IndigenousAn Indigenous-led organization for unhoused residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside says it has six more months to figure out how to continue drop-in services for its clients.Aboriginal Front Door Society is seeking other funding sources before provincial money ends in MarchEdzi’u Loverin · CBC News · Posted: Sep 19, 2025 6:57 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoChris Livingstone is executive director of Aboriginal Front Door Society in Vancouver, which runs a storage program for unhoused Downtown Eastside residents. (Mike Zimmer/CBC )An Indigenous-led organization for unhoused residents of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside says it has six more months to figure out how to continue drop-in services for its clients.Funding from British Columbia for Aboriginal Front Door Society (AFDS), along with Watari Counselling and Support Services, was set to end Sept. 30, but a statement released on Sept. 9 said the province has extended funding for both organizations for “continued day-space drop-in services.”Watari and AFDS both offer meal services to hundreds of clients on a day-to-day basis. AFDS provides a storage program and Watari’s community hub space acts as a centre for health service partnerships for several clinics.But the organizations, like many other non-profits, continue to face funding insecurity.”We’re very happy to be able to continue to do our work, and we actually can’t do it without the city and the province and other people or supporters,” said AFDS executive director Chris Livingstone.”Unfortunately, it doesn’t really change the fact that we have to somehow find new funders out there that would be willing to support us to continue doing the services that we’re doing.”Temporary funding is a consistent reality for many non-profits because secure funding for non-profit organizations has eroded over time, says France-Emmanuelle Joly, executive director of Aboriginal Mothers Centre Services, which provides safe housing for Indigenous mothers and families in Vancouver.”It depends on the funder. Sometimes it’s a year, sometimes it’s two years, sometimes it’s three years. It really depends on the funder.”Joly said the “ebb and flow” of political priorities, federal and provincial budget cuts, and changes to leadership all impact a non-profit’s funding longevity.”No non-profit is safe from that standpoint,” said Joly.Non-profit in Vancouver closesProblems securing consistent funding have already caused a long standing non-profit that provides services to sex-workers in Vancouver to close its doors earlier this year. In the summer, PACE Society closed permanently after operating for over 30 years, due to outstanding debts and an inability to secure funding.Though PACE was not mandated specifically for Indigenous sex workers, data suggest Indigenous women comprise over 50 per cent of street sex workers in Vancouver.As for AFDS and Watari, funding will run until March 31, 2026. AFDS is to receive about $625,000 for services to continue drop-in operations and Watari will receive more than $1.2 million, according to a statement by the province.The City of Vancouver will provide $142,500 in 2025 to support AFDS’s storage program at 390 Main St., and continued use of the city-owned buildings used by both organizations.Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in the Sept. 9 statement that the city is proud to work with the province, Watari and AFDS to provide services that make a difference in vulnerable residents’ lives.CBC Indigenous reached out to Watari but did not receive comment before time of publishing.Chris Livingstone said in the meantime AFDS is looking for other funding sources before the end date of the organization’s provincial funding.ABOUT THE AUTHOREdzi’u Loverin is graduate of CBC’s Indigenous Pathways Program and has reported in Vancouver and Winnipeg since 2024. Edzi’u is a member of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and a registered member of the Tahltan Nation, but is currently based in xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ territories. You can email Edzi’u at edziu.loverin@cbc.ca with story ideas.
Indigenous-led Downtown Eastside programs get 6-month funding extension
