November 1, 2000, carnegie newsletter

NEWSLETTER 401 Main Street, Vancouver V6A 2T7 (604) 665-2289

In Mexico, on November 1 & 2, it is an honour and a duty to commemorate family and friends that have died. This tradition can be traced back to the Aztecs.

They believed that death was not an ending, but the beginning of a new and eternal existence, so they respected the cycle of life by honouring the dead.

Every culture must learn to deal with the loss of life in order to survive. Feelings of abandonment, anger, guilt and fear must be released before we can go back to the business of living. Through centuries of poverty, oppression and violence, death has been ever-present. The sense of being vulnerable in a life full of dangers, demonic spirits and chaos has made generations feel that to live is to suffer.

The Aztecs did not tremble before their god of death, Miclantecuhtli; they feared the uncertainty of Me. Mictlantecuhtli didn't punish the dead for their "sins" on earth, he released them fiom their burdens. our times, Day Of The Dead has evolved to become a mixture of Pre-Columbian and Roman Catholic beliefs. The Catholic All Saints Day grew Out of the Egyptian festival of mourning for the murder of Osiris, the God of Life, Death and Grain, in November.

Latin Americans celebrate the communion between the living and the dead with beauty, love, music and humour. The living invite the dead to join them in the party, to return home for a few hours before retunung to the "other side". They visit the graves fiom sunset 'ti1 midnight with candles, food and drink. The ghosts are offered their favourite food, cigarettes, and alcohol; the living help them drink it!

Strolling musicians or family members play the hof ghosts' favourite tunes. It's a time to make f the living, we are suffering, the dead "rest in peace7'.

Home altars, called ofrendas are built to commemorate the dead. They are decorated with candles, sugar cane stalks, special food and marigolds. Flower petals carpet the floor to the ofrenda, where photos of those who died are placed alongside religious icons, to invite the ghosts in.

The heavy &ma of cop& incense fillsthe room.

A group of volunteers fiom Latin America Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua will be celebram Day Of The Dead starhng in Oppenheimer Park at 5:30tonight. Everyone is invited to bring musical instruments and noisemakers, flowers, photographs, candles, and to come costumed or masked. We'll march along Hastings St. to Pigeon Park, and then double back to the

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Carnegie for music and festivities. Isabel will perform Mexican folkloric songs and dances, and Johnny, one of the park regulars, will sing protest songs, "not rumbas7'he said, "about the police killing people, stuff like that." We'll have sugar skulls to decorate; traditionally they have a name written on the forehead. Last year we broke pifiatas on the street out front, one shaped like a c o r n and anothkr like a rice wine bottle! We carried the coffins fiom Vandu in a mock h e r a l procession, not that funny, considering the number of people that have died in our community. So many Latinos fight for their lives in their own countries against overwhelming policdmilitary repression, war and poverty, then struggle to make it to Canada to make a fresh start, only to die here fiom the alcohol and drugs they get involved in, in what was mean to be their "new life7'.

The sad reality is that I always have someone to grieve, in all the years I've been part of this celebration, so I'll be bringing photos and flowers and add my voices to the others. There's laughter too, it's so much more balanced a way to remember the dead than the solemn fimerals I usually attend. So bring your photos and join us tonight. Hasta la vista.

By DIANE WOOD

[*The Downtown Vancouver Association is a business organisation. It refused to join the Community Alliance. People supporting real community and harm reduction made a 40minute presentation to this group at their monthly breakfast meeting on October 3lSt. Also present was the woman who had spoken at Carnegie about her son's addiction and the association she'd formed - From Grief To Action. Her husband is a prosecutor, and he came along too. Following is one part of this presentation; the person is from the DE ] I have lived in my own home in Strathcona for 25

years and have watched the street scene develop.

The watershed for me was Expo in 1986. Until that time I had never locked my back door. The street scene was centred along Main with Gore Street its most easterly boundary. The biggest concern was old guys sitting on park benches drinking.

By 1989 I was participating in nightly "Community Patrols" that were pushing the street trade back to Hastings and out of Strathcona. This experience let me have many conversations with drug users and hookers. Almost always they agreed that using drugs or hooking in residential areas was wrong and they apologized. But they would point out where were they to move to? The next block or community?

I became frustrated with the futility and abusiveness of this process. It wasn't that I wanted all this street activity s q u i r l i around my house either. My partner and I closed down a drug house across the lane fiom us, in self defense as we couldn't sleep fiom all the activity. We just went out one morning early and

turned away everyone coming to buy, telling them &at this house is closed. We did this all weekend, until the drug squad agreed to deal with it. Indeed they did bust it and it quickly reopened as two houses, two and three blocks from us.

What happens at Main and Hastings seriously affects my neighbourhood. During the late 80's more and more street people were driven to Main and Hastmgs. In 1990 the Vmcouver Sun declared the fi-ontof Carnegie Centre Cocaine Corner. Those of us on the Carnegie Board and some staff were struggling with what to do about this problem.

Arrests made no difference; as soon as some were arrested others appeared. In a short time those arrested also returned.

We developed an idea that led to the Carnegie Street Program. We have street workers out in front of Carnegie, worktng out of tents, that do daily programming. They work with the street people, folks at the bus stops, and those going in and out of Carnegie. A variety of programs covering health, literacy, crafts, music and lifestyles happen under these tent tops.

