Welcome to the Eastside Works archive.
Eastside Works will permanently close on June 30, 2025. This webpage is an archive of Eastside Works' programming and resources that are free to access.
Dear community partner,
I’m writing with an update from our team at EMBERS Eastside Works. After reviewing our partnerships, funding opportunities, and program sustainability, we have made the difficult decision to permanently wind down Eastside Works. The program is set to close by June 30th.
Firstly, EMBERS remains committed to continuing the work of the Chinatown Stewards program through our grant funded by the City of Vancouver. One of ESW’s team members will be retained to continue supporting this work.
However, this means the rest of our programming, including our space at 57 E Hastings, our advocacy work, and the remaining staff roles will come to an end on June 30th.
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This was not an easy decision to arrive at, and there were many considerations that went into it. After an unsuccessful bid to the Province for a Research and Innovation grant in July 2024, we began a ‘strategy reset’ in November 2024. Throughout this process, we have been working to build a case for the continuation of Eastside Works as a navigation hub for employment service and wrap-around supports serving our community’s most vulnerable individuals.
As part of this strategic review, we conducted stakeholder meetings with our provincial and city partners which illuminated each government’s shifting priorities. These shifts along with a lack of financial investment from these partners has led us to make the difficult decision to wind down Eastside Works.
Eastside Works opened in 2018 as a 3-year pilot project with support from the City of Vancouver. The idea was to create an income generation hub for people with complex barriers to traditional employment. We provided walk-in employment services to DTES residents who were unable to access the more formal WorkBC programs, due to structural barriers within these programs that excluded the hardest to employ. Our services included job searches, resume building, interview prep, and low barrier job placement referrals.
Eastside Works also became an innovation lab for a handful of small employment programs that worked with community residents. We had a washroom maintenance program over 2 summers, a Film Ambassador program that hired residents to support film sets, the Chinatown Stewards that hired residents to support street safety, a Substance Use Employment Counselling program, and other programs.
In 2021, we were awarded provincial funding for a Peer Employment Program which ran for three 3 years. We received over $1M a year to pay residents to do peer work in the Downtown Eastside (DTES). We became a funding distribution source for some 15-20 organizations in the DTES who hired peers to do neighbourhood work such as drug prevention outreach, distributing COVID information, and a tenant support program in SRO hotels. Not only did we distribute funds for peer work opportunities through other organizations in the community, but we also hired our own peers to do neighbourhood work. These funds also allowed us to also pilot an “Art is Work” program that provided soft skill building opportunities in a fun, accessible, and creative way.We know the decision to close is challenging news, not only for our team and those who helped build this program from scratch, but for our community who will be left with no alternative to low-barrier employment services in the Downtown Eastside.
And yet, we have much to celebrate about Eastside Works. This webpage is meant to be an archive of our work. Our hope is that our community partners will continue to use the resources we have developed to support clients in their job searches, and also continue the movement we started for equitable, low-barrier employment services that are available to all workers, regardless of where they fall on the livelihoods continuum.
Over to you now,
The Eastside Works team
CONTINUING PROGRAMMING
low-barrier employment programs
EMBERS is committed to continuing Eastside Works' low-barrier employment programming, including the Chinatown Stewards, the PERCH Stewards, and the DTES Film Ambassadors. Through these programs we are able to employ individuals in the Downtown Eastside to create a safer, more inclusive community.
resources
Below are resources created and adapted by Eastside Works, available for public use. You may download these documents as word documents and adapt them as needed.
reports
for case workers
for clients
TIMELINE
2016
Urban Core, a network of local organizations, advocates for a low-barrier economic hub in the neighborhood.
City of Vancouver puts forward a motion to Council to support a 3-year pilot for a low barrier employment hub.
EMBERS submits a proposal to deliver Community Economic Development (CED) programming out of the Lux space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
2018
Eastside Works officially opens its doors, offering flexible, low-barrier employment support and income generation opportunities. The space quickly becomes known for meeting people where they’re at and providing a welcoming, non-judgmental environment for folks looking to take the next step towards work.
2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic hits, Eastside Works suspends walk-in services. Despite challenges, employment programs remain active, providing stability and purpose during a time of isolation.
2022
The Art is Work program launches, offering creative, low-barrier workshops where participants build confidence, connection, and soft skills.
