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- The Downtown Eastside needs more housing, but where’s the money coming from?
The Downtown Eastside needs more housing, but where’s the money coming from?
Senior governments haven't provided enough funding, so the city is shifting towards the private market to build more housing in the neighbourhood — but the city councillor who launched the change says it's going too far.
Geoff Sharpe & Nate Lewis
June 27, 2025
Good morning,
Nate with you today. As we get properly into summer (after this latest case of Junuary rain passes us by) lots of people take the opportunity to get outside, travel, and unplug from the news.
City council takes their own summer break in a month, so, while we’ll still keep bringing you all the news updates you need to stay informed about Vancouver, there are naturally fewer civic stories. With that in mind, we’ll be focusing a bit more on events, summer activities, and human-interest stories around town, especially neighbourhood-based ones. If you have a potential summer story, let us know!
We’ve also heard how much you value the bite-sized bits of news we pull together in the agenda, and I’ll be shortening things up on that front to match those hot weather appetites (I have a love of detail, as you may have noticed 🙃).
But as the rainclouds outside remind us, summer isn’t here in earnest yet. Today, we’ve got one more housing policy story for you, as housing affordability continues to be top of mind as the single biggest issue in Vancouver.
Let’s get into it.
— Nate Lewis, Vancity Lookout
As always, you can send your tips, leads, and story ideas to Nate at [email protected].
PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.
WEATHER
Friday: 15 🌡️ 12 | 🌧️
Saturday: 18 🌡️ 11 | 🌤️
Sunday: 21 🌡️ 15 | ☀️
Monday: 24 🌡️ 16 | ☀️
THE LOOKOUT RECOMMENDS
Food + wine event of the summer: Okay, it’s a bit pricey, but if you’re a food and wine lover, then this is not to be missed. On July 10, Botanist is hosting a multi-course meal from local chef Mike Robbins from AnnaLena and Massimo Piedimonte’s from Montreal’s Cabaret l’Enfer, which ranked as the 21st best restaurant in Canada. Space is limited so email [email protected] to book yours.
Free shows: You know what’s better than jazz music? Free jazz music. The Vancouver International Jazz Festival is on until July 1, and there are quite a few free shows left to check out across the city.
My favourite: West Coast Modernism is an architectural style I love to explore. And so I’m very excited to see West Coast Modern Week from July 8-13. There are film screenings, home tours and parties. Check it out here.
— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor
HOUSING
The Downtown Eastside needs more housing, but where’s the money coming from?
First United Church’s new housing and social services building is taking shape on the corner of Hastings and Gore in the Downtown Eastside / Nate Lewis
The Downtown Eastside (DTES) needs better housing, and more of it. Among the seemingly endless reports, plans, policies, and committees, it’s a premise that’s widely agreed on. The Canadian government has recognized that housing is a human right, and the City of Vancouver recently called on the province to do the same.
While there’s a shared understanding in principle, progress has been painfully slow. Only a handful of new subsidized housing developments have been built in the DTES over the past ten years, while the number of people without a home is growing.
Vancouver’s annual homeless count showed a 16 per cent increase between 2020 and 2023, and approximately 4,000 people in Vancouver don’t have housing, according to estimates by the Carnegie Housing Project.
There’s an “urgent need for housing and subsidized housing in our city, and particularly in the Downtown Eastside… there's just not been enough investment,” Councillor Rebecca Bligh told Vancity Lookout.
“I think what's been a failure of the [2014] Downtown Eastside [Area] Plan, [which was] well-intentioned but didn't work, is the high dependency on senior government funding,” Bligh said.
However, the actual results of housing construction under the area’s current requirements are mixed. With government and non-profit partners, the city was successful in creating 1,800 social and supportive housing units – 400 more than the 10-year target set out in 2014. Where the plan failed was in delivering market ownership and rental units, which the city set higher targets for and didn’t even reach 50 per cent of their goal by 2024, according to the Vancouver Sun.
The city is now looking to dramatically weaken its social housing requirements in favour of market housing in the DTES, in an attempt to incentivize development projects to proceed. It’s a proposal that’s caused major concern from neighbourhood residents, advocates, and non-profits.
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THE VANCOUVER NUMBER
$3,170
The average asking price for a two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver over the first three months of 2025. Do I even need to tell you that’s the highest in the country? ☹️ [Vancouver is Awesome]
THE AGENDA
🚒 A fire in a West End apartment building early on Thursday morning displaced 23 people and sent three of them to hospital for smoke inhalation. It’s not yet clear what caused the fire. [Global]
👀 For several years, a city building inspector used his position to benefit a private company that he also owned, an auditor’s report found. Even once city management knew about the conflict of interest, they didn’t act, allowing the situation to continue for many years. The report also found serious weaknesses in the city’s systems to prevent corruption. [Vancouver Sun]
🏥 Two months after 11 people were killed in the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy, six other victims are still in hospital, according to Vancouver police. [CityNews]
💸 Elections BC has announced the findings and penalties of their investigation into illegal campaign contributions during the 2022 municipal election. ABC Vancouver and Progress Vancouver, led by Mark Marrisen, were both fined over $10,000 for accepting and failing to return prohibited contributions. [The Tyee]
🚸 Officials are debunking online misinformation about changing traffic laws in Canada, saying there are no changes to things like the hours that school zone speeds are enforced. [CityNews]
🏢 There are about 500 new rental apartments now available in South Van near the Marine Drive Canada Line station. [Vancouver Sun]
🏒 East Van’s own Evander Kane is returning home after the Canucks traded for him this week. The 33-year-old veteran winger, who attended John Oliver Secondary and played for the Vancouver Giants as a teenager, brings toughness and scoring touch, but also comes with well-known risks. [Sportsnet]
Outside Vancouver
⛴️ The controversy over BC Ferries buying new four new electric ships from a Chinese company continues, with the province securing a $690 million loan from the federal government for the purchase. The financing was necessary to make the purchase, but the feds said they didn’t want to be involved after the deal was announced. [CBC]
FROM THE ARCHIVE
From dishwasher and punk rocker to city councillor: Sean Orr’s unique path to City Hall
Originally published May 9.