In 1998 the Portland Hotel Society approached Carnegie Association to co-sponsor a Harm Reduction Conference in Oppenheimer Park, called "Out of Harm's Way7'. The pieces really started to fall into place for me. Listening to speakers from European countries that have positive harm reduction models was very hopeM. It is helpll to know that there is a sane, compassionate plan to deal with the street scene we live with.

It's not that I am immune to the effects of the street scene. I've had my house broken into, my car broken into. But to know that there is a calm, positive way to react to all this has made it possible to deal with.

Member of parliament for Vancouver East

Muggs Sigurgeirson

Reading Circle Every Wednesday at 11am we have a reading circle in the Learning Centre on the 3* floor.

Due to the closure in October we are continuing to read J.K.Rowling's " H q Potter & The Philosopher's Stone'' during the month of November. Please come to listen and enjoy.

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Libby is one of the people who turns the sour taste of "politician7' around. She needs little in the way of introduction, and is admired for sticking to what she believes in. It was in 1973 that she, her fbture husband, Bruce Eriksen, and friend Jean Swanson started the Downtown Eastside Residents Association (DERA). Libby worked with many residents to get the old Carnegie Library building turned into the Community Centre 20 years ago and went on to be the most popular and respected alderman at City Council.

Since becoming MP, defeating the one-term Liberal wonder Anna Terranna, Libby has fought for the low income people and residents throughout her riding. The issues of homelessness and poverty, drugs and rice wine, crime and safety and treatment and the whole cornucopia of health services so desperately needed are never isolated for her. The four pillars of harm reduction, treatment, prevention and enforcement are the foundation for her approach to solutions for drugs.

It is precisely this that has the Community Alliance frothing at the mouth. Libby rehses to endorse their call for enforced treatment (arrestin& and imprisoning anyone who even looks like a user) and is instead directly involved in making treatment a necessary part of an overall strategy, including a resource centre, methadone, even tightly-controlled heroin maintenance. Libby . refbses to put on the reactionary blinders than thtS bunch of miscreants wear like a second skin.

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Libby is trashed because of this one issue, and her involvement in housing, homeless issues and the multicultural plethora of concerns in Canada's poorest urban area are lost sight of.

The Liberals are using half-truths, innuendo and outright lies, accusing Libby and Jenny Kwan of betraying area residents. This is simply false. The federal election campaign is underway and Libby is head and shoulders above anyone else in being the best person to represent us in Ottawa.

If you have time and energy, call 25 1-3336 and learn how you can help get Libby re-elected. Ask questions and don't let ignorance of the truth let people use snake oil and slander to muddy issues.

By PAULR TAYLOR

Some thoughts on the strike..

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The arrogance of our NPA-controlled City Council and the City managers is astounding, but certamly not surprising to anyone.

Mayor Owen and assistant mayor George Pewel. (sic) say thmgs like "...60%is not a strong majority.

Thev should vote again." and ". ..kee~in mind. 49%

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of the members want to go back to work." and ". , .the vote was held at a bad time. People from Surrey couldn't make it in to vote at that time". Probably something to do with our less than adequate transit service eh Mr. P..?

Of course they ignore a couple of vital bits of information as they speak these things. ie: that the CUPE 15 members (including Surrey residents) are on strike and so have oodles of time on their hands; and, we just had the largest turnout ever, for any kind of vote. It seems that ignoring the facts makes the facts disappear for these characters.

To them, the nonsensical whine from a handful of high end developers equals a majority rules situation e.g. the cancellation of the compressed work week (CWW) for our members after 23 years. That brings me back to the vote. I don't have the numbers at hand (maybe next time), but I'll bet that not one of the elected members of the NPA dominated council, (a.k.a. the "I'm for me and my fiiends" party) received anywhere near a 5 1% majority when they slid into ofice. I don't recall any of them saying "Gee, 49% (or?) don't want me to help govern the city, I'm outta here!"

Yes there is a division in the desires of the membership. This is not unusual (in fact it is very usual). It is because a substantial group of our members have what they want in their separate agreement, in other words "I'm alright..." etc. Unfortunately for them an even larger group were shafted by council (- CWW) and are not willing to be shaRed again They are going to - actually want to - stay on the picket lines until they get what they want, which is fair and equal - treatment. It has as much to do with respect and a decent, unpoisoned worlung environment as anythmg.

Gdmanagement demands the ability to anticipate and understid what problems may arise and deal with them in a proper and respecthl way, to ' head them off at the pass'! Instead these blanks sent things out of control and are now blaming everyone but themselves for this mess. It is time to properly fix things Mayor Owen. It is well within your control. If you can't or won't, at least get your facts straight and stop throwing gasoline on this raging fire.

