Reaching Home

Project Type
Initiative
Project Status
Current
Project Category
Housing
Project Area
Central Saanich, Colwood, Esquimalt, Highlands, Langford, Metchosin, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Saanich, Sidney, Sooke, Victoria, View Royal

Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at reducing and preventing homelessness. Officially launched April 1, 2019, the Government of Canada's Homelessness Strategy supports the most vulnerable people in the capital region by improving access to safe, stable and affordable housing. The Government of Canada has awarded Reaching Home funding to the CRD as the Community Entity to administer Reaching Home in the Greater Victoria community.

Reaching Home Program 2019-2026

Between 2019-2026, the CRD is set to administer an estimated $18.7 million under a seven-year agreement under the Designated Communities stream. This program continues to fund services that support the needs of those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in the capital region.

The CRD acted as the administrator for the Reaching Home Indigenous Homelessness funding from 2019-2022. As of April 1, 2022, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre is the community entity supporting this program. 

Funding for the seven-year Designated Communities funding stream is being allocated to initiatives that address outcomes identified in the 2019-2024 Community Plan To End Homelessness [PDF/10.8MB], and are recommended by the Reaching Home Community Advisory Board (CAB). In January 2021, the CRD formed a new CAB to make recommendations towards the use of Designated Communities funding.
 

Reaching Home 2023-24 Winter Support

In December 2023, the Government of Canada announced additional support for people experiencing homelessness during the winter of 2023-24. The CRD administered nearly $1M through this funding between January and April 2024 with impacts including:

  • The prevention of 87 individuals being evicted from their rental housing.
  • Repairing or upgrading 36 supportive or transitional housing units bringing them back into services.
  • Support in placing 22 individuals or families into permanent rental housing.

Other impacts included enhancing outreach services amongst several service providers, replacement of mattresses and other supplies in shelter sites, and provision of essential basic needs such as groceries, clothing and hygiene supplies.

Reaching Home COVID-19 Emergency Response Program

In March 2020, the Government of Canada announced $1,312,852 in Reaching Home COVID-19 Emergency Response funding to be administered by the CRD. This funding was focused on temporarily supporting people at risk of or experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak. On October 10, 2020, the Government of Canada allocated an additional $1,918,197 of Reaching Home COVID-19 funding, for a total of $3,231,049. Of this total, $2,261,734 is allocated to the Designated Communities funding stream and $969,315 to the Indigenous Homelessness funding stream. 

By 2021, all Reaching Home COVID-19 Emergency Response funding had been allocated.

Resources

Current Reaching Home Funded Programs:

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Territorial Acknowledgement

The CRD conducts its business within the Territories of many First Nations, all of whom have a long-standing relationship with the land and waters from time immemorial that continues to this day. Statement of Reconciliation