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.
View all Programs
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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Sign up for email updates about announcements, invitations, and news about FIRST UNITED!
Latest news
Thank you for making CNOY26 the best one ever!
Date 5 Mar, 2026
Category Blog, Events
Our 2026 Coldest Night of the Year was a record-breaking event and it’s thanks to everybody who fundraised, volunteered, donated and raised awareness for our work in the Downtown Eastside! We’re excited to share that less than a week after CNOY, we’ve raised over $154,000 together, surpassing our initial goal by over $14,000! This year […]
We love our Communities of Faith!
Date 18 Dec, 2025
Category Uncategorized
This fall, we had the pleasure of visiting some of our Communities of Faith congregations. Communities of Faith have been vital supporters of our frontline work since the very beginning, responding to the call for justice and healing in the community. When FIRST UNITED initially started out as a small congregation 140 years ago, we […]
City of Vancouver Votes Against Affordable Housing and for Land Speculation
Date 17 Dec, 2025
Category Advocacy, Uncategorized
Last night, the City of Vancouver delivered its latest blow to the affordable housing crisis. After more than 300 people signed up to speak at the public hearing, largely in opposition, Council voted to change the zoning of the Downtown Eastside Oppenheimer District (DEOD) so that social housing will be reduced to just 20% of […]
Attend an Event
Join us for virtual and in-person events to learn more about FIRST and connect with our community.