DTES Community Corner Market
Funded by the City of Vancouver, the DTES Community Corner provides safe, low-barrier vending, and income generation opportunities for residents of the DTES. The Community Corner is supported by the City's Community Economic Development Strategy and DTES Plan.
Street vending has been present in the Downtown Eastside for many years, with a significant concentration on the 0 to 99 block of East Hastings between Carrall and Columbia Street. Street vending meets an essential need for many people in the community including binners. Given un-permitted vending on City sidewalks and parks is illegal, the Downtown Eastside community advocated for a legal, peer-run, safe space to vend. Vendors and non-profits have been working with the City since 2012 to create and run such a space on City-owned or leased land.
Street vending has been present in the Downtown Eastside for many years, with a significant concentration on the 0 to 99 block of East Hastings between Carrall and Columbia Street. Street vending meets an essential need for many people in the community including binners. Given un-permitted vending on City sidewalks and parks is illegal, the Downtown Eastside community advocated for a legal, peer-run, safe space to vend. Vendors and non-profits have been working with the City since 2012 to create and run such a space on City-owned or leased land.
The Community Corner currently has about 15-20 Vendors each day. This number has decreased over the past several years due to a reduction in vending spaces available because of site limitations and the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to a space for Vendors, the Community Corner also offers low-barrier paid opportunities for Peers, which provide skill-building in customer service, security, conflict de-escalation, frontline opioid response, and people management.
The benefits of the Community Corner are numerous, including income generation for residents with low-income (approximately 24% of whom are experiencing homelessness), a space to purchase low-priced goods, waste reduction through recycling/reuse, and a touch point for people to access other services like housing and substance use support. Peer workers have also transitioned into other, more formal employment, like security and construction.
After an in-depth consultation with the binners and our Steering Committee, Binners' Project applied to operate the Community Corner through the City's RFP Process. Binners' Project took over operations of the Street Market in November 2022 with the goal to maintain current operations and support community-led growth of the Community Corner. The outdoor Market at 26 East Hastings closed in August 2023 and a new indoor Community Corner was opened at 305 Main Street in December 2023. The Community Corner moved to its current location in early 2025.
The new Community Corner is now located at 52 E Cordova St, open 10 AM - 4:30 PM, 7 days a week.
The benefits of the Community Corner are numerous, including income generation for residents with low-income (approximately 24% of whom are experiencing homelessness), a space to purchase low-priced goods, waste reduction through recycling/reuse, and a touch point for people to access other services like housing and substance use support. Peer workers have also transitioned into other, more formal employment, like security and construction.
After an in-depth consultation with the binners and our Steering Committee, Binners' Project applied to operate the Community Corner through the City's RFP Process. Binners' Project took over operations of the Street Market in November 2022 with the goal to maintain current operations and support community-led growth of the Community Corner. The outdoor Market at 26 East Hastings closed in August 2023 and a new indoor Community Corner was opened at 305 Main Street in December 2023. The Community Corner moved to its current location in early 2025.
The new Community Corner is now located at 52 E Cordova St, open 10 AM - 4:30 PM, 7 days a week.
F.A.Q.
How is the community corner funded?
Can I donate to the community corner?
How are stolen goods handled at the Community Corner?
Are drugs sold in the Community Corner?
How do I become a vendor?
- The community corner is entirely funded through the Project's contract with the City of Vancouver.
Can I donate to the community corner?
- Binners' Project is not currently seeking monetary donations to support the Community Corner. We do accept the donation of items which can be distributed to vendors at the Community Corner to support their income generation. Please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested in donating items.
How are stolen goods handled at the Community Corner?
- In collaboration with VPD, Binners' Project has developed an Approved Items List to reduce the potential for commonly stolen items to be sold within the Community Corner. Community Corner peers are trained to spot potential stolen items and report/confiscate items as needed.
Are drugs sold in the Community Corner?
- The sale of drugs is not permitted within the Community Corner and individuals caught selling drugs within the Community Corner will be suspended.
How do I become a vendor?
- The best way to get a table is to visit the DTES Community Corner when it's open and speak with the Market Managers (Ash or Jaella). They can help you with the vendor application. You can also email [email protected] for more information.
