The province has announced that Sooke is one of 48 communities across BC to receive funding to help improve homelessness services and supports for vulnerable people in the community.
The Sooke Homelessness Coordination Project is receiving $413,412 through the Strengthening Communities’ Services program to help improve coordination among services in the area.
The program is a $100-million grant aimed to help local governments and modern Treaty Nations respond to the impacts of homelessness.
The program funding will be managed in collaboration with the Sooke Shelter Society, Sooke Homelessness Coalition, and AVI Health, Community Services Society, as well as the District of Sooke.
“The Sooke Homelessness Coordination Project will help develop community capacity to understand and address homelessness and support the identification and transition of people who are homeless into sheltered locations and supportive housing,” the District of Sooke said in a statement.
The group will develop community capacity to understand and address homelessness and support the identification and transition of people who are homeless into sheltered locations and supportive housing.
Through this project, the Transition Outreach Team will provide integrated care, counselling, and harm reduction services, as well as life skills training for those transitioning to the Sooke Shelter.
“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. This funding will provide our community with much-needed resources supporting those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness,” said Sherry Thompson, Executive Director of the Sooke Shelter Society.
In February, the province announced the construction of 75 new affordable rental homes in Sooke
Two new affordable housing projects are on the way to Sooke that will provide 75 affordable rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes, along with 33 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness in the community.
Construction has already begun at 2170 Charters Road and the building is estimated to open in 2022.
