The B.C. Government and Capital Regional District have each pledge $30 million for affordable housing to address homeless crisis in Greater Victoria.
The provincial government has agreed to match the CRD’s planned contribution of $30 million for affordable housing, and as part of the agreement, Island Health will provide mental health and addiction services for projects where needed.
Minister of Housing and Social Development, Rich Coleman was on Cfax earlier today, and hinted at the likelihood the Federal Government will also kick in $30 million, pushing the total to $90 million.
City of Victoria mayor, Lisa Helps, calls it a “historic moment for the region”.
Today’s funding announcement is in addition to continuing efforts to house individuals residing at Tent City, which the mayor is hopeful will soon be resolved.
“We’ll see Tent City gone and those people housed hopefully long before this money starts to roll out in October,” Helps tells CHEK News.
The $60 million injection of funds will be rolled out over the next five years, with the first tenders going out in October.
