Unsanctioned Safer Sex Work Environment Model

The housing programs offer a minimal-barrier, high-tolerance environment and follow a women-centered empowerment and harm reduction/health promotion philosophy.

Residents represent the most marginalized, chronically homeless women in the community who live with trauma and substance use issues and support themselves through sex work.

Resident guest policies reflect the needs of women who are working in the street-level sex trade and thus allow women to bring clients to their rooms for transactional sexual encounters.

Environmental–structural policy supports include

1. Building/management policies

Women-only buildings (including residents, staff, and management)

Women are allowed to bring clients (sex buyers) into their rooms during the facilities’ guest hours (which are, depending on the program, between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. or 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.).

Clients are required to register at the front desk (one program requires photo identification).

Women are not allowed to have more than 1 guest at a time.

2. Environmental cues/security measures

”Bad-date” reports of recent client violence are posted at the building entrance.

A camera system is in place throughout the hallways of the buildings to allow staff and residents to detect incidents of violence.

In case of altercations, residents or staff will ask visitors to leave or call police to remove violent clients.

3. Access to health, prevention, and harm reduction resources

Condoms, syringes, and other harm reduction paraphernalia are available on site.

Medication is dispensed on site (including methadone and antiretroviral therapy).

General practitioners, nurses, and mental health workers regularly visit the buildings.