John Ferguson, Shop Steward, CUPE 15

Public Notice to no one in particular Just cal me A1 ,that's all ,just All it's even legal my middle name it doesn't have a history yet it's mine I've never used it till now a new name for a new man usta hate Oh Richard RICHEERD RichARDDD off the back porch so when I ran away at 13 I became Robbie Loewen I stay him for damn near 30 years he is now officially dead this body is now operated by a being named Al no more Robbie Cowboy Bob the jazz cowboy no more Richard the fake Indian no more n o w new at all pal pretty nice day today you can just call me A1 A1 Loewen

) *newsflash:

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ANDY HUCKLACK, the Volunteerof-the-Year, is celebrating his 'X' birthday Nov. gth.

last week noises in my bathroom shittinbricks I investigate big bug huge in the sink pine smelling he's cool can stay notabiter welcome

buddy' lirnpin' two by four'd for his last five units of down raiders goof bunkers fik you mister peanut drywall!? stab me with yer big rusty nail

I'm the worst part of your job wondering why I so often see pigeon wings on the ground supper hens stripped tendonly attached rats don't eat the wings? hey, do you have I just need a I need need need need need need.

I could sleep forever but rise Pee and in socks up see that guy mangled legs missing guess I stomped him why the hell's he what's he doin in the middle of the floor like that I toss him out the window sad that guy pine smelling

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Drug free days drug fiee days're blessed days standing against the hell of insatiable hunger like black on white went so dopey so long . staying clean is as exciting as an adolescent acid exploration inward ooh's and ahh's what colours such light the sounds what a sympholly folks comment man do you ever look wasted

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The need is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. The expense seems enormous and there are clinics, etc. but the Health Van provides everythug from bandages for wounds to firstaid to dealing with people in the throes of M1-blown drug psychosis.. at the times that local clinics aren't open. "Officials say that without the van, many of the same people [in the DE] would wait too long before seekmg medical help and eventually receive far more expensive care in a hospital emergency ward. The van, they say, saves lives and money."

The need has been dealt with 10 hours a day, 71365 for almost 2 years, with incredible amounts of dedication and caring through the four nurses. Demand for the van's services tripled in 1999, and nurses provided over 32,000 medical treatments to highrisk individuals such as IV drug users, dual diagnosis clients, alcoholics, youth on the streets, women working in the sex trade and others who do not access mainstream health services on a regular basis.

Staff includes a driver from the Needle Exchange, who provides this service as well but not as the sole focus of health outreach. They are continuously

referring people to available clinics, discuss detox & treatment options, give info about recovery and safe houses, alcohol and drug counselors, hospitals, youth workers, mental health services, court and legal aid. Staff are hard-pressed to respond, but the hours have been reduced to 8 per day. Money is a major problem.

The Vancouver/Richmond Health Board has been given the numbers - what they provide against what the van costs - again and again. Total b d i n g for this service is $150,000; the cost is over $280,000.

The Downtown Eastside Youth Activities Society (DEYAS) has been carrying this vital project for months, unwilling to give it up, but the drain on resources is causing severe damage. Judy McQuire is the program manager and has exhausted even remote possibilities to access funds. Partners at the Vancouver Native Health Society are attesting to the essential nature of this service, letters of support fiom across the neighbourhood are in hand and hundreds of people have signed a petition in an attempt to wake up the bureaucrats at the Health Board. The response from them has been to set up a meeting "next week" to 'get more information'. The van could use more nurses working longer hours, but the seeming nonsense fiom the VRHB makes the whole thing critical. If no commitment can be made for needed funds, DEYAS will have to shut down the Health Van at the end of October.

If you or a group you are with can give any support to convincing the VRHB, call Judy at 251-3310.

STAGE B A N D at Carnegie It meets every Friday at 1:00,either in the Theatre of the Pottery Room. It's exciting that instruments already donatedlon hand include - Euphonium - 2 trombones - 1 French horn - ltnunpet - 1flute 1 sousaphone (not working yet!) If you've always wanted to play a brass instrument, now's your chance! If you have an instrument or are 'musically inclined' come and join. Instructor is Steve Charles.

Friday the 1 3 ' ~ Corruption is rampant in Canada because of the wealth. People don't see what the money is doing to thedus. it affects all people like the toxins and cancers from smolung. Who is warning the victims?

Can you not see the coldness and indifference; I am Canadian? The convertible roars by in the rain, its driver not caring or unable to see how help is even possible any more.

Woe is us; our greed is biting our souls and we are the losers, even while believing we are the winners.

They should print warnings on fifties and hundreds, like the warnings on cigarette packs. the next day...

I would like to thank protestors at the Grandview Cut who faced police and public criticism for trying to save the Cut. We are concerned over all this concrete being poured while we remain unheard.

To say we are not interested or 'participants' is wrong. Huge expenditures on Skytrain and the "high tech" park off Tenninal are increasing and concentrating existing problems in the downtown eastside.

As you step off the curb with a protest sign in your hand, the real development - of your values and morals and ~f your personal education - begins.

Thanks again, people, for putting yourselves on the line for us, our city and our environment.

Mike Bohnert

Editor, Congratulations go out to Paul Taylor for his guts to write his article in the October 15 Newsletter about the "dipsticks" who are the Gastown [Historic] Area Planning Committee. I cordially invite all of them to 1) sleep on the street; 2) be given moldy bread, rotten food, stagnant water, 1 shirt, holey pants, leaky runners, be rousted by the police, be spat on by "the idle rich", given a dollar to last a week, forced to stand in the rain, cold, just for a coffee and a hotdog.. .

