating a new site that is both safe and functional, built upon the lessons learned from the challenges at the current location.”

Atira remains dedicated to providing overdose prevention services and support to women in Vancouver, and the team looks forward to launching the new site to continue addressing the ongoing overdose crisis in the city.

For more information, please contact:

Media Contact:
Tannaz Alesafar
Director of Communications
Atira Women’s Resource Society
Phone: 604-830-1923
Email: tannaz_alesafar@atira.bc.ca
media@atira.bc.ca