Take back the streets - for the people who need it most right now.

Additional space is desperately needed around Vancouver to facilitate physical distancing. More so than ever, we need wider sidewalks, fewer lanes of traffic - and in some streets - no traffic at all. The Downtown Eastside, the epicentre of homelessness and poverty in our city, feels this most strongly. To stop COVID-19 from spreading, we need road and lane closures in the DTES. We need it to be peer-managed, and done in consultation with service-providers who know this community best. 

Please send this letter to the City of Vancouver - it will go directly to the Mayor and 10 councillors. 

We know that more public space isn't the only answer to helping our city's most vulnerable - housing for the homeless is crucial right now. We encourage you to also participate in COPE's letter writing campaign to the BC Government asking for hotel rooms for the homeless. 

This campaign and the letter below is a result of collaboration and consultation with several DTES service-providers. We'd especially like to thank Fiona York of the Carnegie Community Action Project for helping us make so many connections. 

Please note: your information is not stored, and we will not contact you without your permission. 

<p>We call for action by the City of Vancouver to relieve sidewalk crowding and enable physical distancing in the Downtown Eastside by closing or partially closing some streets.</p> <p>Despite the need to practice physical distancing, many people in the DTES, are unable to do so. Closures of public spaces and restrictions on services have worsened sidewalk crowding. Our community needs more space to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p>We’re calling for</p> <ul> <li>Street closures in the DTES to facilitate physical distancing in the busiest areas: E. Hastings from Main Street to Carrall Street, Carrall Street from E. Cordova to E. Hastings, and E. Hastings from Gore Ave to Main Street.
</li> <li>That street closures and physical distancing are maintained and monitored through peer support, not police. Increased VPD presence in the DTES will only further traumatize the community and result in people congregating elsewhere.
</li> <li>That blocks used by street-based sex workers such as E. Hastings from Gore Ave to Hawks Ave remain open or partially open as these workers already face serious financial hardship and increasing danger during the pandemic.
</li> <li>That CoV staff consults with DTES service providers to create a plan for street closures and management in the interests of the community, while allowing access for transit and first responders.
</li> </ul> <p>Streets are public space, and in a time when driving is significantly reduced, this public space must be reclaimed for DTES people so they have a chance to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.</p> <p id="sign_off" class="mceNonEditable">Sincerely,</p>

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