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.
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.
Moving
First Forward
Demand for our services has outgrown our space at 320 East Hastings.
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
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
BC Eviction Mapping: Justice Alongside Charity
Date 17 May, 2023
Category Advocacy, Blog
Last week we released our initial findings from the BC Eviction Mapping project. The project is the first of its kind in BC, and our first official systems change project that challenges the systems that keep people trapped in cycles of poverty, homelessness, and marginalization. Work on this project began almost a year ago—a testament […]
72, on a pension, and facing eviction
Date 24 Mar, 2023
Category Blog
Imagine being 72, on a pension, and suddenly being evicted from your home of 11 years. What would you do? As part of our eviction-mapping project, we recently spoke to a woman on Vancouver Island who was exactly in that position: “It’s been horrible. I’ve never had to do this before. I’ve been here for 11 years. […]
Downtown Eastside charity FIRST UNITED featured on Nicola Wealth Podcast
Date 13 Mar, 2023
Category Blog, First Forward, Redevelopment
Listen to this February edition of the Nicola Wealth podcast featuring FIRST UNITED’s Interim Executive Director Amanda Burrows.
Attend an Event
Join us for virtual and in-person events to learn more about FIRST and connect with our community.