Pubdate: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 Source: Province, The (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 The Province Contact: http://www.canada.com/vancouver/theprovince/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476 Author: John Bermingham Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) ADDICTION PROGRAMS WELL FUNDED Aboriginal and drug addiction programs are the main recipients in a $20-million fund for the Downtown Eastside. A list of 25 recipients from the Vancouver Agreement, obtained by The Province, shows that aboriginal housing and community projects got more than a quarter of the total amount. - - Drug treatment, including an expanded methadone program, has been awarded $2 million. - - Crime-fighting initiatives, including a crackdown on stores dealing stolen goods, have received $2 million. - - More than $3 million went to renovating the area's single-room-occupancy hotels. - - And more than $4 million is being invested to create jobs and keep business in the community. The Vancouver Agreement was inked in 2000, and in 2003 the federal and provincial governments each kicked in $10 million for projects. Only $2.5 million is left in the fund that has not been earmarked. Coun. Jim Green, a longtime activist in the Downtown Eastside, who helped set up the agreement, said the idea was to help the area without the hindrance of government jurisdiction. "The target is those in greatest need," he said. "The idea, too, is that you can't target one part of the community." Vancouver Agreement money is being spent on projects in Chinatown and Gastown. "There's a whole array of different things that are done to give that community the support it needs to pull itself out of the ditch that it's been put in by previous government policies." Coun. Peter Ladner said he wants a better accounting of how the money has been spent, so progress can be measured. "What are the outcomes?" he asked. "Are we getting something for all this money that's been spent. Are we making any progress?" "There isn't any evidence I can see of improved economic development. When I talk to people who run businesses down there, they want out." Ladner said if the fund gets new money, he also wants it spent in other parts of the city. "All this money has been spent on the Downtown Eastside, but some of the solutions have involved exporting the problems to other neighbourhoods," he said. "There are other neighbourhoods also having problems." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin