The Road to Redevelopment
Timeline In 2017, community engagement, redevelopment and capital campaign feasibility studies set the stage for an incredibly ambitious project— the redevelopment of our site at 320 E Hastings. Five years later, site work got underway 2022 April– Street Use and Salvage & Abatement permits are received, clearing the way for preliminary work to begin on […]
Still a Sanctuary in the Heart of the Downtown Eastside
There is something notably different about East Hastings these days. The corner at Gore is missing a recognizable landmark—FIRST UNITED’s old church building. That’s because we’re currently undergoing a redevelopment, demolishing the old building to make way for a new purpose-built facility that will better serve the current and growing needs of the Downtown Eastside. […]
Summer Newsletter: A Retrospective On Our Building
Honouring the History of Our Old Building We’ve dedicated this summer edition of First Things First to our former building—to honour its history and legacy in the Downtown Eastside. Read just some of the significant events and milestones that took place in our old building. Featured photo by Walter E. Frost 1973 (City of Vancouver […]
Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day: Honouring Indigenous Cultures and Contributions
Guest post by Avery Delaney (Blackfoot), Indigenous Outreach Coordinator for FIRST UNITED National Indigenous Peoples Day is an annual celebration that honors the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous communities across Turtle Island (what is commonly known as North America). This day provides a platform to showcase the diverse cultures, languages, foods, […]
Revisiting Our Totem Pole Ceremony
Our building at 320 East Hastings is currently being demolished and we’re feeling a little nostalgic. Just a little over a year ago, we were moving our programs out of our old building to prepare for hazardous material removal and demolition. Part of that preparation was safely moving the totem pole that was in our […]
Final Steps Through the Old FIRST
The bricks of our building are starting to come down this week. Before officially saying goodbye, we made sure to do a final walk through what’s left of the building that’s meant so much to so many. If you haven’t already, you can also subscribe to our email list to ensure that you’re getting all […]
BC Eviction Mapping: Justice Alongside Charity
Last week we released our initial findings from the BC Eviction Mapping project. The project is the first of its kind in BC, and our first official systems change project that challenges the systems that keep people trapped in cycles of poverty, homelessness, and marginalization. Work on this project began almost a year ago—a testament […]
Coldest Night of the Year 2023 Recap
With snow falling and near-freezing temperature, hundreds of walkers took to the streets of the Downtown Eastside on Saturday for the Coldest Night of the Year. It’s been a few days since, but we’re still buzzing from the excitement of the event and blown away by the support we received from our determined Team Captains […]
First United Church Social Housing Society has transferred ownership to Sch’eyk Housing Society, operated by Lu’ma Native Housing Society
Today we are sharing that First United Church Social Housing Society (FUCSHS) has transferred ownership to Sch’eyk Housing Society, operated by Lu’ma Native Housing Society. The decision for Lu’ma to operate the Housing Society came after careful consideration and negotiation between FUCSHS Board and staff leadership of FUCSHS, and leadership from Lu’ma Native Housing Society. […]
Eliminating Renter Office contradicts ABC’s election promise
This op-ed was originally published in The Vancouver Sun on January 24, 2023. You can find the op-ed on The Vancouver Sun’s website. Opinion: Without this resource, more vulnerable individuals and families will be at immediate and increased risk of displacement and homelessness. By Katie Koncan, Director of Development and Communications, and Amanda Burrows, Interim […]