A Vancouver-based non-profit organization has been chosen by the provincial government to operate new social housing in the former Super 8 hotel on Douglas Street.
The Housing Ministry said PHS Community Services Society, formerly known as the Portland Hotel Society, will managed the day-to-day operations of the building, at 2915 Douglas St. It will also provide support services, including a meal program and life-skills and employment training.
The province is finalizing the purchase of the building this month and said it is investing $6.5 million in the hotel, which is being converted into social housing with 51 units. Residents should be able to move in by mid-November.
The Liquor Plus store on the site has relocated, but the Spoons Diner remains. The assessed value of the property in 2015 was $4.13 million.
The Super 8 hotel purchase is part of a $26-million investment by the province in housing and supports for the city’s homeless, spurred by the tent city encampment that occupied the lawn outside the Victoria courthouse until August.
The B.C. Supreme Court issued an order that the camp couldn’t be shut down until housing was available to campers.
In addition to the Super 8, the province bought the former Central Care Home on Johnson Street and the former Mount Edwards Court Care Home on Vancouver Street.
When the province announced the purchase of the Super 8 building in June, it said the facility would provide short-term stays and supportive services while residents waited for more permanent options.
The province did not say who else bid on the contract to manage the building.
PHS made its first foray into Victoria social housing services this spring when it was contracted by the province to help with the tent city homeless camp on the courthouse lawn.
The organization then won the bid to manage the former Central Care Home on Johnson Street, which houses more than 140 residents and employs at least 25 staff.
According to B.C. Housing, PHS received $1.2 million in funding for the remainder of 2016 and 2017. This includes building operational costs, staff, food and programming.
Provincial funding
The province has invested $26 million to provide housing for people living in tent city. That money has funded the purchase of several Victoria buildings for housing homeless people in recent months and supported the operation of several other shelters. All operating costs are as of June 2016.
New housing
• Central Care Home, Johnson Street — $13.5 million
• Super 8 hotel, Douglas Street — $6.5 million
• Mount Edwards Court Care Home, Vancouver Street — $3.9 million, plus $487,000 in operating costs
Shelter operation
• Choices, View Royal — $704,000
• My Place, Yates Street — $647,000
• First Metropolitan United Church overnight shelter on Quadra Street — $330,000 for more mats
