News

First United acknowledges today’s announcement that the Province has appointed former Mayor and Senator Larry Campbell to convene and coordinate partners in the Downtown Eastside. The Downtown Eastside is a vibrant community of resilient and resourceful people who deserve real, lasting solutions to homelessness and drug overdose crises. We know too well that efforts in the past have sometimes faltered because they were not sufficiently grounded in community leadership and experience, transparency, or accountability. For this new appointment to succeed, it must be different.

“I’m hopeful this appointment signals a genuine commitment to solutions led by the community in the Downtown Eastside, in collaboration across governments. With someone who has experience in the DTES and navigating complex systems, and with transparency and accountability, this role can help strengthen and not replace, our strong community leadership. What matters most now is bold action: expanding safe supply, voluntary treatment options and safe, secure, affordable housing. We’ve learned from past efforts that process and communication matter. My hope is that this appointment will amplify Indigenous- and peer-led solutions and move us past consultation toward lasting change.”
— Amanda Burrows, Executive Director, First United

As an organization that has stood with this community for 140 years, First United will engage with this process in good faith, while holding firm to the principles that guide our work: dignity, belonging and  justice. We believe:

• Solutions must be community-led and centre Indigenous and peer leadership.
• This role must function as a bridge between governments and community, not as a replacement for the voices of those most impacted.
• The work must move beyond consultation to bold, concrete action on safe supply, voluntary treatment options and truly affordable housing.
• Community safety must be defined by those who live and work here. True community safety means acknowledging that structural and systemic factors, such as poverty, lack of housing, inequity, racism, economic exclusion, and insufficient support for mental health challenges, are drivers of violence and harm. When safety is grounded in dignity and stability, everyone benefits.
• Transparency and accountability are essential for building trust, and for ensuring that this appointment strengthens and doesn’t undermine current support and services.

We are hopeful this marks a reset: a chance to learn from past challenges and move toward meaningful change in the Downtown Eastside. First United is committed to being a partner in that effort, and to ensuring that the people of this community see action for a neighbourhood where every person’s worth is celebrated and all people thrive.