City Hall's 12th Avenue entrance

City of Vancouver reports progress on uplifting Downtown Eastside Motion

February 25 2025 –

Today, City Council received an update from staff on ongoing efforts to advance directions in the November 2023 approved Council motion, Uplifting the Downtown Eastside and Building Inclusive Communities that Work for All Residents (111 KB). The motion called for a range of actions to support improved social, economic and health outcomes for residents of the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and address the complex challenges they face. This includes efforts to increase supportive housing and services for those dealing with homelessness and mental health and substance use issues.

The report was received for information with an added motion, and highlights the City's work within its jurisdiction to support community and social economic development in the neighbourhood. It also points to the need for leadership, partnerships and collaboration from and with regional and senior governments. 

The DTES is one of Vancouver's oldest and culturally rich neighbourhoods. However, it is deeply impacted by the intensifying homelessness and mental health and substance use crises. These issues are worsened by a toxic drug supply, increasing poverty, the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of shelter and supportive housing across the region, and deteriorating Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing conditions. Staff shared actions being taken through focused City initiatives, collaborative efforts with community partners and identified areas for further consideration by senior government.

Key Highlights

  • Community Economic Development (CED) Hub: The City is working to develop a CED hub which includes an incubator kitchen, and indoor market. This 7,000 sq ft space will serve as a central space for low-barrier employment, skills development and entrepreneurship for the DTES community. The hub is part of a mixed-use, non-market housing project in development through partnership with PHS Community Services Society. It includes 158 housing units, 53 for families, with completion expected by August 2027. 
  • Mental Health and Substance Use Services: In 2023, City Council committed $8 million annually for three years to enhance mental health crisis response services through Vancouver Coast Health (VCH). This includes funding key initiatives such as the VCH’s Mobile Crisis De-Escalation Team, expanded police health partnership program (Car 87/88), and a newly established Indigenous Crisis Response Team. The City is requesting the Province fund these programs in the future. 
  • Housing and Shelter Supply: The City has deployed many sites for deeply affordable social and supportive housing and emergency shelters. Between 2017 and 2024, the City committed over fifty sites to enable the creation of approximately 1,400 supportive housing units and 4,700 social housing units citywide, including projects completed, under-construction and under development. Of these,13 sites and 1,265 units are in the DTES, including three sites for Temporary Modular Housing. Replacing aging SROs is a priority, with four publicly owned projects currently in various stages of conversion and redevelopment into self-contained social housing. The City is also exploring ways to increase social housing supply and speed up SRO replacement through updated zoning and policies, both within the DTES and across the city. Engagement to help inform potential housing and land use proposals is planned for the spring. 
  • Creating Economic Opportunities: The City introduced the Social Value Procurement Framework to increase economic opportunities for diverse social businesses in the City’s supply chain, including those owned by Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and other equity seeking groups. This tool has allocated $142 million to contracts with these groups, boosting local economic resilience and supporting initiatives and businesses that are often left out of mainstream opportunities. Additionally, the City provides over $3 million yearly in grants to non-profit organizations for micro-cleaning and public realm stewardship to create low-barrier jobs for local residents. 

Looking Ahead 

The City is focused on supporting lasting impacts that build on current progress. Key priorities include expanding affordable housing, replacing SROs, enhancing community wellness programs, and creating economic opportunities for residents across the city. By collaborating with community organizations, local businesses and all levels of government, the City aims to strengthen support systems for the DTES community.  

To learn more, read the Council report (760 KB).