Victoria - 1176 Yates Street

Illustration of modular style building, next to another apartment building.

BC Housing has purchased 1176 Yates Street in Victoria and moving forward with a plan to develop approximately 37 new permanent homes with support services support services for people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

This new supportive housing is part of an ongoing commitment, working closely with the City of Victoria, to build housing solutions for those in need and is one of six new projects that will deliver more than 280 permanent supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness across the Capital region.

Housing with Supports

Supportive housing is a self-contained studio home with various support services provided on-site, to help people achieve and maintain housing stability. Supports could include:

outreach workers
life skills training
employment assistance
connection and referral to community services and support groups.

Staff would be on-site 24/7 working with each resident to understand their needs and goals.

Applicants will go through an assessment process to make sure there is a mix of residents with the right supports. All residents will pay rent and sign a program agreement (similar to a tenancy agreement).

Development Process

BC Housing and the local municipalities agree it is necessary to expedite the process to provide permanent supportive homes as soon as possible for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We are taking this approach because we recognize our most valuable citizens are facing distinct risk through the COVID-19 pandemic and there is an immediate need in the Capital region to provide permanent supportive homes as soon as possible.

This means moving forward as efficiently as possible to create new healthy, safe and stable homes for those in need of housing. Therefore, BC Housing will be moving straight to the construction phase. BC Housing is working closely with the municipalities throughout the development process.

Community Engagement

We will be engaging the community at various points throughout the development and setting up a community advisory committee to support future operations.

Neighbourhood dialogue sessions

To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback, we will be hosting two Neighbourhood Dialogue Sessions. During these sessions we will share information about this project, hear from the community about how we can work together to integrate this into the community, and how this housing will support people in the community who are at risk or currently experiencing homelessness.   

These facilitated sessions will begin with a presentation to share information on the project, small break out groups to hear from attendees, followed by a question-and-answer period.  

Please sign up for one of the following sessions (space is limited):  

Your feedback and comments are important to us

We welcome questions and comments below in the Q+A tool or by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Housing with Supports

Supportive housing is a self-contained studio home with various support services provided on-site, to help people achieve and maintain housing stability. Supports could include:

outreach workers
life skills training
employment assistance
connection and referral to community services and support groups.

Staff would be on-site 24/7 working with each resident to understand their needs and goals.

Development Process

Community Engagement

We will be engaging the community at various points throughout the development and setting up a community advisory committee to support future operations.

Neighbourhood dialogue sessions

These facilitated sessions will begin with a presentation to share information on the project, small break out groups to hear from attendees, followed by a question-and-answer period.  

Please sign up for one of the following sessions (space is limited):  

Your feedback and comments are important to us

We welcome questions and comments below in the Q+A tool or by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Have a question or comment? Write below.

What’s going to be done for safety and theft in the area. Upticks in crime in other areas are already recorded, as well as sanitary concerns. This location is across the street from a school, what additional measures are in place to protect this, as current ones have not shown desired results

Joben asked 8 months ago

Many supportive housing sites for people experiencing homelessness across the province have been operating in their communities and near schools for 10+ years with no issues and with support from the community. There are over 210 provincially funded supportive housing sites across the province that are within 500 metres of a school, and 52% of provincially-funded supportive housing sites in B.C. within 500 metres of schools have been operating for 10+ years.
In 2019 a BC Housing study reported that 82% of survey respondents across seven modular supportive housing sites experienced positive interactions with neighbours in the surrounding community since they moved in.
Both staff and residents of the Yates Street development will be committed to keeping the property and neighbourhood maintained with a daily clean-up, just as any other resident in the neighbourhood.
You can learn more about the safety features of the new proposed housing in our factsheet in the document library on this site.

Hey! Just received a letter regarding the development. Great use for the building! I've been looking across the street at it for a while now wondering what was going to happen over there... Question though: What could this new build potentially do for the neighbourhood? Could this block become like on Pandora between Quadra and Vancouver? I attended the conservatory about 8 years ago and watching that grow has me a little concerned about what could happen in my neighbourhood block, but I'm also not very brushed up on the issue and would love to hear from you if and when you have a chance Thank you for your time! Troy

Troy asked 8 months ago

The new permanent, purpose-built supportive housing being proposed on Yates Street is part of the long-term solution to create much-needed new supportive homes in Victoria that will help support people who are vulnerable in the community and provide a safe place for those who don’t have a home.

