Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to explore the expansion of free public Wi-Fi access in the city’s Downtown Eastside earlier this week.

OneCity Coun. Christine Boyle’s motion asking staff to report back to council to expand public internet access in the city’s poorest neighbourhood passed on Wednesday night.

The motion has been praised by residents of the neighbourhood, who have long argued a lack of accessible internet hampers them from accessing social services, including those needed for harm reduction while using drugs.