The Downtown Eastside (DTES) of Vancouver has long been a focal point for discussions around homelessness, addiction, and public safety. Now, a recent report from the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) sheds light on a unique case that highlights the complex dynamics of the area. Between January 2021 and August 2024, a single resident of the DTES called police 629 times, expressing concerns about public disorder, drug activity, and disturbances around the intersection of Main and Hastings Streets.
This staggering number of calls raises important questions: Is this simply the case of an exasperated resident seeking relief, or does it point to a larger systemic issue plaguing the DTES and Vancouver’s handling of street disorder?
The Numbers Behind the Calls
According to the VPD report presented to the Vancouver Police Board on September 19, the bulk of the resident’s calls—435 in total—were categorized as disturbances, with additional calls about unwanted persons, suspicious circumstances, drug activity, and mischief. The complaints largely revolved around a tent encampment that had occupied the northwest corner of Main and Hastings for an extended period, where the resident alleged that individuals were openly selling drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes while blasting loud music.
Images and videos sent by the complainant showed a lively, if chaotic, scene that the resident felt threatened by. Despite the high volume of calls, the VPD concluded that every call was investigated and handled “appropriately based on the call type and circumstances.”
But while the police may have deemed their responses adequate, the resident clearly did not. In March 2024, they filed a formal complaint with the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, demanding more decisive action from law enforcement and the police board. Their frustration was palpable: “The police weren’t doing their jobs in enforcing the law,” the resident claimed, urging the board to take more effective action.
A Neighborhood Under Siege?
The tent encampments, especially at Main and Hastings, have been a focal point of tension in the DTES. Supt. Matt Harty, who led the VPD review, pointed out that the calls coincided with a time when several blocks of sidewalks along the Hastings Street corridor were filled with tents. The encampment, which was dismantled in April 2023 through a city-led effort, was not just a simple collection of makeshift shelters. It became a hotspot for territorial control by organized crime groups, where violence often erupted to maintain drug-selling territories.
Deputy Chief Howard Chow confirmed that such violence and disorder are endemic to the area, not just at Main and Hastings but also in nearby communities like Chinatown and Gastown. Police presence can temporarily displace the street disorder, but it often migrates back when patrols shift focus.
As Chow noted, “It is common to observe the same individuals in the same areas of the Downtown Eastside,” underlining how deeply entrenched the issues have become.
The Larger Picture: Crime and Displacement
The VPD’s report also highlights the broader struggles that Vancouver is facing in managing the DTES. As the city contends with a growing homelessness crisis, drug addiction, and the violence that comes with it, there’s an ongoing push-and-pull between maintaining public order and addressing the root causes of these issues.
Encampments like the one at Main and Hastings are more than just a nuisance to residents like the complainant—they are symptomatic of larger social failings. Many of the individuals occupying the sidewalks of the DTES are deeply vulnerable, suffering from addiction, mental illness, and a lack of access to adequate housing or healthcare. Yet, as the VPD report noted, these individuals are often exploited by organized crime groups that use the streets to sell drugs.
This cycle of displacement and disorder also spreads to other areas. Police have documented over 1,000 calls to the former Howard Johnson Hotel, now known as the Lugat, on Granville Street—a notorious hub for street disorder. The pressures on Vancouver’s social fabric are evident, and while city efforts to dismantle encampments may clear the streets temporarily, they do not address the systemic issues fueling the crisis.
A Tenuous Balance: Public Safety vs. Social Welfare
The sheer volume of calls from one resident underscores the delicate balance the city and its police force must strike between maintaining public order and safeguarding the rights and welfare of vulnerable populations. The VPD acknowledged the resident’s frustrations, yet, as Supt. Harty explained, police were not “dragging their feet” on the matter. Officers had regularly responded to the scene and even assisted city crews during the April 2023 operation to clear the encampment.
The police board has now officially closed the resident’s complaint and assured that steps are being taken to remove the tent in question and address the broader issues at the intersection of Main and Hastings. However, the reality on the ground remains a tense one.
Can the DTES Be Saved?
The situation at Main and Hastings represents just one corner of a much larger issue. Vancouver’s DTES is in the midst of a public health and safety crisis, exacerbated by years of economic neglect, lack of affordable housing, and underfunded social services. The question now is: What can be done to break this cycle?
One potential solution is increased investment in mental health services, addiction treatment, and affordable housing. As police themselves have admitted, their presence alone is not enough to solve the problems of the DTES. Without more comprehensive strategies that address the root causes—such as addiction, poverty, and mental illness—the cycle of displacement and disorder will continue.
However, while social support is crucial, public safety cannot be ignored. The concerns raised by the 629 calls highlight a very real issue for residents of the DTES who feel that their safety and quality of life are being compromised. The police and local government must find a way to restore order while also offering compassion and support to those in need.
A Call for Dialogue and Action
The situation at Main and Hastings and the 629 police calls made by one DTES resident are more than just numbers—they are a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges that Vancouver faces in managing public safety and social welfare. The residents, business owners, and vulnerable populations of the DTES are all part of the same community, yet they often find themselves at odds, trapped in a system that seems to be failing them all.
As the city moves forward, it is clear that a multi-faceted approach is needed—one that prioritizes both public safety and social justice. The question is, can Vancouver rise to the challenge?
What are your thoughts? Should the city focus more on law enforcement, or should the priority be on expanding social services and housing solutions? Join the conversation below.
Lance has lived in the Downtown Eastside for years, staying closely connected to the neighbourhood and the people who call it home. He writes about the issues that matter—from housing and policy shifts to the everyday stories that shape the community—because DTES isn’t just where he lives, it’s a place he cares deeply about.
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