2020 was a big year for our Mutual Aid Program. During the pandemic, we fundraised and distributed over 500 grants. We created harm-reduction information for sex workers and connected our community with essential health and safety resources. We recently took a small hiatus to reflect on the past three years of mutual aid and re-imagine how we distribute resources to our beloved community. Taking input from team leaders and community members, we made some adjustments that realign our actions with our values and mission. On May 18th-25th, we will be re-launching our Mutual Aid offerings. Please see details below, and help support this growth by DONATING TO BAWS today.
BAWS' Mutual Aid Program has now expanded into three different sections.
1) GRANT PROGRAM: This is the original grant program that our community knows and loves. To sustain this program and allow BAWS to expand into other support areas, grants are now available one week per month. Applications can be found online here: bayareaworkerssupport.org/grants
Bay Area sex workers can apply for $50-$200 per individual.
Applications are now open ONLY the third week of every month, Tuesday - Tuesday.
We still prioritize BIPOC, trans, disabled, those with dependents, and outdoor workers.
2) CASH-IN-HAND: We want our funds to easily reach workers who may have limited or no access to our online grant application. BAWS is now partnering with local organizations that have pre-existing relationships with outdoor workers. We will be providing three months of funding to these organizations to distribute directly to folks in the sex trade.
This quarter we are partnering with the Transgender Intersex Justice Project (TGJIP)
3) HOME BOOST: We have learned a lot from providing mutual aid to sex workers for the past three years. We identified that housing insecurity is one of the most consistent barriers to our community's health, safety, and well-being. This past year, we were awarded a community grant from the Third Wave Fund to support individuals taking steps to secure housing for themselves.
We are currently partnering with TGJIP, other on-the-ground organizations, and community members we have connected with through our grants program to provide housing stabilization for our community members.
Please reach out with any questions or comments about our new systems. We look forward to working with you all this coming year.
Love & Solidarity,
BAWS