Research Questions

In this report, we describe the literature we read and the research we conducted to investigate the following questions:

1. What is Harm Reduction and how does it affect Downtown Eastside residents who engage in high-risk behaviours?
2. How does Harm Reduction link to learning?
3. How can Capilano College and our partner learning centres support harm reduction in our learning activities?

We also argue that:

• Working in literacy and learning centres in places like the Downtown Eastside with people at risk may benefit from a Harm Reduction approach to teaching and learning.
• People engage in many learning opportunities to learn about harm reduction (safe sex, needle use, living with violent partners, etc).
• Learning can enhance Harm Reduction and vice versa.

Background

This project was conducted over a two-year period by Capilano College instructors as part of our work at two centres in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside: the LifeSkills Centre and WISH (Women’s information Safe Haven).

The Downtown Eastside LifeSkills Centre

The LifeSkills Centre is a resource centre that provides a barrier-free environment for drug users to access basic services such as laundry and showers, and to enter low threshold programs and classes. There are over 1600 registered card carrying members, and an average of 760 visits daily. Programs include community kitchens, a library, a women’s wellness group, classes delivered by neighbourhood organizations (such as Women against Violence against Women), Art Therapy classes, a book club and the UpWords newsletter group. UpWords is produced by and for stimulant users. The Lifeskills Centre works in partnership with InSite — Vancouver’s (and North America’s) only publicly-funded Safe Injection Site.