Healing Our Communities

Our vision is a neighbourhood where everyone’s worth is celebrated and all people thrive.

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We Are

FIRST UNITED

For over 135 years, we’ve been on a mission to seek a just society by nurturing each person’s spirit through ministry, housing, advocacy, and community service.

How We Help

We seek a just society by nurturing each person’s spirit through community services, housing, advocacy, and ministry in the face of the often-intersecting challenges of extreme poverty, historical and personal trauma, mental illness, and oppression in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

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How You Help

Be a part of building better futures through our Community Giving Program, volunteering, attending an event, or subscribing to our newsletter. However you choose to get involved, you can help us remain agile and responsive and meet the most pressing needs of our time.

How You Can Help

A Sanctuary Within our Community

We are on the frontlines

We operate from a harm reduction perspective to meet our community’s needs and provide essential services, connection and healing. As a low barrier service provider, we welcome and affirm every individual from all walks of life without exception.
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Our Work

We’re building better futures by responding to the most pressing needs of our community: providing essential services, connection, and healing. We provide direct support to our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside and advocate for compassion, dignity, and justice for the community.

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Latest news

This Place for Displaced

Date 12 Jul, 2024

Category Blog, Programs & Services

When folks come to us for shelter, we want them to feel welcome and that they belong. That was the idea behind commissioning artwork for our shelter— to make it feel more like a home and less like an institution. To achieve this, we commissioned a piece by Downtown Eastside artist Rickie “Sugars” that now […]

Planning for Climate Resiliency

Date 12 Jul, 2024

Category Blog, Redevelopment

When planning the design of our new building, we couldn’t ignore the current and future effects of climate change, especially considering the impact that we want the building to have in the Downtown Eastside for generations to come. Extreme weather like intense rain and flooding, severe cold snaps, oppressive heat domes, and wildfire smoke poses […]

From Shelter to Housing

Date 12 Jul, 2024

Category Blog, Programs & Services

Move out days—when shelter residents move out of their shelter pod and into a permanent housing unit—are special ones. Last year, we helped place 18 residents into long-term housing. On move out days, Stephanie Kallstrom, Case Planner, along with a shelter resource worker, help the resident pack up their belongings and drive them to their […]

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Join us for virtual and in-person events to learn more about FIRST and connect with our community.