VANCOUVER - To outsiders, 91原创鈥檚 Downtown Eastside could be considered an intimidating place, where some backalleys are strewn with syringes and many residents struggle with addiction. But for a number of those who live there, the community is much like any dysfunctional family.
The neighbourhood has more than its fair share of kooky aunts, alcoholic uncles and wayward teens, yet some residents say there鈥檚 no community as loving and as misunderstood as Canada鈥檚 poorest postal code.
Lisa Beketa has lived in the Downtown Eastside for five years. On a recent day, she was well dressed with pink lipstick, a hint of shimmering eyeshadow and stylishly-trimmed chestnut brown hair. She says she鈥檚 a heroin addict.
Beketa said she can鈥檛 fit in anywhere but the Downtown Eastside because people treat her like a leper.
鈥淭he reason why nobody wants to leave is because we鈥檙e not accepted anywhere,鈥� Beketa said. 鈥淭here are a lot of ugly stories down here but there are a lot of positive stories too. A lot of people (who) are addicts volunteer, get out there and help people.鈥�
A helping hand is easy to find on these streets, where shopping carts laden with personal belongings and discarded treasures are the vehicle of choice, Beketa said.
Dennis Baker is one of those residents willing to help. At 64, he has received a scholarship to Kwantlen Polytechnic University and said he is considering going back to school to become an addictions counsellor.
鈥淚 love the people down here,鈥� Baker said, his nicotine-stained moustache dancing as he speaks. 鈥淭he Downtown Eastside can be heaven or hell. It鈥檚 what you make of it.鈥�
In a neighbourhood where discarded trash and syringes line secluded alleyways, Baker chooses to see the positive.
鈥淓verybody has a story,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 lot of people have really been dealt some bad cards. There are a lot of educated people down here, there are a lot of talented people ... musicians, artists, you name it.鈥�
Baker said he鈥檚 had a rough go of things since his wife died of a brain aneurysm 鈥� one of life鈥檚 鈥渂ad cards.鈥�
鈥淚t is embarrassing to be in a rut down here,鈥� the former long-distance truck driver said of his past drug addiction.
He said ending up on the Downtown Eastside can often deal a deadly blow to addicts鈥� dreams for the future. As a recovering addict who鈥檇 been 鈥渟traight for a while,鈥� Baker lost his job when employers found out he had once used drugs. He said he鈥檚 also continually harassed by cops.
鈥淵es, I brought a lot of this on myself, I can understand that,鈥� Baker said.
Nevertheless, he said the genuine care and support of people in the Downtown Eastside will get him back on his feet, so he鈥檚 one day able to 鈥減ay it forward.鈥�
The Downtown Eastside is known to outsiders mainly through news stories and thumbnail descriptions 鈥� Canada's poorest postal code, home of a safe-injection site, a hunting ground of serial killer Robert Pickton.
In 2006, the median household income was $13,691, compared with roughly $48,000 for 91原创 as a whole.
But the notion of the Downtown Eastside as massive blight to be cured is one Christopher Charles wants to debunk.
Born in Toronto and raised in Saskatchewan, Charles said the sense of community found in the Downtown Eastside is unparalleled.
鈥淚 could walk all the way from Victory Square to the Astoria (Hotel) and someone would greet me by name on every block. There鈥檚 (no other) place in 91原创 that can happen,鈥� he said.
鈥淲hen people come down here they drive down with all the windows rolled up and the doors locked. But if you really need help from your fellow man, you鈥檙e gonna receive it from someone down here and they鈥檒l be a complete stranger.鈥�
The dreadlocked man came to the area in 1993, with a cocaine and heroin addiction so bad his friends predicted he would 鈥渄ie with a needle in his arm.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檇 wake up and I鈥檇 look over to the North Shore Mountains and I鈥檇 think ... 鈥業s this all your life has become? Is this all you鈥檙e meant to be?鈥� Thankfully there was a little nagging voice in my head that said, 鈥楴o, it鈥檚 not, Christopher. No it鈥檚 not.鈥欌��
Charles said he鈥檚 finally content in life. He beat his drug addiction and moved out of the Downtown Eastside but returns every chance he can.
鈥淛ust walking down the street, a lot of people recognize and know me from the old days,鈥� Charles said. 鈥淭hat inspires some hope within them ... they realize, 鈥榊ou know what? If he can do it, I can do it.鈥欌��
