The City Has a Housing Plan for the Downtown Eastside

But who is it good for?

This winter, Vancouver City Council will be voting on a plan that could gentrify the DTES. We’re helping build a city-wide movement to show them that there is a better way forward than market-rate mega- towers and police sweeps to make this city safer and healthier.

And they’ll find it in the heart of the DTES.

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Quick Facts

The DTES Oppenheimer District (DEOD) currently has zoning protections that:

  • Keep out speculative condos

  • Require new rental buildings to be at least 60% social housing

  • Require social housing to rent 33% of units to people on social assistance across the DTES

City staff proposed a plan that would reduce these protections to:

  • Let developers build up to 32-storey rental towers in the DEOD and Thornton Park

  • Only 20% would need to be social housing in these areas

  • Only 20% of the social housing would need to rent to people on social assistance across the DTES

They brought the proposal to the neighbourhood in May, and people weren’t happy.

We need a plan that aims to:

  • House the approximately 3,500 people who are unhoused in Vancouver

  • Replace or repair the 6,500 SRO units

  • Give people access to mental healthcare and a drug user programs that are evidence-based

  • Improve public spaces like parks, sidewalks, and rec centres for community use

  • Create more education and jobs programs for people with barriers to employment

Read more about what people in the DTES actually want

These crises aren’t unique to Vancouver, but it is an opportunity for Vancouver to lead meaningful solutions.

We’ve done it before.

How can you help?

We’re going to push city council to vote for a plan that actually addresses the needs of low-income people in Vancouver. Not by cutting a sliver out of massive investor-driven real estate projects, but by working with the community, housing experts, the province and federal government on a direct housing plan that aims to end homelessness.

You are essential for this to work

  • Speak at the public hearing this winter. We’ll let everyone know when it’s announced.

  • Write letters to city councillors or meet with them directly. Do this before Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Here’s a guide for letter writing.

  • Come to our town hall at the Japanese Language School on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 6pm. Here’s the poster!

  • Follow us on Instagram and reshare posts related to this campaign.

  • Reach out to us if your group wants to collaborate with us!

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