On the Sunday before ‘Welfare Wednesday’, the streets of the Downtown Eastside (DTES) are plagued with poverty, addiction and despair. Earlier today, I headed to Hastings Street with two new friends – Linda and Zahara – both principals with Surrey Schools. Linda’s 12-year-old daughter Chloe joined us for an afternoon going ‘Beyond Hello‘ – the simple act of taking someone from the streets to lunch to listen and learn from their story. The neighbourhood seemed quieter than usual, with little activity along the damp sidewalks. Some unhoused citizens lined up for lunch from local food vendors, while others sought shelter in alcoves to block the chill of November wind.

Chloe and her younger brother got up early this morning to make dozens of sandwiches for those living on the streets. With the help of family and friends, we brought donations of purses, make-up, hand-made toques, gloves, socks, and bags of leftover Halloween candy. Our shopping bags were full of handouts, allowing us to spark conversation with those on the street and see what they might be interested in receiving. As we turned the corner from Abbott to Hastings, a man struggling with addiction noticed we had a child with us. In his loudest voice he shouted “Kids on the Block” so those along Hastings could be on their best behaviour. Despite the heaviness that exists on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside streets, a culture of care remains amongst our most marginalized citizens. I have been visiting the DTES since 2009 – and this act of kindness has become universal along the city streets. Despite their struggles with addiction or homelessness, a deep care for children exists. The first person to spot a child yells ‘Kids on the Block’, and anyone with drugs or drug paraphernalia covers their supply, and is mindful of their behaviour while being observed through the eyes of a child.

The first lady we met was a woman named Lily. As we offered Lily a sandwich and some make-up, her face lit up and she told us she felt like our visit was an act of God. Before Lily’s life took a tragic turn, she was a thriving make-up artist, working in the movie industry. She lived in Coquitlam in what she refers to as her ‘rich days’. She had a ‘typical life’ with her partner and three children. She had full-time employment, a condo and drove a car. Creative by nature, she loved to paint and draw, and thoroughly enjoyed her time as a make-up artist, helping others feel beautiful. When Zahara offered her a 100-colour eyeshadow palette, she was incredibly moved. She was just recently asked by a local women’s agency to consider part time employment as they had noticed her giving nature and her desire to help others. She had spoken to them about the possibility of offering make-up tutorials but had yet to gather the supplies necessary to get her idea into motion. She thanked us with genuine kindness as we said goodbye and headed up the block.

For the next thirty minutes, we interacted with dozens of people who each took time to thank us personally. Many shared a glimpse into their stories and told us their names. Sharilyn, Dennis, and Elizabeth the 4th were particularly engaging as we paused for conversation. Linda and Chloe offered make up to a woman named Cherry. Linda confirmed that Cherry’s name started with the letter C. Delighted to find a woman whose name started with the same letter, 12-year-old Chloe offered her own bedazzled make-up bag, with a shiny letter ‘C’. This made Cherry’s day.

As the cold weather chilled us to the bone, we decided to make our way to Tim Hortons to warm up. Impacted by Lily’s story, we chose to visit her again to ask if she would like to join us. Thrilled by the idea, Lily made arrangements for friends to watch her possessions while she joined us for a quick lunch. However, when we arrived at Tim Hortons, Lily insisted that she only receive a drink and some TimBits as she was saving the sandwich Chloe had made her, and she didn’t want to take more than her share. With warm drinks in hand, Lily began to share her story. With grace and sensitivity, she paused and explained that some details of her life might be hard to hear. She invited Chloe to use the timeout symbol if details became too traumatizing. She let Chloe know it would be ok for her to step away from the table if the story was too intense for her to hear. Like her friends on the street, Lily wanted to take care of ‘Kids on the Block’.

Lily describes her childhood as complex, difficult, and full of privilege and neglect. Lily was born in El Salvador where her father’s government job put their family at risk of persecution. After moving to the US, many of her cousins became entrenched in the MS13 gang. Her immediate family moved to Canada, where her parents became workaholics, leaving little time for their three daughters. Lily and the middle sister were responsible for raising their baby sister. Continually upset by her family dynamics, Lily eventually ran away from home. While living in a youth shelter, she began to use ecstasy. The youngest daughter also left home, and spent years working in the sex trade before taking her own life at the age of 25. The social agency that offered support to her sister is the agency that Lily hopes to begin employment with, in an effort to help others impacted by street life.

In 2006, Lily’s life was on track. She lived in a condo near Coquitlam Centre where her three children loved going to the pool. She worked as a make-up artist, and supported her children with their education. Parenting was not always easy as her daughter struggled with her mental health, and the youngest son was diagnosed with autism. Despite the challenges, they loved their time together as a family. One afternoon, while taking a taxi, Lily was involved in a horrible car accident. The taxi burst into flames and Lily endured significant burns. She spent the next six months in the Burn Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital.

The fire was the pivotal moment that led to family breakdown and a downward spiral in her career. With new skin, her arms and hands did not look the same. As Lily tried to return to work as a make-up artist, she was not able to secure as many contracts as clients were put off by the look of her arm next to their face. Lily turned to opioids to relieve the physical and emotional pain. As life unraveled, her youngest son, now 14, went to live with grandparents. Her daughter, now 22, works as a chef, and her middle child made some unfortunate choices and is now in jail. Lily lives with her boyfriend in Richmond and travels to the DTES where societies like Potters Place and The Wish offer hope and support. Lily confirmed she feels accepted and less judged on Hastings Street – a feeling that is hard to find in the suburbs.

As we sat at the back of Tim Hortons, we emptied our make up bags so Lily could decide what products she might want to take. She assured us she would share with others, and continued to thank us for making her day extra special. She asked for our phone numbers and we all agreed to stay in touch. Lily felt that today was a sign that she should follow her dream and try again as a make up artist. She agreed to contact the women’s centre that had helped her sister to see if she could offer workshops. We agreed to bring her more makeup as needed for her new initiative.

While we chatted, a man in a walker approached with a bouquet of flowers. He didn’t have cash to buy himself a coffee, but had flowers and wanted to know if we would like to buy them. Zahara politely offered him $5 in exchange for the colourful bundle. While he headed to the line to grab a coffee and donut, Zahara offered up the fresh flowers – a perfect and fitting gift for our new friend, Lily.

“On the drive back home, I compared my problems to Lily’s, and thought about how lucky my family is to have three meals a day and not have to worry about finding shelter at night. I also thought about how kind and grateful everyone was and minded their own business and didn’t bother us unless they wanted a sandwich. Overall, I think this experience was very eye-opening, and made me feel extra grateful for what I have.” Chloe, age 12.