A Victoria hotel that has been providing temporary housing for the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic may soon be redeveloped, BC Housing announced this week.
The province has purchased the Capital CityCenter Hotel on Douglas Street in Victoria for use as supportive housing. DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST B.C. has purchased a hotel in the north end of Victoria’s downtown for close to $25 million for use as supportive housing. The province has already been using 83 rooms at the Capital CityCenter Hotel on Douglas Stree, for temporary housing to house vulnerable people during the pandemic. article continues below
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The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness, in partnership with Aryze Developments, has raised more than $500,000 to build the homes and wants permission to use the parking lot for up to 18 months. “If this temporary housing is one small step towards ensuring that every community member has a home, it’s a step I think the city should take if the public indicates that it’s supportable,” Coun. Ben Isitt said. A staff report pegs the city’s share of the operating costs at about $215,000, plus another $60,000 to cover installation, and later removal, of water and sewer services. The city may be able to recover some or all of the costs from a provincial grant program, staff say.
Attorney General and Housing Minister David Eby pledged last week to exceed that goal and said the province will have extra spaces if needed. The reopening of Save-On-Foods arena as a temporary shelter will add 45 beds to the mix. Heidi Hartman of B.C. Housing said another 30 to 40 units will be reopening at Capital CityCenter Hotel, where a fire displaced dozens of people in November. In addition, the province is providing rent supplements to help people move from supportive housing into market rentals, thereby freeing up space for people from the parks. “Our work isn’t done,” Hartman said. “We’re actively looking in community for other options and we’ll definitely be putting those rent supplements to use.”