Powell Street Getaway

Showers laundry phone and junkies type stuff including harm reduction and food but it's bare bones and kinda rough.

I love this place .... thanks to all the people I met and know there

This is in the location formerly occupied by The Living Room, which catered exclusively to clients with mental illnesses. Now, the Getaway is a one stop shop for getting snacks at posted times throughout the day, for having your laundry done (sign-up list), having a shower (also a sign-up list) or using the washroom. There is a wheelchair accessible entrance and a toilet for the handicapped. Karaoke occurs two days a week - a few very talented singers, and mostly the barely in tune celebrity wannabes! There is a television high on one wall (but the audio is rarely discernible over loud conversations, arguments, and the occasional fight - these are rapidly defused by staff). Clothing donations can be had in the afternoon, and regular you-choose donations of bread and baked goods, yogourt and produce) There is a nurse available in a safe injection office up front and bins of harm reduction supplies. Last winter, during extreme weather only, the Getaway became a sleeping location for the homeless (find a space on the floor, no mats, no blankets, and the lights stay on and the movies on projection were blared at thunderous volume all night. Grrrrr.When I am in the downtown east side, I hang out here fairly regularly for the services mentioned. The entertainment (in the personalities present, their raucous interactions - arguments? - fights?) is non-stop. The staff run the gamut from the friendly, quiet, helpful & concerned to the polar opposite - rude, loud, inattentive and dismissive. Those in the latter category should really not be working with the marginalized, poor, deranged drug addicts, nor with the also common working poor or acutely jobless or homeless clients. The environment takes some getting used to but overall I have been helped here far more often than I have been disappointed. A special kudos to Marta - a hard-working angel!

12 noon 2 item food draw save on foods tuna fish sandwich and chorizo egg and cheese breakfast wrap yum!! I needed the food!!

The Powell Street Getaway offers a variety of structured and unstructured programs to encourage people to participate in social life skills development. The goal is to enhance their ability to create healthy outcomes, leading to a better quality of life.Some of the Powell Street Getaway programs and services include: One main meal, plus snacks daily; Medications administration program (working with medical professionals); Necessities of life such as emergency food and clothing supplements; Social activities which may include bowling, a day trip hiking on Mt. Seymour or a game of cards; Safe Consumption Site; Peer Volunteer, pre-employment and internship programs; Substance use programming; Mental health community connections and support, and; Outreach Support.

Helpful staff and a good safe injection site despite the small size of their new building.

This place has relocated to East Hastings Street and is now running in this part of Stratcons district. Bathrooms are available and accessible there as well.Considering this the environment is suited to people on the street and using different drugs as well there is assistance in this area as well as addictions.