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4REAL Vancouver

Eva Mendes in Vancouver

Season 1: Winter 2007 - Spring 2008 4REAL Vancouver

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4REAL is airing on National Geographic Channels International (not including Canada, U.S., and U.K.) in 166 countries and 34 languages. Please check local listings.

About Poverty, Homelessness, Addiction and Illness
in Downtown Eastside, Vancouver

Almost 5 million Canadians live in poverty. One in six Canadian children is poor (Make Poverty History, 2007).
Canada's child poverty rate of 15 percent is three times as high as the rates of Sweden, Norway or Finland (Make Poverty History, 2007).
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) has one of the lowest per capita incomes of any area in Canada.
The population of Vancouver is 600,000 and the metro area is home to about 2 million (City of Vancouver, 2008).
The DTES is Vancouver’s oldest community and includes the neighbourhoods of Chinatown, Gastown and Strathcona.
Estimates of the population of the Downtown Eastside vary from 3,500 to 10,000 depending on which neighbourhoods are included. The age range of the populations includes infants to seniors, with about half of the population 40 to 64 years of age and with a diverse ethnic mix of Asians, Europeans and Aboriginals (City of Vancouver, 2008).
The DTES has been called the “poorest postal code in Canada,” as it has very high rates of poverty, as well as drug addiction, prostitution and crime rates.
According to a study conducted by the United Nations, the DTES is “home to a hepatitis C (HCV) rate of just below 70 per cent and an HIV prevalence rate of an estimated 30 percent—the same as Botswana's” (UNFPA, 2007).
In 2008, Metro Vancouver’s initial homeless count found 2,592 people sleeping on the street or without a home. Many housing advocates agree that the true number of homeless people is much higher (Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia, 2008).
There has been significant growth in the number of homeless counted region-wide, almost doubling from 1,121 persons in 2002 to 2,174 persons in 2005 and increasing by 19 percent to 2,592 persons* in 2008. (SPARC BC, 2005 and 2008).
Since 2002, the number of street/service homeless people counted throughout the region has more than tripled (Intraspec, 2008). This is due compounding factors such as loss in low-income housing units, the approaching Olympics, gentrification, and rising rental rates (Pivot, 2006).
Between 2003 and 2005, despite the development of 99 new housing units, Vancouver incurred a net loss of 415 housing units for low-income singles (City of Vancouver, 2006).
When adjusted for inflation, the number of rooms available for someone on income assistance in the Downtown Eastside has fallen from 72 percent in 1992 to 21 percent in 2005.
Between 2002 and 2005 the cost of homelessness to Vancouver’s taxpayers rose 49 percent from $25,120,000 per homeless person to $51,460,000 (based on a B.C. Government cost assessment of services that include hospital, ambulance, police incarceration, emergency shelter and food aid) (Pivot, 2006).
According to government figures, it requires up to $40,000 per year per to provide the above services to a homeless person. In contrast, according to the City of Vancouver, the cost to provide supportive housing is between $7,300 and $13,370 per year, per person. Factoring in the cost of building housing units, it would cost between $22,000 and $28,000 per person per year to build social housing for those who are currently homeless (Pivot, 2006).
The provision of housing for those who are currently homeless would represent a savings to taxpayers of between $10,328,000 and $15,492,000 per homeless person per year. The overall human and social benefits of housing our homeless neighbours would be incalculable (Pivot, 2006).

kelly weiler

you inspired me

12/24/2009 8:12:18 AM

the show 2day really motivated me and help me deal with my life 2day. I just wish i new how to help more in my comunitie. i sarted with when you see people using drugs dont discriminate there people to and you have no idea what they have been through. I'm sure there hurt and saying hello makes them feel reconized. That can change there pespective and feel like the are noticed and worth fixing ther problems. This is how i help my mom and her twin sister, I just let here no i love and i supoprt her, but i do not alow her to call my when she's strung out in drug or alcohol, I dont like the way she is when shes high its gross

Todd Ma

good to know about hiphop in Vancouver

12/8/2009 1:37:37 PM

I'm from China, came to Canada 8yrs ago, really into rap music, mostly American Rap, some Asian hip hop music as well...as an art student and a chef desinger of an urban closing brand, I'm always interested in urban culture, especially music and art...it's great to find 4real...