The Substance Use and Supportive Employment Program (SUSEP) also begins, integrating employment pathways with harm reduction, funded by Health Canada.
Eastside Works leads the Low-Barrier Employment Network on a new advocacy project called SHIFT: Catalyzing Equity in Employment Service in BC.
2024
CLEAR continues through seasonal Cooling and Warming Pop-Ups, providing supplies and heat/cold relief while employing local peers.
As the Peer Employment Program (PEP) funding ends, Eastside Works enters a strategic planning phase with no core operating funds to focus on future possibilities.
Eastside Works publishes the SHIFT report, making key recommendations to the Province to make employment services more equitable.
2017
In early 2017, EMBERS is selected as the successful proponent for the CED initiative at the Lux. Planning and community engagement begins to shape what will become Eastside Works with the support of LEDlab.
2019
The Park Stewardship program launches, providing community-based outdoor employment.
The Chinatown Stewards begin in collaboration with the City of Vancouver, and PERCH Stewards launch with the DVBIA.
Later this year, the DTES Film Ambassador Program begins with support from Creative BC and the City, supporting local residents to work in film production while educating crews on working respectfully in the DTES.
The ASSET (Assessing Economic Transitions) Study begins. This 5-year longitudinal study explored the impact of work among those face barriers to employment.
2021
The provincial government awards Eastside Works over $1 million to support peer work in the DTES, with over half of this funding is redistributed to other DTES organizations doing peer-based work.
2023
Eastside Works partners with UBC Learning Exchange to launch the Climate Equity and Resilience (CLEAR) program, combining paid peer work with education on climate adaptation and community resilience.
2025
After careful review of funding prospects and sustainability, the decision is made to close the Eastside Works program. The closure marks the end of a unique, community-driven approach to low-barrier employment in the DTES, with lasting impact carried forward through the people and partnerships it supported.
TIMELINE
2016
Urban Core, a network of local organizations, advocates for a low-barrier economic hub in the neighborhood.
City of Vancouver puts forward a motion to Council to support a 3-year pilot for a low barrier employment hub.
EMBERS submits a proposal to deliver Community Economic Development (CED) programming out of the Lux space in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
2017
In early 2017, EMBERS is selected as the successful proponent for the CED initiative at the Lux. Planning and community engagement begins to shape what will become Eastside Works with the support of LEDlab.
2018
Eastside Works officially opens its doors, offering flexible, low-barrier employment support and income generation opportunities. The space quickly becomes known for meeting people where they’re at and providing a welcoming, non-judgmental environment for folks looking to take the next step towards work.
2019
The Park Stewardship program launches, providing community-based outdoor employment.
The Chinatown Stewards begin in collaboration with the City of Vancouver, and PERCH Stewards launch with the DVBIA.
Later this year, the DTES Film Ambassador Program begins with support from Creative BC and the City, supporting local residents to work in film production while educating crews on working respectfully in the DTES.
2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic hits, Eastside Works suspends walk-in services. Despite challenges, employment programs remain active, providing stability and purpose during a time of isolation.
2021
The provincial government awards Eastside Works over $1 million to support peer work in the DTES, with over half of this funding is redistributed to other DTES organizations doing peer-based work.
2022
The Art is Work program launches, offering creative, low-barrier workshops where participants build confidence, connection, and soft skills.
The Substance Use and Supportive Employment Program (SUSEP) also begins, integrating employment pathways with harm reduction, funded by Health Canada.
Eastside Works leads the Low-Barrier Employment Network on a new advocacy project called SHIFT: Catalyzing Equity in Employment Service in BC.
2023
Eastside Works partners with UBC Learning Exchange to launch the Climate Equity and Resilience (CLEAR) program, combining paid peer work with education on climate adaptation and community resilience.
2024
CLEAR continues through seasonal Cooling and Warming Pop-Ups, providing supplies and heat/cold relief while employing local peers.
As the Peer Employment Program (PEP) funding ends, Eastside Works enters a strategic planning phase with no core operating funds to focus on future possibilities.
Eastside Works publishes the SHIFT report, making key recommendations to the Province to make employment services more equitable.
2025
After careful review of funding prospects and sustainability, the decision is made to close the Eastside Works program. The closure marks the end of a unique, community-driven approach to low-barrier employment in the DTES, with lasting impact carried forward through the people and partnerships it supported.