Community update

Dear Friend, 

The Province continues the failing partnership with RainCity Housing, who'll run the drug consumption site at 900 Helmcken. And this organization spent 72 cents of every public dollar on staff wages, not the neighbourhood that has to live with it.

In its 2024 audited financial statements, RainCity reported total revenue of $58,423,242, nearly all of it public money from various government sources. And here's where it goes: across the whole organization, $41,971,057 went to wages and employee benefits, not to visibly improving the neighbourhoods that have to live with these sites. 

So how is all this money actually making the community better? Because we're not seeing it. When Police Chief Steve Rai looked at a comparable overdose prevention site on Seymour Street, the VPD found it came with a 51.3 per cent jump in calls for police service nearby. When the site closed, the calls dropped back down.

That's the trade being brought to our doorstep: millions of dollars in, and more disorder, more police calls, and a community left to absorb it.

We're not against helping people. We're against pouring millions into an approach the data says makes our neighbourhoods less safe, decided by a government that never asked us.

On September 16th, we're asking these questions out loud, in one room. Come stand with us.

Three ways to take part:

• Attend: RSVP to save your seat: https://crystal351639.typeform.com/to/IPWZS4wx
• Speak: Let your story be heard. You can apply to speak at the forum when you RSVP. 
• Share: Invite 5 friends or neighbours. They don't need to live here, anyone who cares about transparency and accountability belongs in the room.

The details:

• When: Wednesday, September 16th - doors at 5:00pm, program at 6:00pm
• Where: Sheraton Wall Centre, Pavilion Ballroom (1000 Burrard Street)

More soon, 

Neighbours of 900 Helmcken