Residents of a transitional shelter in View Royal will have to wait another three months before they can move into permanent housing at the former Tally Ho Inn on Douglas Street.
“We’re disappointed this extension has to happen,” said Grant McKenzie of Our Place Society, which operates Choices at the former youth jail in View Royal.
The transitional shelter was opened last year to help house people living in an encampment on the courthouse lawn in Victoria.
“Residents were looking forward to having permanent housing, but we understand construction delays are inevitable,” said McKenzie, noting 50 residents are waiting to move.
The Tally Ho building is owned and operated by Cool Aid Society, which received a three-year temporary-use permit for the former motel only in late November. Renovations are underway and the building is set to take in tenants by the end of March.
The building will have 52 units of affordable rentals for low- and moderate-income people with mental-health and substance-use issues. It’s set to be staffed 24/7, with social supports available.
Shayne Ramsay of B.C. Housing said they are grateful to the Town of View Royal for working with the province to provide temporary housing for homeless people. Once the residents move into the Tally Ho building, Choices will close.
McKenzie said Our Place Society still hopes to use the View Royal site for a therapeutic recovery community.
“We are working on that plan,” said McKenzie, who hopes to have local and provincial governments on board to open in the summer of 2018.
