The Coalition’s latest report, Homelessness in Greater Victoria: 2014/15 Report on Housing and Supports examines the key structural factors that significantly contribute to homelessness in Greater Victoria, including the growing disparity between income and housing costs. Continue reading →

Increased public concern for a lack of safe, affordable housing has led communities all across Canada to look beyond bricks and mortar for long-term solutions. As models of client-centered care become more embedded in social services, housing providers are beginning to adopt a ‘Housing First’ model when working with Canada’s hardest to house.

Meet Streets to Homes. Continue reading →

Image courtesy of BC Housing.

The recommendations presented to Council by the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing represent an important step towards ending homelessness in Greater Victoria. As an organisation our focus has been those experiencing chronic homelessness. Because so much public attention on this issue is focused on matters of mental health or substance use, there is a tendency to underestimate the impact of the broader issue of housing affordability and the connection to emergency shelter use.   Continue reading →

This infographic demonstrates the cost of permanent housing versus an emergency shelter bed. While an emergency shelter bed does cost significantly more to build and operate than a permanent housing unit, the real cost is the personal space. Continue reading →