When in crisis, how do you get help in this city? The Vancouver Downtown East Side (DTES) and Mount Pleasant (MPBIA) have always implicitly shared the same audience and demand for immigrant, refugee, youth and adult outreach programs. There are obviously lists of these, from crime prevention programs, from programs for youth with autism (or any other disability), to programs for single mothers, to employee outreach programs (VOEP), to outreach for individuals with HIV/Aids, among others. Currently, and what most people may not know, these two neighborhoods have more outreach programs than any other neighborhood in the Lower Mainland.
The purpose of this writeup, then, is to announce a wealth of information not only (1) to those who are in need of access to this information but also (2) to those in the position to disseminate this information to those who may need it. What better venue for such info than an online broadly-read site. This post - written from someone who lives on the DTES for years and is involved in it in a Legal, social, and personal capacity - is merely a summary of what’s out there, or at least a good place to start (i will provide a few links to some of these, not all).
The first thing EVERYONE in Vancouver should know is that there’s a four (4) legal-sized page list of outreach programs in the DTES, and it can be found at the Carnegie Centre (401 Main St., 604.665.2220). I should like to give you an idea of what this handout lists (in categorical order) and why it’s abolutely amazing and useful.
ACCOMODATIONS:
From FREE Accommodation (604.660.3194), Women’s Shelters (like Bridge Shelter), Youth Safe Houses (604.254.5847) like the Walden Safe House, Aboriginal Safe Houses (604.254.5147), and Safe Houses for men (Catholic Charities, The Haven, and the Belkin House).
ADVOCACY & SUPPORT
Advocacy & support groups like the AA (Alcoholic’s Anonymous), to BC Persons with AIDS Society (1107 Seymour, 604.681.2122), to Sex Trade Workers Outreach like WISH (604.669.9474), and to Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (604.683.8595).
FREE CLOTHING
A short list includes the Covenant House (575 Drake, 604.685.7474), Crabtree Corner (533 E. Hastings, 604.689.2808), D.E. Women’s Centre (302 E. Columbia, 604.681.8480), First United Church (320. E. Hastings, 604.681.8365), Franciscan Sisters (Men) (385 E. Cordova, 604.685.9987), Lifeline Outreach (3457 Fraser, 604.872.7334), and lastly the Union Gospel Mission (616 E. Cordova, 604.253.3323).
DETOX Services
Including Access Central, which will find a Detox centre right for you, at 1.866.658.1221. Among some of these are DEYAS Youth Dtox (b/w the ages of 13-24yrs) (432 E. Hastings, 604.251.7615), Women’s DEW Program (#202-1193 Kingsway, in Mt. Pleasant, 604.875.9575), and Youth Detox Options (1058 Seymour, 604.662.8858).
EMERGENCY Assistance
Including The Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention distress lines (604.872.3311), Kids Help Phone (24HRS, 604.1.800.668.8888), to Rape Crisis Centre (604.255.6344), among many others.
HEALTH CARE
Including D.E. Health Clinic (569 Powell St., 604.255.3151), Downtown South Clinic (1056 Seymour, 604.606.2640), Insite (Safe Injection site) (139 E. Hastings, 604.687.7483), to Reach Health Centre (1154 Commercial, 604.254.1354), among many others.
IDENTIFICATION
Including BCID Card & Driver’s License service centres (#254-800 Hornby or 2750 Commercial Dr., 604.661.2255), to the Bus Pass Program (604.682.0391 or 1.888.661.1566), to Indian Status Card services (#601-1138 Melville, 604.666.2059), or SIN Card services @ HRDC, #415-757 W. Hastings, 604.681.8253), among others.
LEGAL ADVICE
Including Access Justice (604.482.3195), to the Law Line (604.601.6100) which has alot of use every day, to PIVOT Legal Society (604.696.1322), among others.
FREE PHONES
These are pivotal for getting around and finding information, especially in crisis. These include DERA (12. E. Hastings, 604.682.0931), Health Contact Centre (166 E. Hastings, 604.658.1224), Lifeskills Centre (412 E. Cordova St., 604.678.8279), to the Women’s Centre (302 E. Columbia, 604.681.8480), among others.
JOB SEARCH Resources
www.bcjobs.ca, www.jobsincanada.ca, www.working.com, among others.
In short, a list is a list is a list but i hope this is a good place to start for those in need. 
PHOTO CREDIT is: Cheap & Dirty Productions.
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