To get a sense of what the new housing will be like, we invite you to watch this video as an example of what another purpose-built supportive housing building looks like in Parksville.

The safety of the community, residents and staff is a priority. The new proposed housing will have many safety and security features in place, including:

The building will be staffed with a minimum of two employees 24/7 from the non-profit housing operator (yet to be determined)
Standard security measures such as well-lit and fenced grounds, extensive camera monitoring, and a controlled entrance
All guests will need to provide ID and be buzzed in by reception
Both staff and residents will be committed to keeping the property and neighbourhood maintained with a daily clean-up, just as any other resident in the neighbourhood.

In addition, BC Housing will be setting up a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that will oversee the supportive housing’s integration within the community and will address any concerns raised by people in the neighbourhood. CACs are a key part of how we ensure that supportive housing buildings integrate well into their neighbourhoods, and our experience is that they have been very effective at helping communities work together to address concerns and endure a positive connection with neighbours.

Who will specifically be served by this project? Supportive housing is a very broad term. It does not specify any age group or anything else such as goals for the people living there.

Sue McMurter asked 8 months ago

People who apply to live in the proposed supportive housing on Yates Street would need to meet eligibility requirements around income, homelessness and required supports and programming. Residents will be low-income individuals over the age of 19 who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness in the community and who need additional support services to maintain housing. They will be provided support to assist with their successful tenancy, including daily meal services.
BC Housing and the housing operator will collaborate with local service providers on a thoughtful and thorough assessment process to ensure an appropriate mix of residents with the right supports live in the housing. Every potential resident is considered on an individual basis to ensure that the housing and services provided by the program match the support services that they need, such as life skills training, employment assistance, and help with accessing a range of social and health care services.
While the Burnside/ Gorge area and the downtown area comprising Yates street at the Boys and Girls club, the Arena, Johnson St and Mears are all being jammed with "Supportive Housing", why is BC Housing not looking at James Bay, Fairfield, Fernwood, Jubilee etc. It seems that the City and BC housing are complicit in trying to localize and in doing so Ghettoize certain areas.

Gary asked 8 months ago

BC Housing worked in collaboration with the City of Victoria to locate a suitable property for supportive housing, and the Yates Street site was identified by the City.
BC Housing looks to acquire property based on community need and there is an urgent need for more permanent, purpose-built supportive housing in downtown Victoria. There are many developments underway throughout Victoria and the CRD.
Housing for people experiencing homelessness needs to meet people where they are, providing connection to the resources that people need to work towards living a healthy, stable life. Supportive housing locations are determined based on services, amenities and availability of property. The suitability of supportive housing sites is considered with respect to proximity to community services (health services, commercial and recreational activities); accessibility to transit; adequate lot size; connections to utilities; compatible land use policies.
Curious as to why the abundance of housing situated in and around dt/harris green and not other areas of the city or even the CRD? Thanks Matt

Matt asked 8 months ago

There are a significant number of projects (approximately 430 new homes) underway in the CRD, and a major financial investment by the Province over 10 years to add 3500 homes in the CRD over 10 years.
There is an urgent need for permanent, supportive housing in downtown Victoria and the proposal for 1176 Yates Street will provide approximately 40 new homes with supports to people who are vulnerable in the community and need a safe place to live.
40 units doesn't seem enough. Can we get more?

asund asked 8 months ago

Since March, BC Housing has opened eight new sites with 505 spaces for vulnerable people in Victoria, including those who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, so they have a safe place of their own and can maintain physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are also approximately 430 new homes underway right now in the CRD for people with low incomes through provincial funding programs. Earlier this month, BC Housing also purchased two properties on Meares Street to propose the development of an additional (approx.) 50 new permanent homes with supports.
The Province's affordable housing investment of more than $7 billion over 10 years will benefit everyone in B.C., including people in Victoria and the CRD. This is the largest housing investment in British Columbia's history. We appreciate your engagement and support on this project, and we will be reaching out to the community over the coming months with updates on our progress.