Victoria - 953 Balmoral Road

BC Housing is working with the City of Victoria, and the Victoria Cool Aid Society (Cool Aid), on a plan to build approximately 60 new permanent homes with support services for people who are marginalized and experiencing homelessness Victoria. BC Housing has purchased 953 Balmoral Road, and Cool Aid owns 959 Balmoral Road. Cool Aid would operate the new building.

This purchase 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).

Operator

Cool Aid is an experienced local operator acting to end homelessness by working in partnership to develop community-based solutions. Cool Aid is committed to working in a non-judgmental way with adults experiencing marginalization in Greater Victoria by advocating for and providing emergency shelter, supportive housing, integrated health care and other support services. Learn more: https://coolaid.org or email neighbourfeedback@coolaid.org.

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.

Community dialogue sessions

In the coming weeks, you will be invited to learn more and provide feedback about how can work together to successfully integrate this new housing into the community at upcoming neighbourhood dialogue sessions. Registration information will be posted on this page soon. These sessions will provide an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the new housing.

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.