My message to the Gastown Planning committee: Take Your Ideas and Shove Them Up Your Asses.

Leave the Downtown Eastside alone and go back to your fancihl life and rot.

Gael Marriotte RN -Member of the Board of End Legislated Poverty -Member, Advisory Board, Four Comers Savings LAST ISSUE OF NEWSLETTER BEST SO FAR. UNCLUTTERED! INVITING! GREAT! EARTHLING *printed on Ancient Healing Formula teabag wrapper, shoved under office door, put in recycling, fell out, thrown in wastecan. fell out. nicked ua and READ!

What the hell is this??!

(14 you wonder why people say The Police. the police, the police!)

Food Not Bombs feeds people. Once a month they have a big pot of soup and maybe some bread and hand it out in Victory Square. The location is across the street (kind of) fiom the couple of stores that sell hemp products and maybe seeds to (gasp!) grow marijuana. I'm not dead sure about the seeds but whatever the stores were doing it pissed off the mayor & his cohorts at shitty hall. There were cops in squad cars and cops in buildmgs observing everyone and cops patrolling the streets and cops stretched between boredom and outrage who went so far as to check the contents of Food Not Bombs' (souplpot.

Brice Rositch, variously described as a well-heeled architect or a dipstick, both of whom are at 120 Powell, is the mouth for the so-called Community Alliance. He was upset over reports on who is backmg him and the charade of community support disguising the business and property owners with their noses permanently out of joint over the lack of response fiom thousands of local people to their demands that we all die. It was especially galling

that we exposed his attempt to paint everybody as a drug user.. all services as contemptible for aidmg the same evervbodv.. but I'm getting ahead of myself Back at the beginning of October about 25 people went to 120 Powell to ask him questions about the Alliance's slander and libel and condemnation of residents. No dialogue took place. He wrote to the mayor claiming that we had occupied his offices afier he had locked the door - and whined about cancelled meetings and wanted compensation for lost business!

Okay.

On October 16, about 4 o'clock, Food Not Bombs set up a pot of soup on the sidewalk outside 120 Powell. It was pouring rain and maybe 10 people came and got some food. There were EIGHT cops there. Somehow Rositch can fieak out and exude his paranoia and someone in the civic government or the management of the Vancouver Police orders these officers to this duty. Think about it! If you get robbed or mugged it can be 12 hours before you see a cop, but this excuse gets a personal army of them to hover over every bowl waiting for the hordes of (hungry?) drug addicts to begin biting anyone who even looks well fed! !!

On October 23, about 4 o'clock, Food Not Bombs again set up a pot of soup at 120 Powell. Again there were FIVE cops, 2 in d o r m and 3 plainclothes.

What the hell is this?

Every presentation about policing in Vancouver and especially in the Downtown Eastside starts and ends with descriptions of earth-shattering, doomsaying consequences if budgets and numbers of cops aren't increased.. and one whimng bigot with a business gets several officers at his beck and call without even a crime past or present happening.

There were repercussions. The police were fbrious at being so mis-used and it went from management in the VPD to the political level - to the unnamed idiot who ordered this. He (or she) then tells Rositch to take a cold shower (or maybe a valium). Two days later Rostch faxes a Press Release to major media (curiously miss the Carnegie Newsletter) using what's best descn ed as yellow journalism he presents a lie as a story and then wants those named to expend energy denying or just scrambling to see if anyone in their right mind is believing it.

The story was that a policeperson had "confirmed"

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that Cmegie Centre staff were demanding that police respect a "No Arrest Zone" outside the centre.. that police cease to "bother" the dealers and users in the outside population. This confirmation was reportedly made at a Community Police liaison meeting. The first query about this conf~rmedthat none other than Sue Bennett was responsible for the lying report. (Is that libel?(naw)) She variously passes herself off as being on the Historic Area Planning Committee, a Gastown Homeowner, etc. Characterisation aside, the officers who attend the Liaison meetings have stated that future meetmgs where Sue Bennett is present will not be attended by the police. It takes too long to build respect and trust with the many community peoplelgroups to have this destroyed or warped by lies.

I won't dig* Rositch or this Alliance by printing their sleaze, but the CamegiePolicepress release follows: PRT

VANCOUVER POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND DRUG ACTMTY AT MAIN AND HASTINGS The Community Alliance coalition issued a press release on October 25" regarding drug activity and enforcement at the comer of Main and Hastings. The Camegie Community Centre and the Vancouver Police Department wish to correct some of the statements in this release and to elaborate on their

workmg relationship.

It is not true that the Carnegie Community Centre is seean "arrest-free-zone for drug dealers and users" at the comer of Main and Hastings. Uniform Police officers and plain-clothes Drug Squad members continue to enforce the Controlled Drug and Substance Act. During an undercover project which ran from April 17 to the 26" at Pigeon Park seventy-one drug trackers were charged. During the recent Drug Project at the comer of Main and Hastings from July 17 to 27' another seventy-five were arrested.

The Carnegie Centre and the Vancouver Police Department are working together for the safety and health of the public and of drug addicts at Main and Hastings. We also recognize that a very diverse population congregates on the comer of Main and Hastings, some of whom suffer from mental illness, and some of whom are homeless. We also recognize that a practice of persistent dispersal moves drug activity into surrounding neighbourhoods.

