A community meeting to discuss a controversial facility in Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood designed to help the homeless find housing and treatment services is scheduled for Tuesday evening.
The meeting was originally set for Sept. 11 at the Victoria Curling Club but was postponed to give residents more notice, and allow time to find a larger and more accessible venue.
The meeting is now set for Ambrosia Banquet and Events at 638 Fisgard St. at 7 p.m.
Members of the community have been vocal in opposing the project planned for 2155 Dowler Pl., just north of Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, saying they have been given little detail about how the facility will operate and what effect it might have on the neighbourhood.
Neighbours have raised concerns about open drug use, and the potential for increased crime in the area, and expressed frustration that they were not consulted before the City of Victoria helped to make the project a reality.
The city has taken the brunt of the neighbourhood’s anger, as it provided $300,000 to help SOLID Outreach Society buy the property.
The city is also contributing up to $1.8 million in operating funding for one year to SOLID, which will own and run the facility.
SOLID, which provides overdose-prevention services at seven sites in Victoria, outreach to homeless encampments and other related services, has said the Dowler facility will aim to work with the specific needs of individuals experiencing acute addiction or mental-health issues.
SOLID says it will help connect people to B.C. Housing options and market rental subsidies, as well as drug-treatment programs, and accompany people to health appointments.
