Communities We Serve

SafeLink Alberta Welcomes All Individuals Engaged in Sexual Activity or Substance Use to Access Services Without Barriers or Cost

To align with our mission of low-barrier programs and services, anyone engaged in sexual activity or substance use is welcome to access services from SafeLink Alberta. With the exception of case management and peer support, all other services are available to anyone in Calgary, Medicine Hat, and surrounding areas without entry with minimal admission requirements, and all services are available at no cost.

In an effort to reduce transmission of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis C and to reduce other harmful impacts of sexual activity and substance use such as drug toxicity deaths, SafeLink Alberta provides dedicated and individualized support services for the following key populations:

Communities We Serve

On effective treatment, people living with HIV can thrive. They can achieve their goals and live a long and happy life. There are many misconceptions about what it means to be HIV positive. Each experience is unique; how each person copes with their diagnosis will be different.

Why We Serve Them

Despite game-changing medical advances in HIV treatment, fear about HIV transmission persists today. Living with HIV can be a draining experience. People living with HIV may experience stress and worry after diagnosis. They may face judgement, rejection, or discrimination from others. Or, if they choose not to tell those within their lives, they may become isolated. People living with HIV can also face discrimination from healthcare professionals, that can stigmatize, blame, or not address patients' concerns.

Did you know?

There are approximately 7,702 known HIV diagnoses in Alberta, with 190 new diagnoses in 2020.

In Canada an estimated 91% of persons on HIV treatment have a suppressed viral load.

A survey of people living with HIV found:

58% decided not to have sex because of their HIV status.
50% reported their HIV status negatively impacted their relationships.
22% worry that healthcare workers won’t listen to their concerns.
10% were advised by healthcare workers not to have sex because of their status.

People use substances for many reasons, and all substances have both positive and negative effects. Despite misconceptions, most people who use substances do not experience problems. In some circumstances, substance use can become dependent. An unhealthy relationship with substances may be harmful to one’s health and legal vulnerability. Good relationships can be experimental and recreational.

Substance use is a common trait among people from many walks of life, and in every community. The voices of people with lived and living experience using substances are unique. No one else can speak about what their experience feels like and what effect substances have on their lives.

Why We Serve Them

While substance use can be positive, other things can affect a person's ability to deal with substance-related harm. Poverty, racism, isolation, trauma, sex-based discrimination, and other inequalities worsen health outcomes. Because of this, people who use injection substances are at increased risk of HIV and other STBBI.

Facts

3.6% of Canadians report using an illicit substance

The average age of first use of an illicit substance is 19 in Canada

Most people who use substances who went to hospital after an overdose reported negative experiences with health-care providers, including experiences of stigma and discrimination from hospital staff.

Hepatitis C is more prevalent among people who inject drugs than in any other group.

66.0% of people who inject drugs and 28.5% of people who formerly injected drugs had hepatitis C.

Sex workers are adults who consensually exchange sexual services for money or goods. Sex workers range in age, sexual orientation, gender expressions, education, and income levels, as well as racial and cultural origins. Most of the sex work in Canada takes place in private settings. Such as escort services, massage parlours, hotels/motels, and homes.

Sex work is work. It can be empowering to have autonomy. Sex workers can oversee their wages, have flexible hours, a high income, and no education/experience necessary. Other job barriers, such as a criminal record or a physical disability, can be avoided.

Individuals make decisions based on what they believe is best for them in the situation they are in. Yet, this does not mean that sex work is always an empowering experience.

Sex workers deserve safety and the same labour and human rights and protections as any other person in Canada.

SafeLink Alberta's SHIFT program is an innovative initiative designed to support individuals who are involved in sex work in Alberta, Canada. The program recognizes the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that sex workers face and aims to provide them with a safe and supportive environment to access a range of services, including counseling, education, advocacy, and outreach. SHIFT works towards empowering sex workers to make informed decisions about their lives, health, and well-being, while also advocating for their rights and raising awareness about the issues that impact their lives. Through its comprehensive approach, the SHIFT program seeks to promote the dignity and autonomy of sex workers and reduce the harms associated with their work.

Visit the SHIFT Program Page

Why We Serve Them

The risk of HIV and/or other STBBIs transmission increases with number of sexual partners. While sex workers may have a greater number of sexual partners, the prevalence of HIV and STBBIs among Canadian sex workers is no greater than in the general population. Sex workers are well-versed in prevention and take efforts to reduce their risk.

Stigma, isolation, and harmful regulations often restrict sex workers' ability to protect themselves.

In Canada, selling sex has always been legal. Extra rules make it very hard to buy or sell sex without infringing another law. These regulations hinder communication, supportive coworkers, and continue to perpetuate stigma.

These risks are not inherent to sex work, but instead are a consequence of continued marginalization.

Facts

The average age a sex worker sells their first sexual service is 26.

