The province announced a homelessness prevention program Friday that will bring at least 100 new rental supplements to Victoria’s most vulnerable.
“We knew from the last budget that an expansion of the rental supplement program was coming but this is more than we expected — which is great,” said Andrew Wynn-Williams, executive director of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness.
B.C.’s new Homeless Prevention Program invests $62.5 million over five years to bring rent supplements and support services to at-risk groups in six communities, including Victoria.
The at-risk groups include youth transitioning out of foster care, women who have experienced violence or are at risk of violence, those leaving hospitals and correctional systems and aboriginal people.
The rental supplements will help these individuals find and secure affordable housing, while connecting them with agencies to offer support and prevent them from becoming homeless.
“These [at-risk groups] are all the areas that we have identified as needing focus, so we’re pretty happy with it,” Wynn-Williams said.
He said he was told Victoria will receive 117 rental supplements through the program, which will translate into 100 more spaces of affordable housing. The supplements will be administered through various agencies, including Pacifica Housing, Burnside Gorge Community Centre and Threshold Housing Society.
“Rent supplements offer a more flexible option for many people because they can choose where to live based on what suits their needs,” said Rich Coleman, the minister responsible for housing, in a statement.
“The Homeless Prevention Program builds on our success with other rental assistance programs aimed at addressing homelessness by taking a more proactive approach and helping people in crisis.”
Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin said he was thrilled to hear B.C. is investing in new supplements, especially as the city wraps up Homelessness Action Week.
“We’re really excited to see this expansion of rental supplements, which have been very successful,” he said, noting the coalition’s Streets to Homes Program — which helps support homeless in become renters.
“As we continue to house the hardest to house, it’s great to see an opportunity to not miss out on others at risk,” Fortin said.
More details about the program will be released soon by the province, a spokesperson said.
