Downtown Eastside residents to protest a triple screw by the city
Vancouver, BC, Unceded Coast Salish Territories – On August 2, 2016, Mayor Gregor Robertson signed an agreement with Downtown Eastside residents for 100% welfare and pension rate, community-controlled social housing at 58 W Hastings. Since then, the city has reneged on its promise to the community. In response, DTES residents will be holding a press conference and action to protest what they call a triple screw:
 First Screw
It is now the end of October 2017 and the city and Chinatown Foundation are planning an open house for their proposal for the site which does NOT include 100% welfare/pension rate, community-controlled social housing. According to a memo from city staff, the current plan is for only one/third of the housing to be affordable to people on welfare and disability, plus, the bottom 3 floors, which could be used to house homeless DTES residents, will be used for a health facility for Vancouver Coastal Health and stores. 1200 homeless DTES residents desperately need housing yet, the city is using a site that could potentially house 300 people to house only about 80 low-income people.
- Second Screw
The city set the date for the open house on their proposal on welfare cheque day when the low-income people most impacted by the future development will be unable to come.
- Third Screw
When Our Homes Can’t Wait pointed out that the open house was on cheque day, the city scheduled another open house for Oct. 30 at 4 pm on the same day as the 105 Keefer Development Permit Board Meeting, excluding the many community members who have been organizing to attend the 105 Keefer meeting.
Attend the news conference and protest to hear residents speak out against the city's plan for 58 W. Hastings. The news conference will start at 3:30 pm at 58 W. Hastings. From there, Our Homes Can't Wait will march to the rezoning open house for 58 W. Hastings at the Woodwards Atrium on 333 Abbott Street.
What: News conference and protest
When: 3:30 pm, Wednesday, October 25th
Where: Start at 58 W. Hastings (right across from Army Navy store), Open house at Woodwards Atrium (333 Abbott Street)
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About Our Homes Can't Wait Coalition
Our Homes Can’t Wait is a coalition of groups that want more social housing in the Downtown Eastside. The Our Homes Can’t Wait campaign and the community vision for 58 W Hastings has so far been endorsed by Carnegie Community Action Project, Carnegie Community Centre Association, The Drug Users Resource Centre, Gallery Gachet, Alliance Against Displacement, Carnegie African Descent Group, Vancouver IWW, COSCO Council of Senior Citizens’ Organizations of B.C., Union Gospel Mission, Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, WAHRS – Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, First United – Vancouver Downtown Eastside, Pivot Legal Society, Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, Chinatown Concern Group 唐人街關注組, Chinatown Action Group 華埠行動小組, Aboriginal Front Door, and Downtown Eastside SRO Collaborative
Media Contact
Aiyanas Ormond, OHCW Organizer
Phone: 604-315-8766
Email: aiyanas@vandu.org
Lenee Son, OHCW Organizer
Phone: 604-828-7183
Email: lenee@carnegieaction.org
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