As a Sex worker, you have the right to feel safe and supported within the community where you live and work. In order to be recognized as a community member, it is important to be respectful of the neighborhood in which you work. Starting to build healthy relationships with other community members and recognizing the various issues and concerns that exist for communities where there is visible street level sex work is an important first step towards mutual trust and respect. Whether it is between a sex worker and a resident or perhaps a business owner, both parties need to be committed to this process. Building healthy relationships takes time and not everyone will be open to dialogue. However, with patience and perseverance, individuals can begin to feel safe. Below are a few examples of how these healthy relationships can begin:

1. When working in any neighborhood, sex workers need to realize that their faces will become familiar to other community members and residents over time. Once this occurs, one of the most effective ways to initiate a good relationship is simply by saying hello. Be prepared not to get a favorable response on your first few attempts. But, if you are consistent and respectful, eventually one will feel safe and respond.
2. Naturally, after you have built up a bit of a familiarity, the next step may be to engage in small talk. Maybe in passing, you comment on the beautiful weather that we’re having or perhaps simply some general pleasantries, to one another. In some cases a small dialogue may begin and both parties will continue on their way with a smile.
3. In neighborhoods where you may work, it is important to feel safe and respected at all times. You may experience issues of hostility, verbal abuse, physical threats, shaming and even violence. Now that a relationship has been formed, this is the perfect time to address some of these issues with community members. Share your concerns and look to how we can all work together in addressing issues of health and safety. We all want to live and work in safer communities and a solution needs to be met by both parties over time.

TIPS

• If you are in distress, do not be afraid to ask someone for assistance.
• To avoid coming across as a nuisance, only seek help in those situations where it is of extreme importance, such as needing to make a phone call or use the washroom facilities.
• Know the neighborhood in which you work as well as the community members who may live and work along side you. It helps to maintain your sense of safety if others are watching out for you.
• Remember that you are the eyes within communities who can greatly aid in the prevention of neighborhood crimes such as vandalism.
• Please keep in mind that, although there may be community members who will not be sex worker friendly, there are also caring and compassionate people who are and will lend support when necessary.
• The police aren’t always the best people to call in cases where no crime has been committed. Mobile services exist and are available for assisting sex workers if no other options are available to you, within community. Please keep these numbers handy.