The Centre and Police have established a number of procedures for this corner that combine health and safety and enforcement. The presence of Carnegie staE and routine patrols by officers are meant to contain and reduce violent incidents. Centre staff call for police emergency and ambulance support as the situation requires. Staff administer first aid and provide information and referral for addicts on matters such as health, housing, and food. There is close collaboration with other agencies such as the Street Nurses, the Needle Exchange, and the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users. Workers from the Centre also provide low-key programs meant to help addicts take responsibility for their own health and safety.

For fhrther information contact Michael Clague, Director, Carnegie Community Centre (604) 6653301, or Inspector Ken Doern, Downtown Eastside Extraordinary Policing at (604) 717-2976.

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Carnegie Commtlnity Centre Association

community. We feel a prompt and sincere apology

by Insp. Beach to the community is warranted if the damage to community-police relations is to be contained.

Yours truly, Margaret Prevost, President. CCCA

october 30,2000 m p . Gary Greer, Vancouver Police Department

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Dear Imp. Cheer, We were distressed to read in the Vancouver Sun the article entitled Police target washroom shelter (Thursday, September 28,2000). The tenor of the article, and especially the comments of Imp. Chris Beach, misrepresent the situation and are a disservice to the community, to the Vancouver police department, and to our relations with the VPD. & you know, community groups, agencies, businesses (includmg Chinatown) and individual residents have been meeting regularly to deal with this issue.

There is a plan that calls for complete redesign of the corner; and the Vancouver Agreement will help us implement the changes. The VPD has been part of this process, has participated fully and has endorsed the plan.

We all subscribe to the basic principle that we are not merely trying to disperse the street activity. That would not help the community, and it would only create a new set of problems for the police, who would have to deal with it in the back alleys or in front of businesses in the area. This is an immensely complex situation that requires a social plan as well as an architectural one. That's why we are reacting to the comments in the newspaper. Insp. Beach blames the situation on "bureaucracy" at City Hall, and says that quick action has been prevented because the police have ''been mired in discussions about everytlung from the dignity of local residents to the needs of transit users waitmg for the. bus."

His comments ignore and demean the efforts of the community, the co-operative spirit in which these efforts have taken place, and the tremendous achievement in accomplishmg the redesign. Residents, community workers and business people have volunteered untold hours to make this process work, only to read that they are standing in the way of a solution. This can only cause a loss of confidence in the police by the community. Residents will wonder why they are bothering to meet with the police if their efforts are dismissed so callously.

To our knowledge, Imp. Beach has never even attended a single meeting of this process with the

P.S. On another topic: we were gratified to read your prompt response to the irresponsible charges made

by Bryce Rositch about policing practices at Main and Hastings. Thank you for clearing up that matter.

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not to be believed.

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o come in the dead of night to dissuade park carriers not their privilege but Take your discrimination and decimation; just go away Do not preach. Do not speak down to us, don't make a play We will push back, never retreat You will face recriminations.

Don't steal from us, and return what you've already taken.

urt feelings. If you find this ard to believe, I demand you to now imply gaze into our faces.

Robyn Livingstone

Ripping Storm

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Driver: slowly.. if l'm not impatient To see you can see me I want to tell to the driver look twice when you come to the Main and Hastings area I don't want to break the law but

My situation is bad I'm poor and I have a pain and I am in pressure Don't think I take a drug to kill myself When I was healthy like you I was normal and now I am drugs, addicted I use the drug because of the pain Now you know what 1mean Another person said I am an alcoholic I was lonely and sad I went to cheer myself Now I became an alcoholic

I am disabled and life makes me tired I cannot wait I am in depression and I cannot wait How about you driver you have the same situation as I have?

I don't think so Can you look twice when you come to the Main and Hastings area?

We are not bad, but we are lost in the bad situation Please forgive us

Seasons are not the same all year round Green trees turn to colours in the Fall Like the different flavors of ice- cream Everyone wants life to go on the same Yet the Earth, is moving off its axis There are many contradictions in life A false prophet will say, "Don't WOW This world we live in will last forever."

Money never buys too much happiness An excited Dumpster Diver has reached The highest level of Spiritual Awareness People like to think that they have sanity When there are so many problems around Life in the city is not like on the mountains Where a warm fire is kept in the fireplace And the ripping storm can be kept outside So often a person has to be cruel to be kind There are all those young men, Dragons Wandering city streets needing the master To have some &n "1 want to rock the boat."

Daniel Rajala

Because I am in a pain I am not impatient Because I am in depression I am not patient Because I am cold or I am hot or alcoholic or in drug or disabled Because I am not a patient Who live in the Main and Hastings area The people are poor and in pain and disabled and they are lost because of their situation they break the law and they are not patient to wait for the t r a c light because of their situation We cannot work ourselves To wait behind the t r d c light We break the law We make the short way for walk Now you try to understand what I am talking about I am not patient because of situation

We Are Not Patient Because Of The Situation Nahid Nasirabdi

40 E. Hastings October 2 0 saw ~ the official opening of the new building at this address. It had originally been a project of Vancouver Native Housing but they had one iust beginning on the unit block of West Pender anddecided that proceeding with two at the same time would make each less than it could be. The development of the site at 40 East Hastings was transferred to the Main & Hastings Housing Society.

