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."