Natalie

downtown eastside

1/30/2009 7:18:18 AM

it's pretty cool to learn more about that area, since i dont usually go there (actually i dont think i've ever been there). but anyways, i onced fundraised for the downtown eastside youth society and hope to help them. now that i get to learn more about that area, it would be interesting =)

katie foran

an eastside story

12/22/2008 9:45:50 AM

im so happy this program is out! living in vancity my whole life, i see these jaw-dropping issues on a daily basis, and do not want to stand by watching anymore. Change needs to happen. I too made a documentry with the downtown eastside and feel that there is still an extreme need for assistance with this community. Most of these people did not choose this life, and all of them do not want to be living it. Every individual can make change. Its your choice to make that change. 4real is taking this change to a whole other level, where hopefully we will see improvemnet in the near future. Everyone has their own problems, but for the people of the DTES, these problems arent so easy to fix. I hope for the people who saw eva mendes in this, are now more inspired to create this change. With THE POOREST part of canada being DTES, there needs to be more done, more open eyes and less blinders from the issues right in front of us. check out Katie tours downtown eastside in Vancouver on you tube.... anyone who takes a bit of time to care to make a difference, already has. the solution to our problems are people working together not against each other.

SBC

my mom

11/12/2008 12:22:50 PM

That was my mom you guys interviewed in the stanly hotel "maria big charles" i go to vancouver every year for a few years no to check if she ok. i know tazz, and rasta as well. they all good friends of mine down there. different life but they are all family.

Kaiti Coleman

Other places could end up like the eastside

9/10/2008 11:56:48 AM

I live in Duncan , which is on Vancouver island , so I rarly go to Vancouver , but what has happened on the mainland can very well happen anywhere . Duncan has a homeless problem but people brush it aside untill it is too late . with the oil prices up , many people in canada in north america are only living from paycheck to paycheck , every community should support it's people . I was shocked when i watch this and even more shocked when a fellow duncaner made a film called broken down . it showed me that homelessness isn't just in the downtown eastside , it is in mine and everyones backyard .

amanda reid

help the people of canada

8/9/2008 12:00:12 AM

i lived in toronto and vancouver i think this program about the homeless in the downtown eastside should be shown in all higj school in canada more people should be aware of the homeless in canada and the government should supprt all program in helping people to rebuild there lives all people need hope love and independence and most of all understanding to reach a better life in 2008 help more hate less

Opengate21

Food is served here everyday

7/19/2008 4:33:46 AM

You did a Awesome Job; My Friend Mathew was there and on TV. PPM

jaime

to explain..

6/18/2008 11:00:08 AM

I lived in vancouver for three years, and coming from a small town in northern ontario, it was so harde to describe what i saw here to my friends back home who have never seen anything like this. I would tell them about the situation and they would laugh as if it was a joke, and none of it actually mattered. They only realized how serious the situation was when i had to tell them not to laugh. Understanding addiction is not something every can do. But these are real people, leading real lives. Lots of them came from homes and families and jobs. It's absolutely devastating to see so many people in such a horrible place. As impossible as it may be, I pray for the day addiction is cured.

Natalie B

Downtown Eastside

6/13/2008 11:17:42 PM

I really enjoy watching this show. The Vancouver episode hit really close to home. I work just a few blocks from the area featured. Didn't Eva Mendez recently go to rehab? Maybe taking part in this had something to do with her decision to go.

joey byrne

VANCOUVER

6/8/2008 1:52:36 PM

I wrote an essay about the downtown east side and all i got was a"O thats sad" Its amazing how actaully showing someone with images and videos can change views so much better.

Yvonne Lum

a different place

5/14/2008 10:02:42 PM

What an eye opener. This episode broke down all the walls and barriers. People tend to isolate themselves instead of being apart of the change they want to see. Sometimes you never know what to do when you're in that area. You can either look away and ignore it or get into the root of it all. And that's exactly what Liz Evans did. She's an amazing human being and is leading by example and actually making the change. People need to understand you can't wait around for someone else do to the work. Eva Mendez and Liz Evans shows us that these people never chose to be homeless, drug-addicted, etc. They're all looking to get better but with so little resources it's so hard for them to do so. I didn't even know how bad it was in my own hometown. I've learned not to ignore it but to give back and do what I can. I can't pass it on a regular basis and think it's just another part of Vancouver. I see a whole new place to focus my energy on. My school Killarney gives back every Christmas by handing out nearly 500 care bags filled with hygiene products and snacks. But why do it only during Christmas? What about the other 364 days?

Michelle Schill

Kudos!