Government connections help..

The project was made possible through hdq from HOMES BC, a program of BC Housing.

Sixty-threepercent have a fiidge in their room.

It was decent to see people fi-om so many parts of Given the meagre facilities available in SRO hotels, housing in the Downtown Eastside, and to see the residents pay a high rent for them: Today, average reality that providing decent, affordable housing is a rent is $339 per month compared to $295 per month team effort. Kathleen Boyes and Darren Kitchen in 1991. The average rent is $14 per month above were named for providing much of the effort to steer the maximum shelter allowance for people in receipt this project, but both readily acknowledge people of BC Benefits. This may not sound like a great fi-omthe city and provincial governments, architects deal, but the average income of the 56% of residents who listen, BC Housing staff and others who are receiving BC Benefits is $527 per month. Overall, part of the struggle to get good homes. the average income of SRO residents is $658 per This opening happened during Affordable Housing month or $7896 per year. In 1991,10% of residents Week. The 80+ units are a welcome addition, but the earned incomes above Statistics Canada's Lowevent also included the release of The Downtown Income Cut Offs (LICO); today, only 2% have Core HouslIlP Proiect, A Community Self-Poortrait. incomes above this level. [Over 70%pay the shelter This is a comprehensive study of health and housing portion rate of $325 for as little as 100 s q j , with needs of residents in downtown Vancouver's single 28%paying up to $385. Any rate over $325 must be room occupancy (SRO) hotels. This survey was carcovered with moneyfrom the remaining $185 ofa ried out by the Main&Hastings Community Develop recipients ' support allowance, allegedlyprovided ment Society and the Tenants' Rights Action Coalifor such non-essentials as food and clothing.] tion. They interviewed 1447 people from a total of How Does the Health of SRO Residents Compare 6060 rooms identified for inclusion - SR07scosting to That of Other Canadians? $400 or less a month, shared bathroomkitchen.

Residents are generally in poor health. One in three The last such study was done almost 10 years ago, residents rate their health as Fair or Poor compared and findmgs reflect changes in a downward trend. to 9% of all Canadians and 21% of low-income "What is the Demographic Profile of Residents?

Canadians while only 23% rated their health as 85% of residents are male, 15% are female. Today Excellent or Very Good. This and other research the average age is 4 1 compared to 47 in 1991 and suggests that there is a connection between poor 65% of residents are under 45, compared to 50% housing and poor health: Of residents who had been who were over 45 in 1991. The age distribution living in SROs for 6 months or less, only 11% among women has changed even more dramatically: considered their health as Poor or Fair while for Today, their average age is 38, compared to 46 ten those who had lived in SROs for 1 to 2 years, 25% .r considered their health Fair or Poor. Residents are years ago and only 24% are over 45 mm~aredto 43% in 1991. also more likely to have been hospitalised in the past What Rents do Residents Pay, What Facilities Do ye, than other Canadians.

They Have And What Is Their Income?

What Do Residents Think of Their Housing?

Only 47% of residents have cooking facilities in Residents' main sources of dissatisfactionwith their their room and only 6% have a private bathroom. housing related directly to the way their housing is

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managed: Noise and vermin were chief complaints.

On average residents gave their housing an overall score of 5.4 out of ten. One in three residents named a bathroom as the one change they would most like to make to their housing and 90% thought that the area needs more low-income housing. Only 2% of residents would opt to stay in a hotel room if they had the choice while 90% would like a selfcontained apartment.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The survey results point to a number of health and housing needs among SRO residents. To address these needs, discussion in the community has pointed to four key actions. These actions are in close agreement with the community housing plan developed over the past two years.

F& ,t Social Housing is a good investment. The current Low Income Urban Singles and Homeless At Risk housing programs need to be continued. Under these programs, the provincial government helps to house SRO and homeless residents in small, self-con -tained apartments developed and run by non-profit community groups. Without these housing programs, many more people would be living on the streets or in sub-standard SROs. Second, the Federal government must return to funding social housing. Since they pulled out of the housing sector, several thousand units of aordable housing have been lost. Had these units been built, fewer people would be forced to live in SROs or on our streets.

Third,the decline of the SROs must be managed through a conversion and demolition by-law. The SROs are the last stop before the street. They must not be allowed to convert to tourist hotels or hostels until there is alternative housing available for the people living in them.

FEN&, standards of management must be enforced.

While SROs are inadequate in many ways, they sh~uldn'tbe infested with mice and cockroaches.

There are maintenance and health by-laws to cover these issues and they should be enforced."

The complete study is available from BC Housing or from MaidkHastings CDS at 33 1-8757.

Some of the art appearing in this issue is from a Seattle street artist project, part of Real Change.

When To Call 9-1-1 or Non-Emergency 717-3321 When To Call 9-1-1 9-1-1 is to be used only for emergencies POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL.. where an immediate response is required. When there is an emergency and lives are in danger, immediate action is required or there is a crime in progress.

