What people in the DTES say will actually improve the neighbourhood

• Prioritize deeply affordable, safe, secure, and dignified purpose-built housing (including independent shelter-rate, supportive, senior, culturally appropriate, and family housing).

• Build housing without pushing people out of their community. Speed up new housing on the Balmoral lot, the Regent, the Gore and Hastings Temple, and the Keefer Rooms before redeveloping occupied SROs. 

• Enforce standards of maintenance in SROs and fund building repairs and pest control to make them livable in the decades that people will have to wait for new housing.

• Include community spaces in housing like rec rooms, community kitchens, and gardens.

• Provide air conditioned, universally accessible units that are at least 350 square feet and include a washroom and kitchen.

• Limit police involvement in the neighbourhood and support peer-to-peer restorative safety programs. 

• Make safe spaces for drug use, a regulated supply, and detox and treatment on-demand. 

• Increase work opportunities, education, and social assistance rates to at least $3,000 a month. Legalize street vending for people, like seniors, who can’t access these currently.

• Increase mental health support and peer outreach.

• Improve public space with trees, shade, benches, wastebins, washrooms, and recreation.

• Plan with community leadership and resident decision-making. “Nothing about us without us.” Maintain Government and service provider transparency and accountability.