3/13/2008 12:30:09 PM

This touched very close to home for me and brought my desire to help back to the surface. I'm not sure I have any skills that would be useful to the Downtown East Side community, but I feel compelled to do something. My sister lived and died with those people and I saw her endure the hardships of her choices. She was a heroin addict and prostitute and died of AIDS in 1995. At the time, there was little help in the area, but she was fortunate enough to die in the only hospice available at the time, rather than in the streets like so many others. The lessons I learned from her before she passed have impacted my life and my choices. My life is blessed and I want to give back somehow. Please let me know if there's any small way I can help. Maybe my skills as a hairstylist could be put to use, helping to restore dignity and make people feel beautiful. I don't live in Van, but would be happy to make the trip over if there's a way I can serve. THANK YOU for putting a human face on the realities of life in this community and the people who are so easily forgotten and ignored.

Jenn Windrem

I want to help!

3/13/2008 6:06:36 AM

I watched this episode last night...in fact this was the first time I have seen the show. I have been to Vancity and seen Hastings street and what goes on there first hand. I was really happy to see the work that Liz Evans is doing to help these people, and I especially liked how your show illustrated that these people are real and human and do not necessarily fit the stereoypes a lot of people put on addictions and mental health. I work in the Supportive Housing Industry in Toronto. Our organization provides housing for people suffering from mental health and addictions issues. We believe in the strength of individual communities and providing support to those communities in helping them to sustain themselves. Toronto has taken on a 'Homes First' initiative, which is based on the premise that, if you give some one a home first....everything else will come later ie. supports, addictions treatment, etc. I was wondering why Vancouver has yet to implement something like this? It seems like it could be valuable. I would love to help Liz's efforts in any way I can.... Seeing this episode really made me want to move to Vancouver and help to make a difference with their struggle.

Christine Walker

VanCity

3/7/2008 3:44:48 PM

This one hits home the hardest for me, on my route to work every day, my bus goes down the infamous Hastings St. Like most people, for me it was really hard to look at all the time and after a while it got to me. After shooting this episode, I've come to realize that there is a beg beautiful heart in the middle of it all and that heart's name is Liz Evans. Her work is so important in the healing of the downtown east side and I really believe that we need to support her and her team. p.s. People we ALL really need to wake up and address what is going on around us and in our own backyards. ONE LOVE

Sol

Reality check

3/6/2008 12:43:42 PM

Meeting Liz Evans completely flipped my perspective on what's going on just one block from the 4REAL headquarters in Vancouver. It was an honour to shine a light on Liz and all the work she's been doing for 17 years in my own backyard. Gives new perspective to the phrase "think globally, act locally." One thing we learned is that there's isn't one single solution to the issues facing the Downtown Eastside community in Vancouver. The whole system needs an overhaul. Check out the episode and give us your two cents. Sol

ABORT Magazine/ABORT TV

Kudos To 4REAL on DTES

12/24/2007 3:17:43 PM

Good looking' out for the people down here, nice to see your hard work going to create awareness on a national level for something that BC still ignores. Props To you Sol and the 4REAL crew E.S. Day - Editor-in-Chief , ABORT Magazine/ABORT TV, Vancouver, Canada

Created by: Sol Guy, Josh Thome
Executive Producers: Chris Haddock, Laura Lightbown
Executive Producer: Joaquin Phoenix
Produced by: Shoshana Guy, Sol Guy, Josh Thome
Supervising Producer: Natasha Nystrom
Editor: Jesse James Miller
Cinematographers: Todd Craddock

4REAL Theme Song by DJ Kemo & Don Cristo For Vanguard
Music by: DJ Kemo & Don Cristo for Vanguard
Music Supervisor: Ryan Barkwell, Velma Barkwell

Host: Sol Guy
Directed by: Shoshana Guy
Written by: Shoshana Guy
Production Coordinator: Melahnie Moodie
Associate Producer: Jade Thome

Produced in Association with CTV
Developed in Association with CTV
Produced with the participation of Government Of Canada

Production Accountant: Karen March
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Titling: David Robinson
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Music Performed by RED1, courtesy of Killawatt Records:
Plot Me published by RED1
Music by DJ Kemo

Special Thanks: Ina Guy, Ngozi Paul, Rod Beckstrom, Heart Phoenix, Keith Porteus, Dennis & Diane Thome, Leora Gesser, Bobbie Ogletree, David Seltzer, Brad Cafarelli, Rob Sebastian, Joe Raguero, Dacia Moss, Valerie Miller, Ed McCurdy, Ayron Howey, William Richard Guy, Jorge Augusto, DJ Kemo, Red1, McLean Mashingaidze Greaves