This article provides an insight on social marginality in urban spaces in North America. The depreciative term "skid row" (also called "skid roads") designated the most deprived areas close to the downtown cores. In the 1960's many scholars ie Donald Bogue (Chicago) carried on surveys on these stigmatized places. Because of the effect of urban renewal schemes, many of these areas disappeared, except in in some cities (Los Angeles, Vancouver). I focuses on Vancouver Downtown Eastside, the former Skid Road area. I discusses the role of community environmental initiatives ie United We Can (created by informal recyclers who call themselves "binners") as a trigger for social inclusion and recognition in a context of neoliberal policies.

This article provides an insight on social marginality in urban spaces in North America. The depreciative term "skid row" (also called "skid roads") designated the most deprived areas close to the downtown cores. In the 1960's many scholars ie Donald Bogue (Chicago) carried on surveys on these stigmatized places. Because of the effect of urban renewal schemes, many of these areas disappeared, except in in some cities (Los Angeles, Vancouver). I focuses on Vancouver Downtown Eastside, the former Skid Road area. I discusses the role of community environmental initiatives ie United We Can (created by informal recyclers who call themselves "binners") as a trigger for social inclusion and recognition in a context of neoliberal policies.