Victoria – 225 Russell Street

An illustration of a shelter building in a neighborhood.


BC Housing and Our Place Society will be opening a temporary shelter with 70 beds for people experiencing homelessness in Victoria, at 225 Russell Street.

The temporary shelter will provide safe, secure shelter and supports, and provide connection to permanent housing and community-based services. Staff will be on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week; this means that people staying at the shelter do not need to leave in the morning and return in the evening. Services provided will include accommodation and meals, as well as connection to health and social services focused on transitioning shelter occupants to appropriate long-term housing.

Temporary Shelter

The shelter will operate for 18-months with the option to extend the permit an additional 6 months. This is an interim solution to an immediate need in the community.

Only people who are experiencing homelessness will be eligible to move into the temporary shelter. Our Place, as the operator of the temporary shelter, will implement an intake process that prioritizes Victoria residents.

Long-term Vision

225 Russell is part of a long-term strategy to create supportive housing in the Capital region. After 18 to 24 months operating as a temporary shelter, this building will be converted into 40-units of supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. All units will have a bathroom and kitchen and provide housing with a person-centered approach that meets people where they are at to help them thrive. Many of the people who move into this new supportive housing will have been living successfully in the temporary shelters leased in Victoria. There will be staff on-site 24 hours a day to provide important supports such as life skills training, wellness checks and other health and skill development programs. Applicants will go through an assessment process to make sure there is a mix of residents with the right supports and all residents will pay rent and sign a program agreement (similar to a tenancy agreement).

Community Advisory Committee

We will be looking at setting up a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) with representatives from BC Housing, Our Place, other partners, community organizations and community members. The purpose of the CAC is to provide the project team and a broad cross-section of the community with a mechanism to:

  • Build and maintain positive relationships amongst the community, the building operators and the program partners
  • Facilitate information sharing and dialogue
  • Identify and resolve any issues, opportunities and concerns related to the building

Details about the CAC and how to participate will be available on this page shortly.

Information Session

We will be engaging the community at various points throughout the development process. BC Housing will be reaching out to neighbourhood associations, local businesses, community partners and the community. We are hosting an information session for the public to learn more about the project from BC Housing and Our Place Society who will be operating the shelter. The community will also have the opportunity to provide feedback about how we can work together to successfully integrate this new housing into the community.

The community information session is taking place on Tuesday April 20, from 6:00pm – 7:30pm.

Please register for the session here.



BC Housing and Our Place Society will be opening a temporary shelter with 70 beds for people experiencing homelessness in Victoria, at 225 Russell Street.

The temporary shelter will provide safe, secure shelter and supports, and provide connection to permanent housing and community-based services. Staff will be on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week; this means that people staying at the shelter do not need to leave in the morning and return in the evening. Services provided will include accommodation and meals, as well as connection to health and social services focused on transitioning shelter occupants to appropriate long-term housing.

Temporary Shelter

The shelter will operate for 18-months with the option to extend the permit an additional 6 months. This is an interim solution to an immediate need in the community.

Only people who are experiencing homelessness will be eligible to move into the temporary shelter. Our Place, as the operator of the temporary shelter, will implement an intake process that prioritizes Victoria residents.

Long-term Vision

225 Russell is part of a long-term strategy to create supportive housing in the Capital region. After 18 to 24 months operating as a temporary shelter, this building will be converted into 40-units of supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. All units will have a bathroom and kitchen and provide housing with a person-centered approach that meets people where they are at to help them thrive. Many of the people who move into this new supportive housing will have been living successfully in the temporary shelters leased in Victoria. There will be staff on-site 24 hours a day to provide important supports such as life skills training, wellness checks and other health and skill development programs. Applicants will go through an assessment process to make sure there is a mix of residents with the right supports and all residents will pay rent and sign a program agreement (similar to a tenancy agreement).

Community Advisory Committee

We will be looking at setting up a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) with representatives from BC Housing, Our Place, other partners, community organizations and community members. The purpose of the CAC is to provide the project team and a broad cross-section of the community with a mechanism to:

  • Build and maintain positive relationships amongst the community, the building operators and the program partners
  • Facilitate information sharing and dialogue
  • Identify and resolve any issues, opportunities and concerns related to the building

Details about the CAC and how to participate will be available on this page shortly.

Information Session

We will be engaging the community at various points throughout the development process. BC Housing will be reaching out to neighbourhood associations, local businesses, community partners and the community. We are hosting an information session for the public to learn more about the project from BC Housing and Our Place Society who will be operating the shelter. The community will also have the opportunity to provide feedback about how we can work together to successfully integrate this new housing into the community.

The community information session is taking place on Tuesday April 20, from 6:00pm – 7:30pm.

Please register for the session here.


Have a question or comment? Please add below.

loader image
Forgot password?
Didn't receive confirmation?
Register Now
Seems like you are already registered, please provide the password. Forgot your password? Create a new one now.

  • Will people be screened for the temporary shelter? What precautions will be in place to mitigate any disturbances in the building and neighbourhood ?

    Joan asked 18 days ago

    Hi Joan

    Thanks for your inquiry.

    BC Housing and the City of Victoria have partnered to provide new spaces as part of our commitment to find safe and secure housing with supports for approximately 220 people in Victoria experiencing living in encampments by May 2021.  The priority is to get people housed.

    Our Place Society, an experienced non-profit operator, will operate the building and provide support services including daily meals, access to sanitary and hygiene facilities, and storage for belongings. Staff will also provide residents with access and referral to health and wellness programs.

    The safety of guests, staff and the surrounding community is a priority. 

    The buildings will be staffed with two or more employees 24/7 and will have security measures such as well-lit and fenced grounds, extensive camera monitoring, and controlled entrances. If concerns or problems occur with specific individuals on the project property, the operator will work with the individual and police on solutions.

    We will also be looking at setting up a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) with representatives from BC Housing, Our Place, other partners, community organizations and community members. The CAC will provide community members such as yourself with a way to facilitate information sharing and dialogue and also identify and resolve any issues, opportunities and concerns related to the building.

    Please email communityrelations@bchousing.org if you have additional questions.