Summer Newsletter, Building Construction Updates and Advocacy Plans
Sharing exciting updates from FIRST! Check out our latest newsletter with stories on how we spent the months leading up to the demolition of our 320 East Hastings building. Learn more about our Advocacy program and upcoming plans. First United Summer 2022 Newsletter
Construction Update: Demolition Begins!
We’re excited to announce that the demolition of our building at 320 East Hastings is now officially underway! This spring, our remaining staff, programs and services were moved to satellite locations in the Downtown Eastside. Last week, shelter residents were relocated to our newly renovated, state-of-the-art shelter on Alexander Street and by Thursday afternoon, […]
Important Upcoming Dates
It’s finally here! After years of planning and weeks of meetings, inspections, and renovations, we’re prepared to begin demolition on our building at 320 East Hastings Street. On May 24th, staff will clear out of the building for the last time as crews enter to begin their remediation work. It’s with a mix of emotions […]
Red Dress Day
May 5 is Red Dress Day: a day when we honour, remember, and grieve the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit, who were taken from us too soon. The pain from the epidemic of MMIWG2S is felt particularly in the Downtown Eastside and amongst our staff, partners, and community. This year, as an […]
Happy Easter
An Easter greeting from our Acting Executive Director, Amanda Burrows I hope you and your family are enjoying an Easter full of rest, love and reflection. Two weeks ago, I stepped into the role of Acting Executive Director as Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne started her sabbatical. It is an immense honour and privilege to guide […]
Good Friday, from Lauren Sanders
Lenten greetings, Good Friday is the day followers of Christ remember the events leading up to Jesus’s death.We remember the good,the bad,and the ugly on Good Friday. During this pandemic, we all have known so much death, sadness, and fear. These are parts of every living being’s life, but the impacts feel deeply personal, isolating, and without […]
Fundraising for Homelessness Action Week
As Thanksgiving approaches, we reflect on the things we are grateful for in the past year – family, good food, good health (COVID-19 vaccinations!!!), a warm house and what’s good about our world. This year, Thanksgiving overlaps with another event, one that hits very close to home for us: Homelessness Action Week – from October 10 to 17. We […]
Women’s Memorial March
February 14th is the Annual Women’s Memorial March, a gathering and march of grief, love, and justice for missing and murdered women in the Downtown Eastside. In honour of the March, Dr Cheryl Bear, Director of Community Ministry at First United, writes about her relationship to community, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and the Downtown Eastside. “Do […]
I’m a senior survivor
You could say I’ve had a rough go of it. I was in prison for thirty years. I was never violent or anything…I’d robbed banks, and I paid for it. Three years ago, I got out. Well, when they let you out after 30 years inside, you don’t really have anywhere to go. You’re on […]
Care During COVID-19
“COVID-19 has been scary, but I’ve felt taken care of here,” says Alex, a resident of First United’s women’s shelter since January. As word spread about the threat of COVID-19 in early March, things in the Downtown Eastside started to change quickly. “I remember the day they had to start the distancing. It’s usually so […]