The British Columbia government is providing approximately $4.5 million to keep three temporary shelters open in Greater Victoria.

The shelters were opened last year to house people at the former homeless camp at the Victoria courthouse property. Funding had been previously extended to keep the shelters open until the end of March 2017.

• Choices, the former youth custody centre, will continue to provide 50 housing units for people through 2017.
• Mount Edwards Court continues to provide 38 housing units. BC Housing and Victoria Cool Aid Society have begun the re-zoning and community consultation process with plans to renovate and add 40 housing units on the second floor of the building.
• My Place will remain open until May 31, 2017. BC Housing is working with community partners to ensure there are housing options for the remaining 19 individuals transitioning from this shelter.

The First Metropolitan shelter continues to open each night, providing 55 spaces for those seeking shelter overnight. The B.C government is providing operating funding of approximately $521,000 this year. The shelter will remain open until March 31, 2018.

Nearly 315 individuals have been supported by the additional shelters, and more than 90 of these individuals have transitioned into permanent housing.

This year, the Province has committed approximately $200,000 for winter response shelters in Victoria, in addition to the 150 year-round shelter spaces in the community.

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the Province has invested or committed to a total of $6.3 billion to provide affordable housing supply and access for low-income individuals, seniors and families.
• This includes new investment commitments of $920 million to support the acquisition, construction and renovation of almost 5,300 housing units throughout B.C. over the next few years.
• More than 104,000 B.C. households benefit from a diverse range of provincial housing programs and services.
• Last year, the Province invested close to $32 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 5,100 households in Victoria.

Learn More:

To learn more about the Province's actions on housing affordability, visit: http://housingaffordability.gov.bc.ca/

For more information about services and supports for the homeless in Victoria, visit: http://www.housingmattersbc.ca/docs/fs_Homeless%20Supports_Victoria.pdf

Follow BC Housing on Twitter: @BC_Housing