Mayor Ken Sim Announces Revitalization Plan for Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside

(Image courtesy CBC)

Mayor Ken Sim has announced a plan to address the systemic challenges facing Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES), outlining a strategy focused on public safety, housing reform, and community integration. Speaking at the Save Our Streets Forum on Friday, Sim described the initiative as a pivotal shift in tackling addiction, crime, and housing issues in one of the city’s most complex neighbourhoods.

The plan introduces three major policy changes, beginning with an update to the Downtown Eastside Area Plan. This revision aims to diversify housing, businesses, and services to reduce the over-concentration of supportive housing and social services in the DTES. Sim emphasized that integrating the neighbourhood into the broader Vancouver community would foster a balanced environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.

The second measure pauses the development of new supportive housing units in Vancouver, redirecting resources to renovate the city’s ageing stock of Single Room Occupancy (SRO) housing. Vancouver currently houses 77 per cent of the region’s supportive housing despite representing only 25 per cent of its population. The pause will allow the city to advocate for a more equitable regional distribution of supportive housing.

The third initiative focuses on public safety, with a crackdown on organized crime and gangs in collaboration with the Vancouver Police Department. Sim pledged to dismantle criminal networks contributing to street-level violence and exploitation of vulnerable residents.

“For too long, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent without delivering meaningful change,” Sim said. “We need to prioritize accountability, dignity, and recovery. Vancouverites deserve better, and we are committed to driving real results.”

The announcement follows recent steps under Sim’s leadership, including increased funding for the Vancouver Police Department, the launch of BC’s first Indigenous Crisis Response Team, and the opening of a new Community Policing Centre for the Gastown and Hastings Crossing area.

The Save Our Streets Forum gathered civic leaders, community advocates, and stakeholders to address public safety and street disorder in British Columbia.