Despite closure of DTES street market, ‘rogue market’ continues on crowded sidewalks

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Two weeks after the Downtown Eastside street market was officially shutdown by the City of Vancouver, a rogue market continues on crowded sidewalks.

“Unfortunately it seems like a lot of folks in the area have depended on that market for some income for various things,” says Graham Williams, who lives in the neighborhood. “Nothing has changed. Basically if it is sunny out, that market, that sort of new rogue market, is jammed with people.”

He says it’s made physical distancing — which is currently being urged by health officials to slow the spread of COVID-19 — impossible in the area.

“The problem here is that this is a stretch of sidewalk that is 100 metres long by probably 2.5 metres wide and it is filled with probably between 50 and 80 people on a regular basis during daylight hours.”

Williams says it’s a result of 30 years of failed policy that has not provided for the vulnerable people living in the area, and he’s calling on the city, the province and Vancouver Police to stop washing their hands of the area.

“There should be a plan in place as to where we are going to house 2,500 people in the Downtown Eastside who are living far close to each other to be socially distant. What are we gonna do to make sure that they have the same access to the types of funds that are being given to people who have just lost their jobs?” Williams asks.

“We’re telling Canadians around the country that they are eligible for $2,000 every month, for four months, and we’ve been asking people in this area to live on $600 a month.”

Concerns about a COVID-19 outbreak have been growing, as the number of cases in the province rises each day. Some, including Williams, believe the virus may have already reached the area’s most vulnerable.

“I’m not a doctor but I do believe this is here already,” he says, based on the coughing he’s heard in the area in recent days. “It is a different cough than I’ve heard before.”

Williams fears just one case in the area will quickly lead to more.

“I am afraid that by proximity, there are going to be people in this neighborhood, myself included, who are going to be exposed,” he adds. “There has been very little education outside of ‘wash your hands’ and I feel like we’re really underserving this community.”

City, province, VPD work to address concerns

The City of Vancouver says it’s aware of increased street activity due to the closure of the DTES market, and it’s offering work to some of the vulnerable people in the area.

“Some of the DTES Market peers who were paid a voluntary stipend to help with market operations, and other local residents have been provided low barrier work opportunities through the City-funded Community Stewardship Program, in partnership with the Community Impact Real Estate Society (CIRES),” says a statement from the city. “An average of 50 residents – or peer workers – are providing critical public health information about COVID-19 and encouraging people to maintain the two metre distance advised by the Provincial Health Officer.”

BC Housing, meantime, says efforts to provide accommodation to people in the area continue. The Coal Harbour and Roundhouse community centres opened at the end of March to people on the DTES, by referral.

“These sites are continuing to expand operations and will be able to provide a combined 143 beds to vulnerable people in need,” a statement says. “Each centre has separate rooms with private bathrooms available for people that need to self-isolate.”

More facilities around the province are expected to open to allow vulnerable people to self-isolate, as needed, with more details expected in the coming days.

“These sites will be vital in preventing the spread of COVID-19 as they allow us to spread out the number of people in existing shelters, free-up acute care beds in hospitals, and prevent crowding,” the statement adds.

The province and the city have been working with the Vancouver Police Department to address concerns about COVID-19 on the DTES. The VPD says as of now, officers are not issuing tickets for non-compliance with physical distancing.

“The City of Vancouver has taken the lead on this and their By-law officers will be enforcing this By-law,” says a statement. “VPD officers in the DTES will continue to educate people about social distancing and will also continue to advise people to practice social distancing.”