The Victoria Foundation has given $125,000 in bridge funding to Pacifica Housing and the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness to allow the Streets to Homes program to continue operating.
Streets to Homes was faced with a “significant [funding] shortfall.”
Karyn French, executive director of Pacifica Housing, said the funding enables the groups to continue operating the program until it becomes eligible for new United Way funding in April.
“We are thrilled the Victoria Foundation was able to step up with this funding in the short term and we expect other community agencies will keep it operating in the medium term,” said Andrew Wynn-Williams, executive director of Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness.
“This program is a proven success. However in the long term, we hope government funds the entire Streets to Homes program, not just the rent supplements currently provided by B.C. Housing.”
Created in 2009 as a pilot program between eight coalition partners, Streets to Homes was initially designed to move 30 people directly from cyclical homelessness to private market housing with supports. The program was so successful, that it was made permanent, expanded to include 120 individuals and transferred to Pacifica to oversee in 2012.