Downtown Eastside Speaks Up!
This report includes the findings from a survey that LSU! members wrote and distributed to members of the DTES Community in 2020. The survey included a variety of topics, from healthcare, housing, and harm reduction. The survey was a way to check in on our neighbours and see what challenges they were facing. From this information we are hoping to get a better understanding of those who make up our neighborhood and the community. The questions were shaped by the participants of LSU! initiatives.
This report includes the findings from a survey that LSU! members wrote and distributed to members of the DTES Community in 2020. The survey included a variety of topics, from healthcare, housing, and harm reduction. The survey was a way to check in on our neighbours and see what challenges they were facing. From this information we are hoping to get a better understanding of those who make up our neighbourhood and the community. The questions were shaped by the participants of LSU! initiatives.
LSU! strives to use participatory action research (PAR). PAR has been defined as the “individuals and groups for whom the issue is important should have a genuine role in research and should be the ones to drive the focus and planning of the work” and PAR asks for equal roles and relations to be used when doing research. The process of conducting participatory action research importantly allows community members to take on a position of inquiry and outreach in order to better support and strengthen their community. In contrast to research done and led by academics and external groups, PAR is an approach to ensure that community members are guiding, leading, and benefitting from their own research.
Read the final report Downtown Eastside Speaks Up! containing LSU!’s findings
Identifying the Needs and Support for Chinese Seniors in Downtown Eastside Vancouver
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of Chinese seniors in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, especially in the Chinatown and Strathcona area, the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House carried out this project which was funded by the Chinatown Legacy Stewardship Group.
The project conducted a research study to collect up-to-date data on the living conditions and support networks of Chinese seniors within the Chinatown and Strathcona areas.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of Chinese seniors in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, especially in the Chinatown and Strathcona area, the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House carried out this project which was funded by the Chinatown Legacy Stewardship Group.
The project conducted a research study to collect up-to-date data on the living conditions and support networks of Chinese seniors within the Chinatown and Strathcona areas. The study focused on seniors who spoke Chinese dialects and lived in Chinese Benevolent Society-owned and privately-owned Single Room Occupancy (SRO) buildings.This study aims to understand the following issues: To what degree do the Chinese seniors require support and services to deal with their basic activities? How familiar are they with the services available in their communities? What types of networking do they employ to find support and services? Are there any unique difficulties in accessing support and services in their communities?
Author: Helen Hong Su
Research Advisors: Miu Chung Yan, Andy Yan
Co-chairs: Rory Sutherland, Nick Yung
Data Analysis: Weiyin Li
Graphic Design: Brittany Garuk
