New plan a better fit, says school
Officials from Christ Church Cathedral School and a community group say new plans to house 38 homeless people at the nearby Mount Edwards Court Care Home are a better fit than a previous plan for 101 units.
“We did receive feedback that enrolment would decline if the original proposal had gone ahead,” said Stuart Hall, head of the 188-student elementary school.
“I believe that we are now looking at a much more manageable scenario than the one originally presented,” he said. “The reduced size of the operation and the increased staffing as promised by B.C. Housing, along with the addition of security personnel, are significant adjustments.”
The province purchased the 1911 heritage building across Rockland Avenue from the school for $3.65 million this week. It plans to put 38 units of transitional housing, to be available for about one year, in the building. Previous plans by the Victoria Cool Aid Society had called for 101 units of low-barrier housing.
The board of the school said the new plan responds to the needs of “two vulnerable populations” — young school children and those unable to afford housing. The board said it is pleased with assurances there will be at least three staff members on site at all times, along with security personnel outside and a neighbourhood committee to provide feedback and resolve issues.
According to City of Victoria spokeswoman Katie Hamilton, provincial agencies are not required to follow city zoning regulations.
“Given the emergency nature of the issues here, we understand that B.C. Housing and the province will exercise this right in order to move temporary use of the Mount Edwards facility forward,” Hamilton said.
“Our understanding is that the longer-term use of the facility will be subject to a broad community consultation program and the city’s zoning and approval process.”
Emory Haines, whose child attends the school, said he has been assured by a B.C. Housing official that the Mount Edwards facility will be a “gold-plated” model for providing housing for homeless people.
“It appears the province has listened to our concerns,” said Haines, who speaks for the Families and Citizens Coalition opposed to the original Cool Aid proposal, and the Mount Edwards Community Awareness Coalition, representing residents, property owners, seniors, parents, and others who were “profoundly concerned” about the original proposal.
“We’re not working against it. We want to work with these folks to get the best possible outcome now.”
But he also wants to ensure that B.C. Housing does “everything it needs to do to make sure the neighbours and the children are not exposed to some of the issues that could spill over, such as those caused by addiction or violence.”