Five projects - most outside downtown Victoria - have been identified as key to helping end homelessness in the Capital Regional District.
All five projects are achievable and the aim is to have two approved and funded in the next year, said Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin, co-chairman of the Coalition to End Homelessness.
"There's still an emphasis on supportive housing but we recognize there are sub-groups in need of housing," Fortin said.
"So, for example, in Sooke, the high priority is youth. Workforce housing is a high priority and seniors at risk becoming homeless are a high priority."
The next step is to work with the region's municipalities to tailor the projects, Fortin said.
The coalition's report on housing and support, Quiet Crisis: Homelessness and At Risk in Greater Victoria, says the gap between income and housing costs is one of the most important contributors to homelessness in the region.
Even though more accommodation may be available, it's not more affordable as rental costs have also gone up. (The average rent of a bachelor apartment increased to $676 in 2011 from $665 in 2010. The shelter allowance for a single person on social assistance is $375. Victoria is the fifth most expensive place to rent in Canada.)
In the last year, 162-units of non-profit subsidized housing came on-line in Greater Victoria.
Still, subsidized housing is difficult to access, as about 1,545 people are waiting on the housing registry.
The report recommends increasing the number of rental supplements available, as well as the number of subsidized housing units. There also needs to be an increased understanding of housing needs for certain subgroups such as families, youths and Aboriginal peoples. Another recommendation is for a shared integrated database.
THE PROJECTS
The five proposed projects in the "housing pipeline list" include:
? The Hope Centre in Sooke
- Transformation of Sooke's existing St. Vincent de Paul thrift store into a four-storey building, including 25 rental units targeted at aboriginal and non-aboriginal homeless youth.
? Cottage Grove Manor -
Development of a 43-unit supportive housing project in Saanich for seniors.
? Rosalie's Village -
Development in Saanich of a 41unit housing facility and daycare targeted at homeless young single mothers and children and older single women at risk of homelessness due to abuse.
? Cedar Grove -
Redevelopment of an existing 21-unit supportive housing to contain a minimum of 60 supportive housing units.
? Central Care Home -
Purchase and transformation of Baptist Housing's seniors' care facility at 844 Johnson St. into a 140 units for low-income singles and homeless supportive housing.
