The area has a large prevalence of First Nations people: 30 percent of the residents of the Downtown Eastside are indigenous

Homelessness

There is an accute shortage of low-income housing in Vancouver. The 2004 homelessness count in Greater Vancouver showed that the number of homeless doubled from 2002, to more than 2,000 people.

Many residents in the Downtown Eastside live in sub-standard "hotels" or Single Room Occupancy (SRO) rooming houses. Rents keep parity with government allowances, though the standard of accommodation can be very low for the price paid.

Sex workers

Women involved in sex-work are dramatically evident in the Downtown Eastside, where the majority live in extreme poverty. Many sex workers sell sex in order to meet subsistence needs such as food and shelter.

The legal and social context of sex work in Canada makes it impossible for sex workers to create safe and empowering conditions without breaking the law. As a result, sex workers live in a society where their liberty, security and equality rights are being violated.

Aboriginal people

The area has a large prevalence of First Nations people: 30 percent of the residents of the Downtown Eastside are indigenous, 10 times higher than the national average.

The majority of the more than 65 sex workers allegedly murdered or missing from the Downtown Eastside are of Aboriginal ancestry. [read article about annual Downtown Eastside march remembering the missing women]

HIV epidemic

HIV is epidemic, affecting 30 percent of the local population - most of them women. Many people also suffer from Hepatitis C.

Pivot set up in 2000

Richardson approached Ann Livingston from the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) in late 2000 with his idea about setting up Pivot.

Pivot Legal Society was formed in early 2001 after a year of monthly meetings bringing together lawyers and local residents to discuss issues in the community. Richardson began working full-time for Pivot in 2002.

Continued...

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