Programs
Information Services
What It Is:
Front-line support from our street-front office. Volunteers offer help, directions, resource referrals, and distribute community safety materials. We’re also a safe place for lost & found, public questions, or safe exchanges.
Why It Matters:
We connect people to local resources while being a welcoming face in the neighbourhood. We also host the Neighbourhood Police Officer (NPO) to support safe and approachable community policing.
Volunteer Patrols
What It Is:
Volunteer teams patrol the neighbourhood on foot, acting as an extra set of eyes and ears for the community. They report safety concerns, connect with businesses and residents, and document issues like discarded needles, graffiti, or suspicious activity.
Why It Matters:
Foot patrols promote visibility, reduce risk, and build trust. Observations from patrols help shape long-term safety strategies and make the area feel more cared for and connected.
Road Safety
What It Is:
In partnership with ICBC and the VPD, we run education campaigns and programs like:
- Speed Watch
- Cell Watch
- Transit & Pedestrian Pop-Ups
- Project 529
Why It Matters:
These initiatives reduce speeding, phone use while driving, and bike theft—making streets safer for everyone, especially pedestrians and cyclists.
Community Cleanups (CPTED)
What It Is:
Volunteer cleanups tackling litter, graffiti, and needles using CPTED principles—clean and active spaces are safer spaces.
Why It Matters:
Visible care reduces crime! Cleanups improve safety, boost neighbourhood pride, and give residents a hands-on way to make an impact.
Outreach & Engagement
What It Is:
Pop-up booths, event tabling, community collaboration, and volunteer drives. We meet people where they are—at festivals, markets, and on the street.
Why It Matters:
We stay visible and accessible. Outreach builds trust, spreads awareness of our programs, and strengthens local partnerships.
Downtown Eastside Community Response Network (DTES CRN)
What It Is:
The DTES Community Response Network (CRN), coordinated by the Gastown Hastings Crossing Community Policing Centre, connects residents, service providers, and volunteers to support vulnerable adults and seniors in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Why It Matters:
With challenges like poverty, housing insecurity, and social isolation, the DTES CRN helps prevent abuse, neglect, and self-neglect by fostering safety, education, and community partnerships, ensuring that all individuals are supported and included.
Learn more: https://bccrns.ca/bccrnsnetwork/vancouver-downtown-eastside-community-response-network
