Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry

Request for Donations

The WANM Street Outreach program currently needs the items listed below.  Donations can be left in the baskets provided in the Narthex of the church.

• Rain, winter and fleece jackets
• Rain pants
• Sweatpants < POPULAR!
• Long underwear
• Men’s sports-type socks
• Men's underwear, sizes M and L  < POPULAR!
• Tarps (dark colours are preferred but not essential)
• Can openers
• McDonald’s gift cards ($10 or $15)

Street Outreach Report - 19 April 2025

Clients: 14

Packages: 16

Mary and I (Kate) picked up packages, lunches, clothing, toiletries, two sleeping bags and a mat from St. Philip’s at around 9:45 a.m. Ash and Suzi were there to help us decide what items to take with us. 

We then proceeded to the “fence area,” just off West 4th Avenue and Alma, and met T., A., and P., to whom we handed out lunches, packages, and one or two items of clothing.

Taking a careful look at the storefronts and alley entrances from the vehicle, we proceeded to drive east on 4th Avenue towards the shopping center at Vine Street. After parking the car, we made contact with P. at his usual place in the shelter of the Whole Foods awning. P. accepted lunch, a package, and underpants, but refused the offer of clothing.

After returning to the car, we continued to drive east on 4th Avenue, and spied an awkward figure wearing a coat noticeably akimbo sitting in the seating area of the ice cream place at Cypress Street. I approached as Mary parked the car, and that’s how we met B. (K). B. is a young woman who has been in Vancouver for approximately five weeks probably from Alberta. B. had some bags of clothes with her, and we provided her with lunch, package, toiletries, sleeping bag and mat, some clothing and socks, information card, and pen and paper. B. is neither housed nor staying at a shelter. During our 20-minute conversation, B. revealed she was not willing to access a shelter and was not having luck finding a safe place to live on her own. Using the information card and pen and paper, Mary and I suggested the best and fastest way to get her into a situation where she could be registered for provincial benefits and ultimately find housing was to use the walk-in services at the Odd Fellows Hall and the Kitsilano Shower Program. B. expressed some confusion and an inability to find her way around Vancouver, so using the pen and paper we drew several simple maps and discussed the matter as thoroughly as time and focus would allow. B. is slightly built, with pale skin, dark hair and eye lashes, and many, many freckles on her forehead and face.

Continuing east on 4th Avenue, we inspected the park under the Granville Bridge overpass, but did not see anyone there. We next looked in at the parking areas just off West 7th Avenue between Fir Street and Granville Street, where we met L. and C., who appeared to be under the influence of something, as they were extremely animated and talkative. They gratefully accepted food and packages, and extra clothes and a sleeping bag.

After parking near the VSB Park we looked for J., but did not see him. We did see a man under some degree of distress yelling in our general direction the phrase: “Do you want to talk about it!,” but we did not stay to interact with an individual so clearly aggravated. 

At the corner of Granville Street and West 10th Avenue we saw A., who was watching the belongings of S. and L., who shortly made an appearance. We handed out lunches, packages, and what clothing we had to the three men and received a report from S. that due to the increased pressure on the homeless population of the downtown core as well as the Downtown Eastside, many more homeless men involved in the practice of collecting cans and bottles for the deposit have been in the neighborhood of South Granville, encroaching on S.’s livelihood.  We did walk around the area but noticed no one else in need of our help.

We returned to the vehicle and drove west on Broadway, keeping an eye on the storefronts andside streets for any figures that required assistance. At the corner of Broadway and MacDonald Street, at the Safeway, M. was outside with his walker/seat (he is often inside the parkade) and he was grateful for lunch, package, and a new shirt. Also by the Safeway, at the corner of Broadway and Stephens, sunning themselves and displaying possessions were L. and M.J.  =Both of them seemed upbeat and confused, and had made a sort of “living room”-style area on the sidewalk. We distributed food and packages, and in my opinion both were suffering from a mental health problems and folie a deux.

After a fair bit of trouble finding a parking space, we made contact with St. at the credit union near Balaclava Street. St. was attired solely in a worn pair of undershorts, enjoying the sun. He had heavy clothing piled beside him. He seemed a bit agitated. I offered him both a new shirt and fresh underpants, both of which he turned down, but he did accept food and a package.

Mary and I agreed to part ways at Broadway and MacDonald, with her intention being to return the carts and the remaining clothing to the lock-up at St. Philip’s at her leisure.

Downloadable PDF copies of this and previous reports are available below. Please note that reports are only posted for visits that start from St. Philip's, as occurs every four weeks in rotation with the other participating churches.

About the West Side Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry

The Neighbourhood Ministry was started in 2008 when a small group of concerned church members decided that they would like to support the people who are unhoused or insecurely housed on the West Side. It offers care, companionship and practical help to our most vulnerable neighbours living in unhoused marginalized conditions.

It is a collaborative ministry shared by the parishes of St. Anselm’s St. Philip’s, St. Helen’s and St. John's Shaughnessy .

Mission Statement of the Westside Anglicans Neighbourhood Ministry

“Mutual Transformation”  (reviewed by the Board of Management on November 23, 2021)

• We aim to show love and kindness to our homeless and vulnerable neighbours onVancouver’s Westside, simply by being a non-judgmental, reliable presence in their lives.
• We aim to be a bridge for them to access medical and social services which are inaccessible due to physical, mental health, and economic challenges and circumstances.
• We hope that the hearts of our volunteers and those who witness our work are transformed; that they become even more compassionate and committed by our weekly outreach and care to address the chronic crisis of homelessness.

WANM Ministries

Street Outreach

Every Saturday volunteers deliver packets of food, clothing and camping equipment to homeless individuals on the Westside of Vancouver. These supplies are donated by the parishioners of the four churches. 

Mobile Care Unit

In many cases, the Street Outreach teams find individuals who need help completing government paperwork for ID, income and disability assistance, and housing. In order to address these needs the Mobile Care Unit (MCU) was founded in 2017. The MCU is  staffed by WANM volunteers who help clients with this type of paperwork. It currently works out of Kitsilano Community Centre on Saturday mornings at the same time as the Kitsilano Shower Program, which offers a hot breakfast, showers and clean clothing.

Dunbar Housing

At 17th and Dunbar there is a supportive housing building and the WANM has been involved with its residents since it’s inception more than a decade ago. Several times a year, volunteers host celebration meals where they not only provide all of the food but also serve it and spend time with the people who live there.

More Information

For more information about the MCU or the Neighbourhood Ministry, please visit the Neighbourhood Ministry website.