Sean Orr, one of Vancouver’s two new city councillors, had a backup plan if he didn’t win his seat. He’d simply go back to his day job as a dishwasher.
WEEKEND EVENT GUIDE
Theatre Under the Stars | Stanley Park's Malkin Bowl | June 27 to August 16, 2025 | Theatre Under the Stars presents its 2025 season of sweet dreams and big schemes with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Legally Blonde | Tickets from $35
Vancouver International Jazz Festival | Multiple venues | Through July 1 | The 40th anniversary of the jazz fest continues all weekend on Granville Island, including a full day of free concerts on July 1st | Learn more [Sponsored]
Eco-Art Fest | Douglas Fir Teaching Garden (Champlain Heights) | June 28, 10 am–2 pm | More info
Eastside Community Pride BBQ and Picnic | Grandview Park | June 28 at 11 am | Community BBQ with veggie dogs, drinks and music | $5 donation
Jann Arden – The Mixtape Tour | The Centre for Performing Arts | June 28 at 8 pm | Pop legend Jann Arden live in concert | Tickets $65
Queer Arts Festival | Various venues | Now until June 28 | Community art show, drag, concerts and more | Tickets various prices
Chinatown Tai Chi & Social | Chinatown Plaza Mall, 180 Keefer St | June 28, 1 pm | Tai chi workshop + community social time | Free
2025 Bandits Home Game 7 vs Sask | Langley Events Centre | June 28, 7 pm | Basketball + Filipino celebration game night | Tickets $15+
Buzzing Native Bees | Nature House, Stanley Park | June 28, 1:30 pm | Walk & talk on BC's 400 native bee species | Tickets $12+
Canada ‘Eh Show | The Improv Centre, Granville Island | July 1, 7 pm | Family-friendly sketch show celebrating all things Canadian | Tickets $28
Canada Together 2025 | Canada Place | July 1, 11 am | Music, citizenship ceremony, family fun, Indigenous market | Free
Cowboy Bebop Bebop Band | 1531 Johnston St. | July 1, 8:15 pm | Live jazz inspired by Cowboy Bebop soundtrack | Free
Greek Summer Fest on Boundary 2025 | 4541 Boundary Rd. | July 3–6 & July 10–13, 11 am | Greek food, music and dancing all day | Free
LindyBloom 2025 | Russian Hall, Strathcona | July 4–6 at 7 pm | Dance weekend with workshops, socials and live music | Tickets $205+
Khatsahlano Street Party 2025 | West 4th Avenue in Kits | July 5 at 11 am | Summer street party with music, art and vendors | Free
Vancouver Craft Beer and Wing Fest | 2901 E Hastings St. | July 12, 12 pm | 150+ breweries, food, cider and wine garden | Tickets $60+
Punchbowl Festival | PNE | July 26, 12 pm | Summer drinks, live music, and tacos | Tickets $31
Pleasant Day Festival | Mount Pleasant | Aug. 9, 12 pm | Live music, patios, beer gardens, food trucks | Free
Want to see your event here? You can purchase them through our self-service portal here.
COMMUNITY CORNER
What readers said about the police budget funding
We asked readers on Monday what they thought about the unclear process that lead to $5 million funding for the police to expand resources in the Downtown Eastside. Here’s how over 300 of you voted, and what you said:
“I live in Chinatown and the amount of crime and civic disorder is staggering I pay exorbitant taxes and don’t get the same safe neighbourhood as people in other parts of Vancouver.”
“Statistics Canada should independently verify all data from police departments in Canada.”
“I expect transparency from the mayor about how our dollars are spent. It is the police board's responsibility to oversee how operational dollars are allocated. They are in place to help avoid a situation where the mayor unilaterally approves a deal that is highly politicized. He is in a conflict of interest by sitting on the Board and he should step aside.”
“Its only 1% of their total annual budget so not unheard of that the process may not have been exact as thats not an abnormal variance/mid year change.”
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Formula 1 superstar and great-name-haver Lewis Hamilton was in Vancouver earlier this month. So of course he ran the seawall in a full lulu ‘fit (he became an athleisure ambassador earlier this year)
COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Hidden gem neighbourhoods? Not so sure about that. But this is the list according to Re/Max. [Urbanized]
Here’s a big list of Canada Day events throughout Metro Vancouver. [Vancouver is Awesome]
There’s a new wine bar in East Vancouver from the team behind Bar Susu. [Straight]
Somehow, this three-year-old was reunited with his orange stuffed toy. It’s a real heartwarming story about a stranger going above and beyond to help. [Vancouver is Awesome]
Kerrisdale Pool will be closed from June 30 until the fall, so get your swimming in before then. [COV]
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VANCOUVER GUESSER
Nate Lewis
This building, which looks like some sort of refurbished old manor or institution, sits in the middle of a city park. Can you tell me what neighbourhood it’s in? (Bonus points if you can share something about its history.)
Is it... |
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