Vancouver's two new proposed supervised injection sites have moved one step closer to reality.

Vancouver Coastal Health announced it has submitted applications to Health Canada for two locations on the Downtown Eastside — 528 Powell Street and 330 Heatley Street — seeking an exemption under Section 56 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act which is necessary to operate such facilities.

Dr. Patricia ​Daly, Vancouver Coastal Health's chief medical health officer, says statistics highlight the need for the sites.

"This year, as of Sept. 30, 2016, 110 people have died of illicit drug overdoses in Vancouver," said Daly. "The majority of overdoses in Vancouver are in the city centre and the Downtown Eastside."

The LivingRoom Drop-In on Powell Street is one of the two proposed locations for a new supervised injection site. (Kamil Karamali/CBC)

Both of the proposed sites already offer health and substance abuse services. If approved, the number of supervised injection sites in Vancouver would double to four.

The Dr. Peter Centre in Vancouver's West End has operated since 2002 but only received a Section 56 exemption earlier this year.

And Insite on Hastings Street has been in operation since 2003 but has become overwhelmed by the number of users walking in on a daily basis. That's why the two proposed sites are within walking distance of Insite.

An unsanctioned pop-up supervised injection tent has also started operating in a Downtown Eastside alley, run by volunteers who felt compelled to act in the wake of the ever-growing fentanyl and opioid crisis.

VCH says once the two new sites receive their exemptions, it will seek approval for more supervised injections services, including a women's-only location.

The Health Canada approval process is expected to take a number of months.