Residents of Dowler Place are upset with the City of Victoria for giving the greenlight to an organization that provides outreach services to unhoused Victorians without their consultation.
The site in question is 2155 Dowler Place, just west of Central Park.
The site will be owned and operated by SOLID Outreach Society and is intended to provide “wrap-around community-based services” to those in Victoria who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused.
This access hub was announced by the City in June.
However, some Dowler Place residents are upset that they were never consulted by the City and have started a petition in opposition of the hub opening its doors.
“As a resident of the vibrant neighbourhood in Victoria, BC, I’m deeply concerned with current proposals to convert the site at 2155 Dowler into a homeless community hub and supervised consumption site,” wrote the petition’s organizer, Sarah Montgomery.
“This facility is set to open by the end of august and we have had zero community consultation.”
Related:
- Paramedics will now require police presence before providing medical aid on Pandora Avenue
- Victoria councillor calls on BC to provide better security around some supportive housing projects
Montgomery says that the community’s concerns are rooted in the transformation of the area, from a “residential haven” where children play on the streets to a place where unhoused Victorians will frequent.
“Transposing services like homeless hubs and supervised consumption sites (inhalation/injection) into residential areas can potentially cause an increase in crime rates and a decrease in property values, affecting the livelihoods of residents,” wrote Montgomery.
She added that next door to the hub is a subsidized building to assist at-risk seniors and claims a school is within 400 feet of the site; however, the school she is referring to is an Education First location, which is a business that teaches people aged 14 and up additional languages.
There are no School District 61 facilities in the immediate area.
Montgomery and those who have signed the petition are hoping the City will reconsider the location of this outreach hub.
“This is not about refusing help to those who need it most; it’s about prioritising the safety and tranquillity of our residential community,” she concluded.
Notably, there is already a transitional shelter operated by Victoria Cool Aid Society just one block from the proposed site for this outreach facility. Because of this a number of Victoria’s at-risk or unhoused residents are around the area.
Victoria Buzz reached out to SOLID Outreach Society for comment, but did not receive a response as of this publication.
The City told Victoria Buzz they were unaware of the petition and confirmed they did not conduct any consultation with the neighbourhood’s residents prior to greenlighting this endeavour.
As of this publication, the petition has garnered over 1,200 signatures of their 1,500 goal.
