Skip to content

Victoria allocates $50,000 to support summer hours at Our Place

Another $75,000 is needed to run the shelter for three extra hours daily
15858294_web1_181002-VNE-Ourplace
Victoria City Council has requested the province fund the full amount for extended summer hours at Our Place. (Nicole Crescenzi/News Staff)

Victoria City Council will allocate $50,000 from surplus to help support Our Place’s extended summer hours.

Current summer hour only run until 6 p.m., leaving a gap in services until later in the night when overnight shelters open closer to 9 or 10 p.m..

RELATED: New storage facility opens at Victoria’s Our Place

City council will partner with BC Housing and Island Health to provide a total of $150,000 to extend Our Place’s hours to run until 9 p.m. this summer.

The motion was brought forward by Coun. Charalyne Thornton-Joe and Mayor Lisa Helps on Feb. 22. Council has requested the province fund the full amount for these extended hours in the future.

According to Grant McKenzie, communications coordinator for Our Place, it takes approximately $175,000 to run the shelter for an extra three hours daily from April 1 to Oct. 31.

RELATED: Beauty Day spreads ‘brightness’ at Our Place

McKenzie says upcoming fundraisers will help provide the remaining $25,000 needed.

Both BC Housing and Island Health have not yet approved the $50,000 needed but McKenzie expects a decision to be made within the month so hours can be extended starting April 1.



kendra.crighton@blackpress.ca

Follow us on Instagram Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.