Machjo said:
Hello again, Iwill,
So I'd like your advice on something, based on your experiences.
Assuming the goal was in fact to get all the girls off the streets, what would be a good solution in your opinion; one which is sufficiently idealistic enough to get if not all, then the vast majority off the street, yet realistic enough that many might go for it. the solution need not be political, of course (ie.e, this law or that law), but even outside the law (different things members of the community could do?
For example, changing attitudes about prostitutes, social assistance, asking for and giving help, etc?
Providing accommodation if one has an extra empty room at home?
It doean't matter how silly the idea might be; please brainstorm and put it all on screen. It would be interesting to see what we come up with.
Sadly solutions are not easy.
If prostitution was decriminalized, it would help the girls working indoors and those taking up the occupation tremendously. Life would improve for those outside, but most of them would still be there. This is because most of the girls on the streets now are the drug addicted. I can only speak for Victoria, as it has been years since I have worked elsewhere. As drug addicted people are not reliable and often not presentable (at least most of those on the streets), no one would hire the majority of them.
If you want the girls off the street, it would take proper drug treatment facillities. As it stands now, we have many girls who ask for help, but it is not available NOW. Often there are strings attached, like making a required number of doctors appointments. Some require a clean pee test, just how do they get from here to there with no help? Drug addicted people cannot jump through hoops, as it takes most of their waking hours to sustain their habits and keep from hurting. Coming down is like having the worse flu of your life and at that point in time, nothing matters except getting better.
Several years ago, I had a young male staying at my apartment, who I believe really wanted help. He laid on my camp bed in so much pain. Once a day I dialed the number of the only detox in town that was available to him. Once a day I had to see the look of complete defeat in his eyes as he was told the same things, no room, call back tomorrow. What kind of answer is that? After four or five days, he gave up, the pain was intollerable and he said he felt like no one cared and he may as well go back. I still see him sometimes, down there, and he talks of getting clean, but everytime he has called, he has gotten the same anawer. I have seen that same look of defeat when working with the girls downtown. You have no idea just how many would leave if they felt they had alternatives. Yes they fight hard for their right to be there, but they think that's the only place they can be.
For some reason the quality of available drugs goes down and quite suddenly back up. Last month the cocaine supply in town became stronger, there were many OD's and a couple deaths. Two weeks ago it was the heroin, we lost two last weekend and another two during the week. Since we often don't get the names right away, I asked several girls to get the young man to call me. He phone yesterday, what a relief, until the next time. I have been to so many funerals in the last few years, and there were many more I missed as I didn't know their real names.
The treatment centers have to keep them a reasonable amount of time. It often took them many years to get where they are, 30 days is not going to "fix" them. Even 90 days would only leave a small percentage ready to face the world on their own. They would require some help, counseling at least, for their first baby steps back into mainstream.
The program I am in lasts six months, with counseling available afterwards for as long as is needed. Ideally any of the girls taking it should have been through a treatment facility first. The girls who have show they most potential. The program includes art theraphy, counseling, AA, NA or CA steps, understanding mental dissorders, spiritually classes, resumes, job training and volunteering. Then you can take a bridging class to help with employment. There are failures, but enough successes to make it viable. The best part of this program is if you slip, you can come back where you were, not start over.
I fall outside the "normal" parameters in that I was much older than the average starting age (believed to be 14) and I never succumbed to drugs. Most girls start inside and as the drugs take over, they end up outside. One would have to figure out why they start drugs.
I know some are already using and the only way to get enough money to sustain their habit is the sex trade, so one would need to figure out why so many young girls fall into drugs to help them. Many start drugs to forget what they are doing, but is that because society tells them it is wrong or they feel that way? I do not know and the ones I asked couldn't answer either. I was able to talk to some political big-wig (I'm so bad with names 8O ) just before the last election. I asked him why when they go to Nevada and Amsterdam they only talk to the city officials, police and those who live in the city. I would love to talk to the girls. Does legalization improve their status in society? Does it lower the use of drugs? Without those answer I cannot fully answer your questions. He did state that on their next visit they are planning on talking to the girls, I hope so, as it is about them too.
I do know that understanding and acceptance goes a long way. Girls on the streets are often a target. I myself have been yelled at and had several items thrown at me, including pennies, an open can of beer, tomatoes, and eggs. I was only hit once, but going home with egg dripping from your head is not going to make anyones self esteem go up. The worse of that is there is no recourse. Even if you get the liscence plate of the vehicle from which the item was thrown, the police don't bother taking a report. Most of the people who target working girls are young 19-25, but I wonder where they get their idea that its fun and why everyone else looks the other way.
The idea of letting a girl from the street stay at your place is not a good one, unless she had no access to your living quarters, enough said there.
So after all that, decriminalization, enough treatment facilaties, follow up programs, and a willness for society to care.
