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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 project. Their total $13.5 million contribution is the largest direct donation to a United Church congregation or project in Canada.

FIRST UNITED, a social service provide that has operated for 140 years, has been redeveloping its site at the corner of Gore and Hastings Streets since 2022. The 11-storey building will include four floors of FIRST UNITED programs and services and seven floors of deeply affordable social and supportive housing for Indigenous people. The housing will be operated by Lu’ma Native Housing Society.

The private foundation’s latest commitment comes at the end of the organization’s capital campaign and acts as a challenge to other donors and philanthropists to support it. The foundation has pledged to give $3.5 million if the charity can raise the remaining $1.2 million by May 31, in time for the building to open.

The total project cost is $94 million. FIRST UNITED, as owner-developer, is raising $39 million through its capital campaign that launched in 2021 for the community service space. They also helped secure the housing component that was funded through contributions from all three levels of government, with the remaining portion financed through a mortgage that will be carried by Lu’ma Native Housing Society, the housing operator.

“This transformational gift puts us well ahead of our deadline of December 2027 to raise all funds and within arm’s reach of meeting our $39 million goal to complete our building and open debt-free in June. We are energized and confident we can raise the remaining 2% of funds needed by May 31 with this amazing challenge from the donor. Last week, a report went to City Council about the 2025 Homeless Count that detailed a 12% increase in homelessness in our city. Our new building will address that dire need and be a community centre that provides dignity, belonging and justice to thousands annually.” -Amanda Burrows, Executive Director, FIRST UNITED

FIRST UNITED has already seen success with this challenge and only has $930,000 left to raise by the deadline.

“We are proud to even further support FIRST UNITED’s redevelopment project because we have seen over the years how they continue to meet the most pressing needs of Downtown Eastside residents and are leaders creating meaningful and sustainable change in and for the community. This building will help rejuvenate and transform the neighbourhood at a time when government action is lacking, and the need is urgent.  We hope that our challenge to essentially more than triple the impact of any gift will inspire other local philanthropists to take action with us.” -President, private foundation donor

FIRST UNITED’s new building will include showers and washrooms, a kitchen and dining hall, community hub, mail and phone services, a legal advocacy clinic, tax clinic, warming and cooling centre, women’s day sleeping, women’s and coed drop-in spaces, a footcare program, multifaith sacred space, and library, and incorporates Musequeam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh public art into the exterior of the building.

The building, located at 320 E. Hastings, will open to the public this June.