DTES STREET MARKET
Funded by the City of Vancouver, the DTES Street Market provides safe, low-barrier vending, and income generation opportunities for residents of the DTES. The Market 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 Market currently has about 20-40 Vendors each weekday and 50-70 Vendors on weekends. 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 Market 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 Market 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 market through the City's RFP Process. Binners' Project took over operations of the market in November 2022 with the goal to maintain current operations and support community-led growth of the market. The Market currently operates at 26 East Hastings.
The benefits of the Market 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 market through the City's RFP Process. Binners' Project took over operations of the market in November 2022 with the goal to maintain current operations and support community-led growth of the market. The Market currently operates at 26 East Hastings.
F.A.Q.
How is the market funded?
Can I donate to the market?
How are stolen goods handled at the market?
Are drugs sold in the market?
- The market is entirely funded through the Project's contract with the City of Vancouver
Can I donate to the market?
- Binners' Project is not currently seeking monetary donations for the market. We do accept the donation of items which can be distributed to vendors at the market to support their income generation. Please reach out to info@binnersproject.org if you are interested in donating items.
How are stolen goods handled at the market?
- In collaboration with VPD, Binners' Project has developed a Banned Item List to reduce the potential for commonly stolen items to be sold within the market. Market peers are trained to spot potential stolen items and report/confiscate items as needed.
Are drugs sold in the market?
- The sale of drugs is not permitted within the market and individuals caught selling drugs within the market are asked to leave.