Support for Trey Helten’s partner and kids. Ashtrey forever.
Trey is recognized as a beloved community member.
Support the fundraiser for Trey’s family!
By Heather T., Nathaniel C., Tyson S. & P.O.W.E.R. Cover photo by Jackie Dives.
The Downtown Eastside is reeling.
We are grieving another tremendous loss — our beloved friend, advocate, and comrade, Trey Helten.
Trey is recognized as a beloved community member who would do anything for his neighbours.
After over a decade of giving everything to the harm reduction community, tirelessly supporting people who use drugs in his community, whether in the punk scene, the graffiti and art scene, or supporting so many and saving lives in the Downtown Eastside, Trey will always be loved.
In life and in death.
We will never forget his humour, his kind heart and creative talents.
For over ten years, Trey was instrumental in weaving the fabric of community care. His love, his fire, and his resistance shaped the Downtown Eastside and beyond. He organized, fought and loved fiercely.
Because Trey demonstrated his resilience by showing up to walk alongside his community with his unique bundle of medicine, his presence on the block has been a sign of hope and inspiration for many of us over the years.
Trey leaves behind a partner, a teenage son, and an unborn child. They are now facing unimaginable loss and hardship without him. Their grief reminds us how deeply we need one another, and how much care and support every family deserves. They deserve so much more — not just condolence, but a community that shows up and holds them through their grief.
All funds raised will be distributed to Trey’s son and his pregnant partner as they see fit.
We request for those who knew Trey to share or donate to this fundraiser to ease the burden on family and those closest to him to be able to move through their grief. We know that there is nothing we can do to undo the unthinkable pain his partner and son are going through, however we hope we can make things even slightly easier.
Trey gave everything he had to us. Now we give back to his family.
Please donate if you can, share widely, and honour Trey’s life by supporting those he loved and leaves behind.
We remember. We mourn. We fiercely resist. We organize.
And we love, above all.
To hear more about and learn from Trey, Crackdown Podcast re-released their interviews with him. The Vancouver Sun published an obituary. Trey was also featured in this short video made by the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.