Unhealthy and suffering: Vancouver's downtown Eastside residents
For some Vancouverites, health isn't about getting a daily does of yoga, or managing their carbs; it's about finding a place to sleep, avoiding street fights and managing disease and drug addiction.
The city is buzzing with Olympic pride. The torch passes through surrounding cities this week on it's way to the opening ceremonies. Opening ceremonies that take place just two blocks from Vancouver's downtown eastside, an area where basic health and safety is neglected as we prepare for the games.
Some important initiatives were passed, and affordable housing is certainly better than it was. Mayor Sam Sullivan said the city is in the golden age of social housing. "We are seeing more investment in social and supportive housing than ever in the history of the city." Still, we're making the news, and it's not for the outstanding care we show to our residents. International papers, including the Sunday Times of Australia, and The Daily News of Egypt are taking notice. The New York Times paints an embarrassing picture: "By bidding for the Olympics, Vancouver invited the world to visit. Now city officials are trying to redirect the international news media spotlight from this blighted neighborhood in the shadows of the picturesque North Shore Mountains."
Drug trafficking, prostitution, neglected mental illness, untreated disease and abuse riddle the streets of the downtown east side. These problems are not new, Vancouver has always struggled to care for its homeless population, and so many hard working groups do. Shelter workers, street ministry representatives, and change advocates all work tirelessly for the revitalization of the poorest neighborhood in the city.
The Downtown East Side Revitalization Group calls this area "a community rich in history, architecture, and diverse groups of people". Having fallen deeply into the complex issues that plague urban city neighbourhoods, the revitalization group aims to change that. In partnership with Health Canada, new programs have been launched to support this community. Despite the initiatives, the neighbourhood is still distressed.
Residents are displaced amongst the Olympic banners. The Vancouver Sun tells William Dawson's story, and brings to light a widespread fear that Vancouver's homeless will be jailed for the duration of the games. The National Post brings us Anne-Marie Monks, a 62-year-old homeless woman who was offered, by the government, a one-way bus ticket to visit her daughter in Kamloops.
We're reminded of the scandals uncovered during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where horrifying measures were taken to cover up their local homeless issues. Vancouver hasn't gone this far, and to our credit, many initiatives have been taken, but with 78% more homeless people now than in 2005, local advocates who had hoped that the pending games would spark some real change are saddened at the result.
On February 3rd, local groups including VANDU, the Carnegie Community Action Project, Raise the Rates, Streams of Justice, and the BC Persons with AIDS Society put on a "Poverty Olympics" aimed at raising awareness about the major issues scourging the downtown eastside. Residents packed the local library to show their support. The Dominion covers the story, telling of UN criticisms, and concerned citizens. Clearly they cannot impact major change this close to the games, all manpower and dollars are earmarked, but they hope to have eyes on the problem and force change that way.
Information booths and visitor centers will encourage our guest to see the historic buildings, the romantic skyline and the stunning coast. They will tell a story about the Vancouver East side that highlights the changes that have been made and tells of plans for revitalizations.
We're not fooling anyone, the world knows; Vancouverites are suffering, and we're spinning the story.
- Francesca Clarke -
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