The Victoria Cool Aid Society has raised $1.5 million towards turning an empty Vancouver Street heritage building into permanent housing for 101 homeless people.
But the society needs to raise another $2 million to close on an offer of $3.5 million made to the Baptist Housing Society for the former Mount Edwards Court Care Home.
The society hopes to raise a minimum of $500,000 from the public, businesses and foundations, and $1 million or more from the City of Victoria. That, in turn, is meant to leverage millions more from senior governments to build and run the facility, said Cool Aid executive director Kathy Stinson. “The project is a $9-million project,” she said. “I think it’s very do-able.”
It’s a one-time cost of under $90,000 a unit, “which is pretty efficient” compared with up to $55,000 a year in social services and health costs that a homeless person can incur, she said.
The Baptist organization turned down a higher offer from a developer for the 1911 structure, across Rockland Avenue from Christ Church Cathedral and its elementary and middle school.
The project will change the lives of people who cycle through shelters, streets and parks — most evidently around the corner at the tent city on the lawn of the provincial courthouse, Stinson said. “This is a large property that will be very cost-effective and make a dramatic and positive impact for the whole community.”
Cool Aid has already asked the City of Victoria for $1 million and Stinson says she’s “very confident” about getting it. An application for $3 million from the capital region will be submitted next week.
This week, the CRD Hospital Board voted to seek authority to borrow up to $30 million for units for homeless people. The borrowing is conditional on attaining similar funds from the province.
Stuart Hall, principal of Church Cathedral School, wrote to parents that the development is “entirely appropriate” given Christ Church’s long commitment to helping homeless people.
Stinson said it’s understandable that some parents may feel a little trepidation. “We’re happy to work with the parents and talk about their concerns and see what we can do to mitigate them.”
An information meeting for parents will be held in early 2016, Hall said.
