We Are
FIRST UNITED
For 140 years, we’ve sough to build better futures in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside by providing essential services, community connection, and healing.
We Are
FIRST UNITED
For 140 years, we’ve sough to build better futures in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside by providing essential services, community connection, and healing.
Move First Forward
Buy a Brick
When you buy a symbolic brick for $50, you’ll help inspire healing and possibility in the neighbourhood and put reconciliation into action.
How We Help
We seek a just society by nurturing each person’s spirit through community services, 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, community connection, and healing. We provide direct support to our neighbours in the Downtown Eastside and advocate for dignity, belonging, and justice for the community.
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Latest news
DTES charity receives $3.5 million donation for redevelopment project to open in June
Date 30 Apr, 2026
Category First Forward, Redevelopment
A private foundation has donated $3.5 million to FIRST UNITED’s redevelopment project, scheduled to open in June. This transformational gift will support the construction of four floors of purpose-built community amenity space in the Downtown Eastside. This gift comes on top of the foundation’s previous leadership gift of $10 million at the outset of the […]
What I learned about generosity from the DTES
Date 6 Apr, 2026
Category Uncategorized
Message from Amanda Burrows, Executive Director, on Easter Monday At Easter, we’re reminded of powerful acts of love and generosity. At FIRST UNITED, I see those moments often in the Downtown Eastside. They don’t always make headlines, but they speak deeply to the humanity and generosity that live in this community. I want to share […]
How long-standing change is made
Date 2 Apr, 2026
Category Uncategorized
By Rev. Lauren Sanders, Spiritual Care Manager As the Lenten Season ends somberly on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, we reflect on the commitment of Lent: self-reflection, interconnection, and change. In the Christian calendar, Lent is a time to rest and for spiritual renewal: breathe deeply, ground ourselves, change spiritual practices that don’t work for […]
Attend an Event
Join us for virtual and in-person events to learn more about FIRST and connect with our community.