Work has begun on what will culminate as six supportive housing projects in Victoria, Saanich and Central Saanich earmarked for people experiencing homelessness throughout the Capital Region.

 

 

The projects are coming to 1176 Yates Street in Victoria, 1053-1057 Meares Street in Victoria, 953-959 Balmoral Road in Victoria, 865 Catherine Street in Victoria, 1909 Prosser Road in Central Saanich and 2933-2949 Albina Street in Saanich.

 

Collectively the six builds will contribute nearly 300 permanent supportive homes as part of a provincial plan to address homelessness in the Capital through the creation of 24/7-managed housing solutions.

 

According to BC Housing, the initiative will target “people who are currently staying in temporarily leased hotel sites, as well as those currently experiencing homelessness, precariously housed, or couch surfing.”

 

The unit allotments are allocated as 37 on Yates Street, 45 on Catherine Street, 50 on Meares Street and 60 on Balmoral Road in Victoria. A further 52-units will be completed on Albina Street in Saanich and 39-units on Prosser Road in Central Saanich. 

 

Estimated completion timelines range from the winter of 2021/2022 through to late 2022, with demolition of an existing structure at the Catherine Street site now underway, and construction beginning at the Meares Street site just west of Cook Street. Site clearing is already completed at the Balmoral, Yates and Albina properties. Excavation is completed on Prosser Road.

 

Although not all sites have publicly identified operators, Victoria’s Cool-Aid Society has been selected to manage the facility on Balmoral Road, while the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness Society will operate Catherine Street’s complex.

 

The buildings will be constructed of pre-fabricated modular components that will be fitted together at construction sites, a method used at a newly-built supportive housing addition to Evergreen Terrace on Hillside Avenue at Blanshard Street. Pre-fabrication enables rapid construction and occupancy.

 

BC Housing announced the six developments last spring. C

 

Receive Citified's timely real-estate news straight to your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter, and connect with us on Facebook: