401 Main Street Vancouver Canada V6A 2T7
Statement from the Board of Directors "Given the Covid 19 pandemic and the safety issues this disease creates, the Board of Directors of the Carnegie Community Centre Association supports the Province and the City's initiatives to provide temporary housing for campers from Oppenheimer Park. Providing housing in hotels that are currently empty is a good short-term strategy and we expect that housing will be available for these homeless residents when the Covid 19 pandemic is brought under control. We urge the province to begin putting housing in place immediately for the many other homeless people who are currently living on the streets of the DTES. Oppenheimer Park is a vital resource for all people living in the Oppenheimer District. It is the only pocket park in the neighbourhood; Children, seniors and those who are homeless or living in sub-standard housing have historically found support and sustenance in the park. Housing for all homeless people is necessary so that the park can be returned to its former use as a safe gathering place for all members of our community. " The Board is an elected group of 10-12 people who volunteer. It is a non-profit association and works to make Carnegie Centre and the surrounding community a good place to live and grow. The growth also includes the homeless people and those living in substandard housing in SROs and the Carnegie Association supports efforts of many individuals and groups to improve the conditions in our neighbourhood. Oppenheimer Park is one of the few green spaces in the Downtown Eastside and is open to everyone, yet the need for decent housing or just a safe space caused
(604) 665-2289
many people to take up residence in the park. In 2014 the tents occupied Oppenheimer for some months, and it was eventually cleared of campers as fall came. The hope then was that the powersthat-be would have the political will to aggressively build and provide housing for the increasing number of people becoming homeless. Initiatives and projects fell short as homelessness increased. Dilapidated hotels like the Balmoral and Regent were closed and replacement housing was lacking .. People took up residence in the park again and, willy-nilly, made people living in the surrounding area afraid to go there. Ongoing reports and incidents of violence and predation increased this unease, with efforts to find housing solutions hampered by the condemnation of campers. Many of those camping in Oppenheimer Park now have temporary housing. This is good but the operative word is 'temporary' with no guarantee of decent housing when the government stops paying the bill. The Carnegie Community Centre Association strongly demands that housing and supports be in place when this pandemic is brought under control. We cannot go back to business as usual with nothing ready and only unrest and retaliation waiting as fall and winter approach. Homelessness is a visible symptom of injustice and the purchasing power of indigent residents must be increased. Without economic justice there can be no social justice. ByPAULR
TAYLOR
COMMUNITY CENTRE SERVICES
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Homelessness Services
Location Phone Number
604-665-2220
604-665-2391
604-665-3075
Everyday:
Everyday:
Everyday:
9am-8pm
9:15 am - 6:30 pm
9:15 am-5:30 pm
9 am-n am
9:30 am-11 am
10 am -12 noon
$2.00 Lunch
12 noon-4 pm
12:30 pm - 2 pm
1 pm-2:30 pm
$2.00 Dinner
5 pm-8 pm
5 pm-6:30 pm
3. pm - 5:30 pm
Hours of Operation $2.00 Breakfast
Daily drop off: Free Laundry
not available
9:15am -9:45 am 12:15 pm -12:45 pm 3:15pm-3:45 pm
Mon - Fri drop off: 9:15 am-l0 am 12:15 pm -1 pm
Daily sign up: Free Showers
not available
Washrooms
not available
Daily between:
9:15 am-9:45am 12:15pm -12:45 pm 3:15pm-3:45 pm
10:30 am - 5:15pm
9:30 am - 5:30 pm
9:15 am-5:30 pm
UPDATE ABOUT COVID-19 .
The Province of BC has moved into 'Phase 2' of COVID-19. This means that while the virus is still spreading, some rules have been relaxed and certain businesses that were shut can now reopen if they take steps to keep their patrons and staff safe. It is still very important that you: • Wash your hands for 20 seconds on a regular basis • Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow • Stay at least 2 metres apart from' other people
The City is working hard to try and expand access to Carnegie, Gathering Place and Evelyne Sailer Centres as soon as possible in a way that is safe for all of our patrons and staff. We will be expanding services and access in a phased way and when we do reopen, our services and buildings may look a little bit different as we adjust to updated health guidelines. We will provide you with an update as soon as possible. For now, you can speak with a staff person on site or visit vaneouver.ea/eovid19 for more information.
• Do not meet in large groups Carnegie Centre, Evelyne Sailer and The Gathering Place continue tobe here for you. See reverse for the services we are currently providing.
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Feeling isolated and needing someone to talk to?
Having trouble with the everchanging resources during the COVID-19 crisis?
Our peers can help! How it Works: 1.Provide a name, and phone number of the person looking for support 2. We will assign one of our peers to each member 3. Our peers will continue to call on a regular basis, based on your needs. For more information,
contact CallToEmpower@gmail.com
The provincial government is setting side $200,000 to provide supports and paid work experience for residents of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. The funding will be used to hire 40 residents over six months for roles that will support others living in one ofthe city's most vulnerable communities. The jobs they'll do include providing information and awareness on COVID-19-related health measures, and helping with access to sanitation, food, housing and health services. And they'll be tasked with providing information on other government supports and resources. Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, B.C.'s minister of advanced education, skills and training said the money for the community-based support program comes from the Canada-B.C. Workforce Development Agreement. Melanie Mark said peers are best equipped to understand residents' needs, which she described as being "complex and diverse" in the Downtown Eastside. "Many of these individuals were failed by the residential school system, are immune compromised, and are struggling with mental health and addictions," she said. "For many people in the Downtown Eastside, their peers are their pnly family and source of strength." Calling it a "unique grassroots approach," Mark said the paid experience will give workers the skills and knowledge they need for future jobs. The provincially-funded program builds on work already done by the Eastside Movement for Business and Economic Renewal Society. The society, which goes by the acronym EMBERS, is a registered charity with a mission to create employment opportunities for people with low incomes. EMBERS is at 57 E Hastings [620-4587] and at 310-111 W Hastings [692-0781]
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