The Province newspaper is finishing up its year-long "Operation Phoenix" series on the Downtown Eastside. They asked about my thoughts on the campaign, recent changes in the local community, and the most important remaining challenges. Read the full article here. Here are my comments...

"The series has definitely provided more insight into the complex issues facing the community, helping people put real faces to those who live and work here, and providing real examples of the many effective programs operating. At St. James we've very much appreciated the many generous offers of community support that have also come from the series. On the flip side, I worry that more than ever the wider city still views the Downtown Eastside as the "other" neighbourhood, rather than connecting the dots and realizing the challenges can't be addressed in isolation.

I'm a relative newcomer to the Downtown Eastside (having only worked here for two years), but it does seem that there are signs of encouragement. New shelter capacity and the hotels purchased by the province and managed by not-for-profits have increased housing options, while there seems to be greater will at all levels to look together for the comprehensive answers to challenges like homelessness that are at the core of issues in the Downtown Eastside.

The absence of a broad and unified vision for the neighbourhood is a problem, despite the huge number of plans and processes over the years. There is so much energy and passion here, and, I suspect, much more that everyone jointly believes rather than that divides. Clearly the status quo is not acceptable, and we all have to do more to help the Downtown Eastside achieve sustainability and health while retaining its identity and capacity as a predominantly lower-and moderate-income community."