Today we were fortunate to meet up with Doris Chow from United We Can, the largest social enterprise in the DTES focusing on collecting recyclable produts such as bottles and cans. Everyday numerous binners (people who search through garbage bins looking for items that be recycled for cash) pile into an old building along East Hastings, unloading ”treasures” they have discovered. It is a sustainable business that provides employment to local residents, who would generally not be hired anywhere else.
Doris spearheads the Urban Bining Unit, a division of United We Can that focuses on creating compact carts. These carts enable binners to pick up and transport recyclable products from surrounding businesses that are willing to donate.
We engaged in 1.5 hour conversation in a small coffee shop in Gastown. After ordering our coffee, we immediately bombarded her with questions. She was open and replied to each one thoughtfully. Drug addiction is a very complex issue. We talked about how drug prohibition had not been effective. Drug dealers are still rampant and enslaving addicts, who need to get high. I saw several of what appeared to be drug transactions in the back alleys as I walking to UWC. Drug policies were made on a federal level, which creates some limitation in both the provincial and municipal level. Political bureaucracy and the need for elected officials to remain in power generally result in policies that cannot be controversial and are still the the status quo.
On the other hand, there are those who successfully complete rehab but still remain unemployed and homeless. Doris told us how she had bumped into one the regular binners at UWC outside a rehab center. He looked a lot healthier because he had been changing his lifestyle. However upon reaching sobriety, people were reluctant to offer him a job due to his past. He managed to secure a job at UWC, but the high cost due of rent in surrounding neighbourhoods forced him to remain in the DTES. Continued exposure to an environment where drug usage is visibly high, makes it more difficult for a recovering addict. There seems to be lack of policies that enable people to leave the DTES, mixed along with NIMBYism.
Doris was an SFU sociology graduate. Last summer, she had attended the “Semester in Dialogue” program in the downtown campus that focuseson social problems. Since our project was similar to some of the events from that program, she provided insight on who we should invite and methods to facilitate it. A case competition involving business students would have to avoid the pitfalls of being too competitive – it may take away the true point of the exercise. She explained that it was not the end product or result that was important , but rather the process of thinking and collaborating on such issues.
BWiles
sunnyhoshingchan
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mattbaril
Kelly and I had the pleasure of speaking with Doris as well, except our conversation was on the issue of waste management.
Her position at United We Can definitely allows her to see a wide range of social problems, and I thought it was so interesting to see how they were inter-connected. Our group has been looking at waste reduction and consumption, and I found it so interesting that the binners, rather than creating waste, were actually doing their part to help reduce (or at least recycle) ours.
On another note, Doris mentioned that police officers, in combination with garbage trucks, in preparation for the Olympics, will rid the homeless people of their last possessions, just to keep Vancouver’s streets looking clean. And, often, when these goods are taken, they lose all sense of their remaining sanity. From this point, an already existing addiction may spiral into an inescapable dark hole.
Perhaps outfitting those living on the streets with something that adds meaning or hope to their lives could be part of your solution? In an era fueled by consumerism and commercialism, they may be the only ones left to appreciate and to value such goods…
Yeah, its great that the business model of UWC caters to both social and environmental issues.
In regards to the time of Olympics, there is bound to be numerous changes. The city would most likely be finding ways to minimize the visual impact, and improve first impressions for those passing by the DTES. An article in the Vancouver Sun yesterday estimated that the true cost of the Olympics would be close to 2.5 billion dollars. I think tourists would find it quite shocking that a city investing such a large sum of money, but is able to sufficiently take care of its own residents. This especially rings true since Gastown, a major tourist attraction, is right behind it.
And thanks for the idea about adding value to the daily lives of those living on the streets. We will try to incorporate that into our discussion forum.