The average sex worker is Canadian born, Caucasian woman in her 30s or 40s with some post-secondary education.

97% of sex workers have been tested for HIV.

65% of sex buyers used in-call services, 55% visited massage parlours, 39% used out-call services, while only 17% bought sex on the street

The African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) populations in Alberta are diverse. Each community has its own culture, languages, and points of view. Jamaican and Nigerian are among the most common cultural origins in the Prairie provinces' Black population. The main mother tongue for these communities is English, French, Somali, Amharic, and Tigrigna.

Why We Serve Them

ACB communities face significant stigma based on gender, race, and sexual orientation. Each of these experiences are barriers to HIV and STBBI prevention. People in the community face external stigma, as well as stigma from their peers. Religious beliefs and customs, homophobia, and silence surrounding sexuality create barriers. Fear in the community can also isolate people living with HIV. This judgement may discourage them from seeking much-needed support.

Did you know?

The fastest growing Black population in Canada is in Alberta, where it has more than quadrupled in size between 1996 and 2016.

Alberta holds 10% of Canada’s Black population.

63% of Black people in Alberta are first generation newcomers

Black people made up 37% of new diagnoses of HIV in Alberta.

From time immemorial, southern Alberta has been the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, the Tsuut'ina and the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations. It also borders the land of the Cree, Sioux, and the Saulteaux bands of the Ojibwa peoples. In addition to the homelands of the Métis Nation within Region III.

Indigenous peoples, communities, and cultures are strong. They have survived and resisted hundreds of years of ongoing colonial systemic violence. In the face of such persecution, Indigenous peoples, languages, cultures, and traditions have not only survived, but have also been revitalized. This is thanks to the guidance of Elders, and Indigenous knowledge and ceremonies passed down through generations.

Why We Serve Them

Stigma and discrimination, the legacy of forced displacements, abuse, and disruption of traditional culture in residential schools, and the related intergenerational trauma continue to have a severe influence on Indigenous peoples' health and well-being in Canada.

Facts

7.6% of the Albertan population is Indigenous.

Indigenous People are 2.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV and 5 times more likely to contract HCV in Canada.

In Alberta, First Nations Peoples made up 6% of its population, but represented 22% of all opioid poisoning deaths from January to June 2020.

SafeLink Alberta has had a close connection with the Gay, Bi, Trans, and Queer (GBTQ+) community since its start as AIDS Calgary in 1983, when the community was deeply affected by the HIV epidemic. The AIDS Calgary Awareness Association was the forerunner to SafeLink Alberta.

We welcome individuals of all gender identity and expressions.

Why We Serve Them

The GBTQ+ community continues to face stigma based on their sexual or gender identity. This contributes to a high number of those diagnosed or living with HIV in Alberta. Experiences of discrimination also contribute to poor mental health and problematic drug use. Many GBTQ+ people experience societal marginalization that may make it difficult to get the support they need.

Did you know?

While only making up an estimated 2-7% of the total male population, GBT2Q still account for approximately 50% of new HIV infections

We serve people who are pregnant and experiencing barriers related to substance use, mental health, housing, and interpersonal violence in Medicine Hat through our Well Program.

These people might be experiencing pregnancy, might need support accessing birth control or might need support in working with Child and Family Services. Substance users face a lot of stigma, and pregnant women who are using substances are especially stigmatized. The Well team supports participants to ensure they receive appropriate medical care, which is especially important for our pregnant participants.

Q: What is SafeLink Alberta and who can access their services?

A: SafeLink Alberta is an organization that offers low barrier programs and services to individuals engaged in sexual activity or substance use in Calgary, Medicine Hat, and surrounding areas. Their services are available to anyone in these areas without entry or admission requirements, except for case management and peer support.

Q: Are there any costs associated with accessing services from SafeLink Alberta?

A: No, all services provided by SafeLink Alberta are available at no cost.

Q: Why does SafeLink Alberta offer services specifically for individuals engaged in sexual activity or substance use?

A: SafeLink Alberta aims to reduce transmission of sexually transmitted and blood borne infections such as HIV and hepatitis C, as well as reduce other harmful impacts of sexual activity and substance use such as drug toxicity deaths. They provide dedicated and individualized support services for these key populations to achieve these goals.

Q: What kind of services does SafeLink Alberta offer to individuals engaged in sexual activity or substance use?

A: SafeLink Alberta offers a variety of services to individuals engaged in sexual activity or substance use, including safer supplies, STI/HIV testing and treatment, emotional support, referrals to other community resources, and education on safer sex and drug use practices.

Q: How can individuals access services from SafeLink Alberta?

A: Individuals can access services from SafeLink Alberta by visiting their drop-in centre in Calgary or by contacting them through phone, email, or social media. All services, except for case management and peer support, are available without entry or admission requirements and at no cost. SafeLink Alberta also offers mobile outreach services for individuals who may face barriers to accessing their drop-in centre.