Our Mission

Named after the Japanese word for 'small bridge' or "crossing", Watari's mission is to facilitate meaningful change and to provide a bridge to healthier possibilities through innovative, community driven and supportive programming.

About Watari Counselling & Support Services Society

Watari operates on the unceded, stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations.

Watari Counselling & Support Services is a grassroots, registered social-profit organization that has been serving Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) since 1986. This neighborhood faces extreme and intersecting challenges--such as material poverty, housing instability, chronic health issues, widespread food insecurity, and a toxic drug poisoning crisis--that are driven by factors like colonialism, capitalism, a housing crisis, and drug criminalization.

Guided by the complex needs of the community, Watari takes a holistic and inclusive approach to enhance well-being and social outcomes in the DTES. We are currently running 13 vital programs that include counseling, housing support, criminal justice system navigation, food security, and community-driven cultural programs for youth, adults, and families. Our focus is on helping those affected by multiple barriers to wellness, including mental illness, substance misuse, material poverty, houselessness/precarious housing, and food insecurity. By offering personalized support, fostering community connections, and reducing systemic barriers, we are empowering individuals and communities to harness their own capacity for transformative change.

Watari wouldn’t be able to do the critical work we do without the dedication of our hardworking staff, volunteers, and community partners, as well as the generosity of our funders and donors like you.

Join us in transforming lives and building a healthier, more connected community!

To contact us or to learn more about our programs and services, please visit our website at www.watari.ca