When there is a good chance of arresting a crime suspect or of preventing the development of a serious crime situation by reporting suspicious persons, vehicles or circumstances, when there are threats of violence, actions or disturbance that if not controlled quickly could result in an emergency situation Currently all 91 1 calls within the Greater Vancouver Regional District go directly to ECOMMs central call talunn centre I INon- Emer~encvNumber When T ~ C ~The 717-3321 717-3321 is to be used for all non-emergency situations, where an immediate response or dispatch of the police is not required. When some time has elapsed since the incident occurred, crime suspect is not on the scene or calls are of nuisance nature.

The use of 717-3321 for all non-emergency reporting helps to keep the 9-1-1 lines available for people reporting an emergency situation. Most calls to 9-1-1 are not of an emergency nature and an immediate response is not required If you are unsure how serious an incident is call 9-1-1. Requests for assistance are dispatched on a priority basis, with serious calls dispatched first.

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Our Community Leadership

In complete darkness We are all the same it's only our knowledge and wisdom that separate us It begins in how we present ourselves to share long time goals our future plan a better life Freedom of Speech

What mistakes we make today will result in the mistakes that we'd made yesterday the violence the crimes homeless man and wife the needles the drugs every price takes a life Our Youth

we teach our kids rules love, faith, respect of others don't you see love - that's the key Communication

we must take a stand now that we're in demand greed, need, our power succeeds The Highest Honour

What we give to others will come back in greater numbers bound together through our beliefs we are self minded people sharing a common vision pushing towards a better way of life don't let your eyes deceive you Wayne Melvin

LEST WE FORGET As a Vet 1can never forget good friends lost in Normandy and in desolate fields around Amhem ...but these days I think on wars still with us - the fifth columns.. enemies within.. poverty.. escape routes.. betrayals.. retreats.. route 'marches' to despair.. door to door battles to find a bed.. hand to hand struggles for a place to rest in peace Sam Roddan

Necessity never made a good bargain.

- Benjamin Franklin L

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DOWNTOWN STD CLINIC 219 Main; Monday Frlday, 10 a.m. 6 p.m.

EASTSIDE NEEDLE EXCHANGE 221 Main; 8 5 0 a.m. 8 p.m. every day

YOUTH ACTIVITIES SOCIETY

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NEEDLE EXCHANGE VAN 3 Routes City 5:45 p.m. 11:45 p.m.

Overnight 1230 a.m. 8 3 0 a.m.

Downtown Eastslde 5:30 p.m. 1:30 a.m.

2O(M) DONATIONS Libby D.-$55 Sam R.440 Nancy W.-$20 Eve E.-$20 Mnaarct D.-$30 Shyammlr G.-S 18 Joy T.430 Val AS36 Wm B-$20 ~ b o m B.-S4 u I Harold D.-$7 Pam-$22 Rolf A.445 Bruce J.450 Paula -$I0 liettlc -S I8 Sonyr S.-S IJO BCTF-$25 Nancy H.-$35 Bill G.-SISOWa K.-$30 DEYAS-$ZOO RryCam-$25 LSS-$25 Wiucansin Historical Society -$I0 Heather S.-SIII John S-$50 Yukiko -$ I0 VEDC -S25 Paddy -S60 Rockingguys -S30 Anonymous 467

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IHE NEWSLETTER IS A PUBLICATIONOF IHE CARNEGlE COhtWMTY CENTRE ASSOCU11W

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Friday, November 10

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Welfare problems Landlord disputes llousing problems Unsafe living eontliliuns

We offer many serviccs as well il~clu~ding a I;l\EE lmlIONE d

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Subrnission Deadline for next issue

IS LIFE FARE

OUR PARK

Oppenheimer is one of the roughest parks in BC The staff work hard to keep it clean for you and me.

Some people put them critically down Not dunking who's all around.

Put yourself in their shoes before you talk On days you see the strain when they walk.

They deserve a lot more for what they go through just remember they're human, just like you.

The caring and understanding that you feel you think to yourself are they for real?

Their arms and heart and ears are always open Even for those who are there night and day doping.

Next time you see the staff in the park Try saying "thanks for what you do ti1 dark."

The people that try and knock down what they do are the ones who deserve a great big. . .Big. .Boo. Just thought I would speak my mind I don't thii the staff deserve a kick in the behind.

Let's hear it for staff who are 111 of laughter and fun All different cultures and races shining like the sun.

Try loving who you are Then you will always be a star.

When loved ones have passed away The sadness is hurting in no other way.

Their memories will always be with you For your f?iends that were so true.

We are here for a short time Let's enjoy each other before there's another sign.

Many die so young and dear We always shed that caring tear.

Why must drugs destroy our needy Dealers walking around who are so greedy.

See many hurting and sad faces on the comer trying to reach out to that special loner.

Wondering to myself 'how could it be..?' parents saying to themselves 'why me?'

Many have different reasons for what they do -it's unbelievable- if you only knew.

We need to reach out more than you think knowing that another could die in a blink.

Street programmers see so much every day always hearing their stories.. what say.

Many walk by with duty stares Some regulars see that they don't care.

You see some wondering to themselves 'why?'

If they only knew they would cry.

