“If Vancouver was designing a new a plan to assist its neediest residents, most assuredly it would not herd them all into one small area bursting at the seams with helping agencies.”

In the past six years, Vancouver’s Pacific Centre has added secure storage spaces for nearly 150 bikes. With quotes from Kevin MacDuff of the VGH Cycling Centre.

“Teachers and physicians have noticed a significant rise in anxiety among young people, for example. According to Dr. Steve Mathias, the head of youth mental health programs for Vancouver Coastal Health, this can result in kids “self-medicating” themselves with drug use by their midteens.”

Five years ago, former B.C. Supreme Court judge William Davies issued a series of recommendations following the death of Frank Paul, an aboriginal man who died from hypothermia after police left him severely intoxicated in an East Vancouver alley. With comments from Dr. Ronald Joe, associate medical director of addictions for VCH.

“The story is not about how much all of this is costing, it should be about how do we stop the nonsense.” With mention of VCH funding for VANDU.

A list of 259 agencies and/or housing sites located in the Downtown Eastside or that provide services to the DTES.

Rob Turnbull, CEO of Streetohome, created a top 10 list of San Francisco ideas that could be adopted here to reduce homelessness. With mention of a need for VCH to work other organizations like the City of Vancouver.

Unlike Vancouver, where the majority of low-income housing is clumped in the Downtown Eastside, Toronto’s social housing was funded by the federal government several decades ago and spread out in neighbourhoods across the city.

Since their 17-year-old son, Kelty, took his own life in 2001 following battles with depression, the Dennehys have dedicated their lives to improving mental health resources for youth in Canada. With quotes from Dr. Christine Korol, a VGH psychologist.

St. Paul’s Hospital and other Providence Health Care facilities are now accepting visitors 24-7. With quotes from Shannon Parson, a nurse with PHC and from Anna Marie D’Angelo, a spokesperson for VCH.