An open letter to the women, children, and gender-diverse individuals we serve, our staff, and our stakeholders:

For more than 40 years, Atira Women’s Resource Society has stood at the forefront of the movement to end gender-based violence and dismantle systemic inequality. As someone who has had the privilege of serving communities for almost 30 years, I have witnessed firsthand the strength, resilience, and brilliance of the women we walk alongside – and the unwavering commitment of our staff and supporters.

We envision a world where every woman and girl lives free from violence, empowered to make the decisions that affect their lives, and where human rights are not just respected in principle, but realized in practice. Our work is rooted in this vision and inspired by our namesake Atira, the “Vault of the Sky” in the Pawnee First Nation tradition. Symbolizing strength and abundance grounded in compassion instead of domination, Atira reflects this approach: humble, powerful, and centered in service of each woman’s self-determined journey.

We know that gender-based violence is often at the core of women’s substance use and mental wellness struggles. Struggles that are deeply intertwined with poverty, racism, gendered patterns of drug-related harms, barriers to mothering, and systemic inequalities. These realities shape our programs, which are intentionally designed to be accessible, trauma-informed, and responsive to the diverse needs of women and their children.

Housing alone cannot heal the wounds of violence-that’s why Atira has always offered non-residential supports alongside housing. Just as no woman’s experience is the same, our services are tailored – not standardized. Addressing both the structural and individual causes of poverty, gender-based violence, discrimination, and other intersecting barriers is essential to helping women reduce vulnerability and maintain stable housing.

Our decades of experience have woven a bold tapestry of programs and service delivery built alongside the women we serve. When women faced transportation barriers to accessing services, we expanded our outreach programs. When governments stepped back from building housing, we stepped forward with innovation. When childcare access reached a crisis point, we forged partnerships and adapted. When art and creativity became recognized as tools for healing, we launched social enterprises to create safe spaces for women to develop, share, and showcase their work.

We have always been nimble, responsive, and rooted in women’s realities. Atira Women’s Resource Society remains, at its core, a women-centered organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence and supporting women and children. Supporting women means supporting their families and communities. In 2021, we opened Aoki Ross Housing, Western Canada’s first program for 2 Spirit, trans, and gender-diverse (2STGD) people, showing the value of inclusive, specialized housing. Building on this, we are taking another bold step: expanding to all-gendered programming, as one part of our larger commitment to women. This work ensures no woman has to choose between her own safety and staying connected to the people she loves. Our goal is clear: women must never face the impossible decision of keeping their loved ones close or living on the streets.

Our housing programs offer choice, dignity, and safety. Examples include:

• A woman with trauma related to male violence chooses a women-only building,  ensuring her sense of safety and autonomy.
• A woman with complex health needs relies on her male partner for caregiving and requires mixed-gender housing so they can remain together.
• A woman and her male partner, after five years in an encampment, choose separate units in women-only and mixed-gender buildings, each selecting the housing option that best meets their needs for safety and stability.
• A trans woman, facing discrimination in mixed-gender housing, chooses a women-only building for safety and comfort.
• A mother, her male partner, and two children require mixed-gender housing to stay together.
• A nonbinary person feels safest living with other trans and gender-diverse residents and chooses a 2STGD housing program.

Atira’s non-residential supports are designed to meet women where they are:

• Legal advocacy, including Early Resolution alternatives to incarceration
• Culturally safe, Indigenous-led outreach for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people
• Specialized outreach teams, including street outreach, pregnancy outreach, senior women’s outreach, and pet outreach
• Employment opportunities for those building financial independence outside of traditional work models
• Early Care & Learning Centres, offering heavily subsidized daycare
• Housing outreach, including referrals for those seeking to leave the Downtown Eastside or transition to independent housing
• Harm reduction sites, supporting safe substance use

Since 1987, Atira has grown from one transition house in Surrey to more than 1,300 housing units across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and the Downtown Eastside. We have adapted, innovated, and broken new ground to honour every woman’s right to self-determination.

As we continue to evolve, we remain steadfast in our mission to end gender-based violence. I want to personally thank every woman who has chosen Atira, every staff member who shows up with heart and purpose, every partner who has stood beside us, and every advocate who walks this path with us.

Together, we move forward—one step at a time—toward a future where safety, dignity, and justice are not aspirations, but realities.

With gratitude and solidarity,

Sarah McIntosh
Chief Operating Officer
Atira Women’s Resource Society