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Your comments or caltoon Ideas 7 E-MAIL Rlck Nordal at alpine-r1ck-2000@yahoo corn

The Sheway Project, currently located at 369 Hawk Street, is an innovative outreach program providmg holistic services to pregnant women with substance use problems, and support to mothers and their families until their children are 18 months old.

It was established in 1993 in response to a growing understandq of the needs of pregnant and parenting women living in the Downtown Eastside.

A study of alcohol and drug use during pregnancy and its effects on infants had shown high levels of substance use by pregnant women, low birth weight of their infants and very high levels of child apprehensionlloss of custody.

Services are provided on an outreach and drop-in basis from a storefront. Sheway provides practical support to women to address basic needs, such as daily hot nutritious lunches, food coupons and food bank hampers, nutritional supplements, bus tickets, formula and diapers. Coordinated professional services are offered by social workers, an outreach worker, an Infant Development Program worker, an alcohol and drug counsellor, community health nurses, a dietician, and physicians. A pediatrician, nurse clinician, occupational therapist and a physical therapist from allied care services provide on-site assessment and care related to the developmental needs of the children of mothers accessing care.

The chart below gives a picture -

Supper? or.M Y , Hcpa'rctis C and S7-D Issues

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The above description is taken from the Fall 2000 Evaluation Report of the Sheway Report. For info on the work of the Sheway Project or for copies of this report: 369 Hawk, Vancouver, BC V6A 1R3

Su?pcr.-t/ Ccunsci!mg on Substc'~ceUse/Aiirusc Issues

I Adrocac,. and Support an Access, Custody c@n oother

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Reducitq barriers l o care

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Helen Keller - Fighter For Justice TO CLAUDLA SOS To my beautifid Angel I am sad and sick and sometimes too weak T wish that you were always with me But I don't want to make you sick Angel Angel You are soft and sensitive You are pearl in my neck and ring Angel be fair with your life Don't be sad and don't cry in your heart Angel Angel my beautiful Angel Angel Angel and my best friend Angel Angel my beautiful Angel Nahid Nasirabdi

You may know that Helen Keller, born in 1880, was unable to hear, see or speak because of an early childhood illness. The popular movie, The Miracle Worker, told the story of how Anne Sullivan, Helen's teacher, taught the blind and deafgirl her own way of reading. writmg, hearing and speaking.

It is also important to remember that Helen Keller was a powerfd advocate of the vote for women, peace, and trade unions. She was a rebel with a cause. "This is not a time of gentleness, of timid beginnings that steal into life with soft apologies and dainty grace. It is a time for loud-voiced, open speech and fearless thinking," she said. (1) As a result of her own disabilities. Helen Keller became an advocate for all people with disabilities, includmg poverty. She pushed for industrial health and safety, public health, and a decent income for everyone, as ways to prevent disabilities. "Our worst foes are ignorance, poverty and the unconscious cruelty of our commercial society," she said.

"I had thought blindness a misfortune," Helen wrote. "Then I was appointed on a commission to investigate the conditions among the blind. For the first time, I, who thought blindness was a misfortune beyond human control, found that too much of it was traceable to wrong industrial conditions, often caused by the selfishness and greed of employers."

"It seems to me that they are blind indeed who do not see that there must be sometlung wrong when

the workers, the men and women who produce the wealth of the nation, are ill paid, ill fed, ill clothed, ill housed. Deaf indeed are they who do not hear the desperation in the voice of the people crying out against cruel poverty and social injustice," Helen wrote. With this insight, she became a strong supporter of trade unions. (1) On another occasion she said. "We are all blind and deaf until our eyes are open to our fellow men. It we had a penetrating vision, we would not endure what we see in the world today." (2) "There abides with me," Helen wrote in 1940, "a grasense that casting my lot with the workers...has given symmetry and dignity to my womanhood, and enabled me to face...the spiritual challenge which is quite as...fierce as the economic ordeal." (1) Helen Keller died in 1968.

By Sandy Cameron References (1) "Helen Keller - union militant and rebel." by Wayne Roberts, Our Times. July. 1988.

(2) "Helen Keller Lectures At Socialists' Meeting,' Qk&. February 8. 1913.

Bridge Housing Society For Women Workshops

Minute-taking: -November 2,5pm. 509 E.Hasfmgs Chairing & Decision-making -November 8,5pm. 509 E.Hastings Bridge and E.L.P. Workshops

Facilitating Meetings -November 16, noon, 2 11-456 W.Broadway Media -November 30. noon 2 11 - 6 6 W.Broadwav

Passing as Sane :Coming out Crazy Every day I pass as sane; pretending control and serenity; Appearing reasonable, average, normal.

I confess to taking pills that alter my state: that bring optimism, steadiness, A less subjective reality.

Also church in small doses, meditation, getting plenty of rest, staying away from the market.

Temptation to 'come out' eats at my sense of honesty.

But I did that before, remember.

The time I gave away all the books and records.

Suddenly, I was 'crazy' in your eyes; Overnight, I was changed into one whose word could not be trusted whose touch could contaminate.

So I will continue my carefbl way: passing as sane: Faking it. not till I make it, Because I will never make it I am crazy for good, But because the rewards go to the winners the whole .the sane -the happy And sure, I Want to win .I'm not that crazy. wmrniles, May 99