Beautifying the Downtown Eastside (DTES)

Clean Streets

The City is committed to social sustainability as corporate mandate. It’s defined as ‘the attributes and resources individuals can contribute to their own well-being and to the well-being of the community as a whole.’ The Clean Streets project is an excellent example of social sustainability in action. By adding street cleaning shifts to the City’s regular cleaning services and lane cleaning by social enterprise organizations, the project not only leaves cleaner streets, but also provides jobs for those with barriers to traditional employment.  The project also includes education and enforcement. Social enterprises United We Can and Coast Mental Health Foundation provide employment for so-called micro-cleaning, or manual cleaning of streets with brooms and other devices.

The project has increased street cleaning in a 65-block area within the Great Beginnings area. As well, additional recycling has been provided by work crews at special events in partnership with social enterprise organizations. Work crews benefit from a greater sense of pride and self-esteem developed through work that makes a positive contribution to their own community. They are more prepared to seek and maintain work following their experience.

The program created 30 easy-to-access employment opportunities which were filled by 100 locals who had difficulty finding work. It has also created individual success stories. Like the sex trade worker who took up street cleaning and left sex work behind. Others got a social insurance card and bank account for the first time through their work. And many found that their overall health improved during the project.

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