A tragedy of timing.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 how Mark Muldoon would describe Threshold HousingB次元官网网址檚 plans to build 10 units of housing for high-risk youth in collaboration with the Greater Victoria Housing Society, as a part of the societyB次元官网网址檚 new $8 million project being built at 330 Goldstream Rd.
So far, Threshold has been unable to secure the funding needed to sign a lease with the housing society as the Oct. 31 deadline looms.
B次元官网网址淟ike every other housing development, itB次元官网网址檚 a matter of timing when all the funding can come together. WeB次元官网网址檙e not pointing fingers, it would be an unfortunate failure not to get this thing off the ground because itB次元官网网址檚 a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,B次元官网网址� said Muldoon, ThresholdB次元官网网址檚 executive director.
B次元官网网址淭his is a golden opportunity because as far as I know, thereB次元官网网址檚 never been a purpose-built transitional housing situation in Victoria or the region and so weB次元官网网址檙e very happy that the Greater Victoria Housing Society has stepped up and offered this to us.B次元官网网址�
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The societyB次元官网网址檚 new facility, located behind the new Pacific Family Services AssociationB次元官网网址檚 building, will provide 104 rental units for low-income adults. If a lease is signed between the two organizations, Muldoon hopes the building will also include space for programs that get youth out of the cycle of homelessness.
However securing funding has been another issue.
Since Threshold is a non-profit, financing would be a stretch. Muldoon said heB次元官网网址檚 tried to meet with representatives from the Ministry of Children and Family Development to come up with a long-term agreement for roughly $700,000 to $1 million in funding annually, but has been unsuccessful.
The change in government has also made it challenging to make headway in contacting people, he said.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a long-term plan, we need long-term, multi-year guaranteed funding to carry it off,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e find the need for youth transitional housing to be very important because it only takes one or two degrees of intervention with a youth to change their lives completely, as opposed to someone who is chronically entrenched in homelessness.B次元官网网址�
While the ministry acknowledged the pressing need for safe, stable housing for vulnerable youth, a spokesperson said it is unable to provide funding at this time.
B次元官网网址淎t this time, the ministry is not in a position to provide operational funding for the proposed youth housing project as it doesnB次元官网网址檛 fit the criteria for this type of funding which is targeted at higher risk youth,B次元官网网址� said an emailed statement.
But Muldoon isnB次元官网网址檛 ready to throw in the towel just yet.
B次元官网网址淲e will keep trying to get into the West Shore eventually. We know weB次元官网网址檒l do it because the need is very large here. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a matter of time. If this not particular instance, there will be another,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 give up easily.B次元官网网址�
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