A survey of more than 50 street venders in the Downtown Eastside reveals that a majority feel they are negatively impacted by new policies the City of Vancouver implemented on November 16.

Since that date, the Vancouver Police Department has kept hawkers off the once-crowded unit block of East Hastings Street, which runs between Carrall and Columbia streets.

The survey, conducted between November 21 and November 24 by the Carnegie Community Action Project, collected 48 responses to the question: “How have you been impacted by the VPD’s crackdown?” Of those, 38 people, or 79 percent, reported a loss of income.

One respondent claimed that the change led them to prostitute themselves. Several others warned that the crackdown on venders will drive low-income people to commit crimes such as robberies.

In a telephone interview, Vision Vancouver councillor Andrea Reimer acknowledged concerns for venders’ incomes. “That came through loud and clear,” she said about the survey.

Reimer emphasized that the city didn’t just “encourage” venders to move from the unit block but also made two alternative sites available. Those are 62 East Hastings and 501 Powell Street. (A Sunday market on Carrall between Cordova and East Hastings will also continue to operate.)

The survey suggests a majority of venders have issues with those sites, mainly, that they do not attract the same volume of foot traffic as the unit block.

Reimer noted that very few respondents suggested abolishing either of the new sites. “If there were a way to get the customers up…if you can solve that problem, then this is a preferable model,” she said. “But it’s really challenging.”

According to Reimer, part of the blame for so many people living in poverty in the Downtown Eastside lies with the province. “If anything, what that document represents to me a damning indictment of a lack of welfare-rate increase since 2007,” she explained.