People experiencing homelessness, including those who were living at the Regina Park encampment in Saanich, will have earlier access to safe shelter spaces in Victoria starting in October 2018.

Overnight shelter will be available every night, regardless of whether an extreme weather alert has been issued.

In response to the urgent need for shelter spaces in Saanich and Victoria, the Province has partnered with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre to provide expanded services to make sure more people have a warm place to stay overnight.`

Located at 231 Regina Ave. in Victoria, the 25-bed shelter will be open nightly from 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. from Oct. 1, 2018, until March 31, 2019. This is normally an extreme-weather shelter location, but is being opened early due to urgent need. The friendship centre will provide shuttle services from predetermined pick up points, meals, showers and access to laundry facilities on site.

BC Housing is working with other non-profit partners to expedite the opening of other winter shelters as soon as possible.

Outreach teams will continue to help connect people experiencing homelessness with housing and support services, such as income assistance and mental health services.

Quick Facts:

• To help address homelessness in B.C., the Province is partnering with 22 municipalities to build more than 2,000 modular homes with 24/7 support services.
• Through the new Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund, an additional 2,500 new supportive homes will be delivered throughout the province. The District of Saanich has been offered funding through this program.
• The Province is currently developing a homelessness action plan informed by the results of the 2018 homeless counts, the comprehensive consultation on the Poverty Reduction Strategy and engagements with experts on homelessness from around British Columbia.

Learn More:

Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

To learn more about the Province’s emergency shelter program, visit: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-program

To see a map of permanent and temporary shelters in B.C., visit: www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/Map