A two-year process culminates in an agreement to bring Syrian families to Oak Bay, happily announced on World Refugee Day (June 20).
Oak Bay partnered with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society and a plethora of volunteers to provide housing at municipally-owned homes at 1531 Hampshire Rd. and 1538 Monterey Ave.
B次元官网网址淧artnership with the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society has taken some time but it really is exciting that itB次元官网网址檚 come to fruition,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen. B次元官网网址淚t has been a community coming together to do an act of charity, generosity and love.B次元官网网址�
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B次元官网网址淲e are absolutely delighted that Oak Bay is partnering with VIRCS to create a housing resource, and we are incredibly grateful to our amazingly generous corporate partners who are volunteering their time and resources to upgrade homes for our refugee families,B次元官网网址� said David Lau, executive director, VIRCS.
In early 2016 residents led a charge to clean up the unused home on Hampshire and provide potential refugee housing, arranging in-kind donations to start the process. Council supported the effort B次元官网网址渋n principleB次元官网网址� but required commitment of a suitable community group to officially lead the project.
B次元官网网址淚t started as a community grassroots initiative,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淪ince that time council has been working to identify the right partner.B次元官网网址�
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Renovations are expected complete soon with a family moving in this summer.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been quite humbling to see the number of people volunteering to provide safe and supportive housing,B次元官网网址� Jensen said. B次元官网网址淚t really speaks to the generosity of our community and the kindness of Canadians.B次元官网网址�
Julia Schenck, Aryze creative director, volunteered providing project management, site labour, organized materials, coordinated resources and extended the opportunity to our network of sub-trades. More than 100 volunteers have put in beyond 600 hours.
B次元官网网址淩efugee initiatives like Hampshire House and Monterey House help shape our neighbourhoods for the better,B次元官网网址� said Schenck.
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In the coming weeks, renovations are expected to begin at 1538 Monterey Ave. which is slated to serve as the Welcome House co-ordination point where a VIRCS staff member will live and manage day-to-day operations of both properties. The Welcome House is to be hosted by a mix of staff and community volunteers who are experienced with resettling refugees, trauma, language acquisition and other situations commonly faced by refugees.
B次元官网网址淚t will still take us several more months, significant effort and partnership to get both houses up and running, but we are heartfully pleased that the municipality and especially the council has enabled us to solve a problem in a way that will be a source of local pride,B次元官网网址� said Lau.
The district will receive $900 a month rent on the smaller house, Jensen said, noting it has received B次元官网网址渢ens of thousands of dollars in upgrades.B次元官网网址� The home has been unoccupied for years, but upgrades to the roof, electrical and things such as stairs make it habitable again.
Oak Bay bought the Hampshire property in 1990, acting as a landlord for the single family residence since. It was considered by council for a parking lot in 2007 and discussed again in 2012.
B次元官网网址淭he community made it clear they had a different vision of what should be there,B次元官网网址� Jensen said.
Oak Bay bought the land at 1538 Monterey Ave in 2016. They paid $1.7 million for the site that includes two residential lots with a single-family home. Both municipally-owned houses will be part of the community conversation when Oak Bay envisions its future for that corridor, Jensen said.
He called this a B次元官网网址渟hort-termB次元官网网址� partnership with VIRCS, knowing B次元官网网址渨e will have a community conversationB次元官网网址� about a vision for the village. While that isnB次元官网网址檛 currently on the council strategic plan, it is on the mind of some local business owners.
B次元官网网址淲e reluctantly accept that this decision has been made, but we want (council) to commit to keeping this use short-term, no longer than 24 months, and agree to honour the commitment made to Oak Bay businesses to use these properties to enhance parking in the Village when the time is up,B次元官网网址� wrote the owners of Penny Farthing, Pharmasave, Engel & Voelkers and Chef on the Run.
The Penny Farthing, and other businesses in the village, paid into a parking fund and say they were told the lot behind the pub was intended for future parking.
The businesses say they need the parking in order to support the businesses and maintain a thriving village.
B次元官网网址淭here is almost $1 million in the parking fund and our fear is that it will be used for other uses under the Transportation Act,B次元官网网址� said Matt MacNeil, owner of the Penny Farthing. B次元官网网址淲e want that dialogue front and centre and out there publicly.B次元官网网址�
