Rated the world’s most livable city
for five consecutive years !
Home Communities Apartment Rentals Resources                                                                           
Arbutus West Point Grey Kitsilano Fairview Mount Pleasant Dunbar-Southlands Kerrisdale Shaughnessy South Cambie Oakridge Marpole Strathcona Grandview-Woodland Hastings-Sunrise Riley Park Sunset Kensington-Cedar Cottage Renfrew-Collingwood Victoria-Fraserview Killarney UBC Downtown Eastside West End Downtown Coal Harbour Yaletown and Area
Community Location
Vital Statistics

Legend:
    - Downtown Eastside
    - All of Vancouver City
Population Density (x 1000/sq km)
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Average Rent (x $100 )                 
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Crime Rate (per 1000 pop.)              
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Avg Household Income ( x 1000) 
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
Type of Housing Ratio

- detached     - low-rise     - high-rise
Dwelling Type Ratio

- rentals    - owner occupied
Language Ratio (mother tongue)

- English    - Chinese    - other
Age Groups

- under 19  - 20-39  - 40-64  - over 65

Downtown Eastside

The Downtown Eastside, which lies between the Burrard Inlet (North) & Hastings St. (South) and between Main St. (West) & Clark Dr. (East) is Vancouver's oldest neighborhood. In the early 1900's this area was Vancouver's city centre, and was home to some of the nicest theatres, concert halls, and shops in the city. Nowadays it is known for being one of North America's most highly impoverished areas. Drug addiction, crime, and prostitution have become so prevalent in this neighborhood that many Vancouverites never step foot in the area. The Downtown Eastside is now known as skid road to many of the locals, an unfortunate turn from the vibrant city centre it once was. The majority of the housing in the area is small and unsafe one person dwellings, and is not desirable for anyone who isn't down on their luck.

Although it isn't the nicest area of town, the people that do call the Downtown Eastside home have a very strong sense of loyalty to their community and the people that live in it, and they tend to look after each other. There are also many local community activists, and community programs, which on a daily basis try to help and care for the people who live in these sometimes unlivable circumstances. For instance, North America's first safe injection drug site has significantly lowered the spread of HIV and also the number of overdoses since its inception. Local business owners have come together to form the Downtown Eastside Revitalization Program to help in the effort to clean up their neighborhood. So, maybe given some time and a little effort the people of this once thriving community can start the process of rebuilding and reshaping it back to its glorious early stages.