ANALYSIS | Hope And Hardship In The Downtown Eastside

Photo Credit: Dan Touloget/Vancouver is Awesome

The Downtown Eastside is one of the oldest communities in Vancouver. When people first began settling in the city, the area was a hub for trade and commerce, drawing workers from around the world. Smaller communities emerged from the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, like Chinatown, Japantown, and Hogan’s Alley.

The neighbourhood has been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic; crime and homelessness rates have increased significantly. It accounts for 30 per cent of violent crime in Vancouver, despite representing three per cent of the city’s population and two per cent of its geographical area, according to Global News.

Businesses in the community have experienced the consequences. A London Drugs location in the Downtown Eastside recently closed down after reportedly losing over $10 million in stolen products since opening in 2009. “It’s one of the largest money-losing locations we have in our chain,” London Drugs President Clint Mahlman told Citynews Vancouver.

Of nine Downtown Eastside businesses surveyed, six agreed and three strongly agreed that the opioid crisis has increased operating costs. This complicates businesses’ finances and growth, as they must prioritize operating costs over advancements. Also, due to the opioid epidemic causing a negative viewpoint on the Downtown Eastside, businesses in the area may not be living up to their full potential, which leads to less profit.

However, business owners and support workers alike still agree that the Downtown Eastside is a vibrant, tight-knit community, with people caring and looking out for each other.

“There is a very strong sense of community. Businesses will go out their way to help each other,” Ross Lam, owner of Forum Appliances, said. “In Chinatown, if I don't have something, I will refer the customer to a store across the street or down the street. And other businesses will do the same.”

Allen, a financial aid worker for the Downtown Community Health Clinic (DCHC), added that, “Even though the population here is marginalized, everyone tends to help each other.”

Bobby, a clinical support worker for Vancouver Coastal Health, believes that what outsiders see in the media or when they visit the area contributes to the negative image of the Downtown Eastside.

“They don't understand the harm. They don’t understand that this is a home — that unfortunately, those born in this community stay in this community. They don't see that this is the only community where there is support for children, adults, addiction, and mental health. Where else are other people supposed to go if there is no support for them?”

Despite the risks, workers choose to stay because they believe in community values and the importance of their roles in serving the area. The sense of belonging and mutual support is what keeps people who work in the neighborhood going with good spirits.

“I have worked with folks who have killed people, assaulted people, and I have been hospitalized before by a client,” an outreach social worker at the DCHC said. “It's kind of what comes with the work unfortunately, but I think that every job has possible dangers and harm. You just have to weigh out why you want to work here versus the risks.”

The area’s residents see the effects of the opioid epidemic right outside their homes.

“I think [the opioid crisis] affects the way you perceive your safety. I think it definitely affects the way you think of the safety of your children,” Joe Topacio, a social service worker who has lived in the Downtown Eastside for 18 years, said. “You know they’re going to school nearby [...] and they’re starting to walk home from school and meet up with their friends. It definitely affects you, for sure. It's not great, but it is what it is.”

Topacio continued that he likes that despite the opioid crisis's harsh realities, the neighbourhood locals continue to support one another and strive to create a more compassionate and welcoming environment. “Not everybody in the community has challenges of homelessness and drug addiction, but we understand a lot of people have issues like that. I think we are pretty open-minded.”

The opioid crisis has had a significant impact on businesses and the community in the Downtown Eastside. Businesses experience more theft, higher costs of operation, and reduced profitability, with some being closed permanently. The crisis has increased negative perception and stigmatized the neighborhood.

But amidst these challenges, the resilience of the Downtown Eastside community peeks through. Neighbours, workers, and community organizations continue to show up every day with compassion and commitment to support one another, despite scarce resources and ongoing risk. Further government response, increased public education about the crisis, and ongoing movements toward safety and awareness will be instrumental in helping the Downtown Eastside not simply survive, but rebuild and thrive in the future.

This community cannot be defined only by the devastations of addiction and poverty; it is also a demonstration of strength, solidarity, and dedication to caring.