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.
Beacon Community Association provides a one-time emergency assistance subsidy for individuals and families who are in financial threat of losing their housing. These subsidies can be used for rent, utilities and security deposit. Although the applicant is not required to pay back the subsidy, they are required to demonstrate an understanding of their obligations to their tenancy and present a plan that outlines their ability to meet their financial requirements to maintain their housing.
Burnside Gorge provides support and financial assistance to families in transition to permanent housing. This includes casework support to help families identify their needs, assisting them in securing housing, and providing landlord/tenant services. Once housing is secured, the project provides financial support with damage deposits, first/last month's rent, moving, furniture, basic groceries and supplies at move-in.
The Community Planner works within the CRD and actively collaborates with its partners in achieving the goals of the Reaching Home Program related to coordination of services and data collection in the region. This includes supporting the implementation of the Homelessness Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS). Implementation of HIFIS locally will support broader coordination amongst local funders and service providers.
John Howard Society provides housing access, landlord liaison and support for individuals in moving to, and stabilizing in permanent independent housing. This includes provision damage deposit, first and last month's rent, and moving basic household supplies. Once housed, ongoing support in maintaining tenancies is also provided.
This project funds housing outreach workers supporting people with a history of chronic or episodic homelessness to locate market housing, support them in their housing, and re-house them if necessary. This project is connected to housing providers in the community and coordinates referrals to their program through shelters and drop-in centers, along with many other portals.
Peers provides housing and case management services to people in or from the sex industry. Housing Outreach and Support Workers provide assistance with locating rental housing, help with moving and storage, support to secure income assistance and to apply for housing, and services that help with life skills and financial assistance.
Sooke Shelter Society provides Housing and Client support services, including housing placement, housing set-up and basic needs services to Sooke residents who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Other services include advocating and offering support services to clients in the community with whatever they may need to maintain or obtain stable housing.
Threshold Housing is funded to provide a youth transitional housing program. Activities support at-risk youth between the ages of 16 to 24. As youth become more stable, they graduate to more independent living situations. Threshold helps at risk youth build self-reliance by providing life skills support, referrals to outside agencies, preparation for tenancy, financial literacy, cooking classes, social activities, pre-employment support, housing loss prevention, and school completion.
The Victoria Cool Aid Society has expanded their Indigenous Cultural programming to all their housing and shelter sites. The program funds two fulltime Indigenous Cultural Liaisons who work to connect Cool Aid’s Indigenous clients to a rich variety of cultural activities, Elders, clinical services, life skills education and supports.
The Homelessness Prevention Project assists women who are survivors of intimate partner violence and abuse to secure safe, stable housing for themselves and their children. This includes temporary financial support for maintaining housing, such as covering expenses for utility bills, moving and storage fees, rent and security deposits.
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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
