The unit block of East Hastings Street has long served as a homebase for low-income citizens who possess an entrepreneurial spirit.

The United We Can bottle depot at 39 East Hastings was likely the busiest recycling operation in Vancouver before it moved to False Creek in late-2013. And for better or worse, the stretch of road between Carrall Street and Columbia has hosted a sometimes chaotic crowd of street vendors selling all sorts of used goods.

Now, the City of Vancouver wants to create an official hub there that functions as an employment and economic-development centre for people who struggle with traditional job markets.

Vancouver’s managing director of social policy and projects, MaryClare Zak, explained the proposal in a telephone interview. “It’s about purposeful activity,” she said.

“We recognize that here is a gap, a gap with people who are able and who want to work, but who are not able to find it because they just aren’t there right now,” Zak continued. “And they might not ever be. But for those who are, it might be a stepping stone to other employment or full-time employment. For others, it may just be a way for them to at least be able to participate more in the community.”

The address is 57 East Hastings Street, a ground-floor space that’s been left vacant for years. It’s located directly west of the entrance to the Lux, a social-housing project run by Raincity Housing.

Zak described the proposed operation as a natural extension of the Downtown Eastside Street Market Society, though the two projects are officially not related. That group, which currently functions under the umbrella of the non-profit Portland Hotel Society, runs sanctioned spaces for street vendors at 501 Powell and at 62 East Hastings, directly across the street from the Lux.

Zak noted that economic well-being and meaningful employment can help people with an addictions issue.

“The research tells us that people who are struggling with addictions, if they have some kind of employment or volunteer work, if they have that on a regular basis that is steady, then they stay in recovery longer,” she explained. “So it’s a real anecdote to falling off of recovery. It’s routine and routine is very important.”

A lengthy request for proposals (RFP) posted online provides further details.

“The Premises will be used as a community economic development hub that provides and connects low income DTES residents with services and opportunities focused on income generation,” it reads.

It lists a number of services that should be offered at the site:

• Introduction and access to low-barrier employment opportunities
• Support skills development opportunities to earn an income
• Employer support services
• Maker space and self-employment support
• Promotion/making of local art
• Peer education and capacity building

The RFP states that all services should be low-barriers in nature. That means they should accommodate people who struggle with addiction and/or mental-health issues, even if those challenges are severe. It also suggests that the nonprofit operator that takes over the site establishes connections with complimentary service providers in the community, such as those that focus on addictions and mental health.

“In a locally-grounded environment, the multiservice integration will respond to individual and community needs, where the view is to find the right bridges to the right income generating and capacity building opportunities, and support them in transitioning into the most appropriate forms of activity given their context,” it reads. “The Premises will play a central role to counter social and income disparities of many local residents while affirming the community identity of the DTES.”

The city is accepting proposals for the economic-development centre at the Lux until October 28.

Zak said that while it’s still early days, she hopes to see the building begin serving clients sometime in the new year.