Cool AidB次元官网网址檚 latest housing project at was given the go-ahead by VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 council after a public hearing Thursday.
More than 40 people signed up to speak in opposition and support of the controversial rezoning application to convert the former seniors home into 78 supportive housing and 15 affordable rental housing units for adults 55 and older. has been operating 1002 Vancouver St. B次元官网网址� located across from Christ Church Cathedral School B次元官网网址� since February 2016 as a transitional housing for 38 people, many of whom were previously homeless. Parents and school representatives voiced opposition to the application, while other neighbours, and a current Mount Edwards Court resident, showed support.
Kathy Stinson, CEO of Victoria Cool Aid Society, presented the plan and attempted to alleviate concerns. Cool Aid and B.C. Housing, she said, had regular meetings with neighbours and community February to May 2016 before their attention shifted to Tent City, which was located a few blocks away. After Tent City shut down in August 2016, she said, incidents in the neighbourhood have declined.
Incoming residents, according to Stinson, will be 55 or older with low to moderate support needs. There will be at least three staff on site 24/7, and the building will have a controlled entry. Potential tenants will be screened using the Vulnerability Assessment Tool, and only those with no known history of violence and no current substance abuse issues will be housed at that location. The Residential Tenancy Act prohibits landlords from requiring a criminal record check.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e heard that with this new set up we will be pushing drug use out into the community,B次元官网网址� Stinson said in her presentation at the meeting. B次元官网网址淏ut again, I reiterate, that we will be screening folks to ensure people are not coming into the building with problematic substance abuse issues.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e heard from many people in this room that they support the idea of housing the homeless, they just donB次元官网网址檛 think they should be housed in residential neighbourhoods. But the purpose of residential neighbourhoods is to house people, and individuals experiencing homelessness are just people.B次元官网网址�
School and parents concerned
Many neighbours, parents and representatives of the school, were not convinced. Stuart Hall spoke at the public hearing representing the school board. He said their focus has always been on the safety of the children, and they are not satisfied with Cool AidB次元官网网址檚 plans for the facility. Density and a B次元官网网址渓ow level of accountabilityB次元官网网址� of the operators, he said, were the boardB次元官网网址檚 chief concerns.
Samantha Stone, whose children attend Christ Church Cathedral School across the street, was also worried.
B次元官网网址淧overty is the true concern of this city. Addiction, even monitored, is another,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淎s a parent, IB次元官网网址檓 wondering when safety for children, for seniors, and for neighbours will also register.B次元官网网址�
Mike Geoghegan, a government and media consultant who ran in AugustB次元官网网址檚 Saanich Council elections, said having the supportive housing just across the street from the school was too dangerous a risk for children.
B次元官网网址淲e wouldnB次元官网网址檛 put a marijuana dispensary next to a school,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗ere you have, a stoneB次元官网网址檚 throw away, a shelter, transitional housing going inB次元官网网址e already have issues of people shooting up drugs with street-level prostitution occurring in the area.
B次元官网网址淭his is inherently risky. I believe it is criminally irresponsible to put housing like this near a school.B次元官网网址�
Homeless advocate and building resident show support
But other attendees at the meeting supported Cool AidB次元官网网址檚 rezoning application. Alison Acker, 89, who lives in James Bay and is on the Committee to End Homelessness Victoria, said she supported the project, and that it seemed like a good home and community for the seniors to live in.
B次元官网网址淚 feel very badly when others are afraid of poor people or the homeless. I donB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 happened to them in their past or why they should fear them or their presence,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 want there to be gated communities. I donB次元官网网址檛 want it to be the rich here, and the poor there, on the street.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think children should grow up thinking the world is a pretty, nice place for everybody. ItB次元官网网址檚 notB次元官网网址f they never see a poor person on the street, itB次元官网网址檚 going to be very difficult for them in the future.B次元官网网址�
Leigh Anderson, currently a tenant of Mount Edwards Court, advocated on behalf of herself and other tenants.
B次元官网网址淚 am proud to live at 1002 Vancouver,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his is a well-run building. It is kept extremely clean.B次元官网网址�
Anderson said many of the tenants that were causing problems are now gone.
B次元官网网址淭hat type of behaviour is not allowed. In terms of noise, there are times I would call that building as quiet as an undiscovered tomb,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢ount Edwards is our homeB次元官网网址e have regular meetings of the tenants where we are listened to and where action is taken.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e our own best watchdogs.B次元官网网址�
Council approves rezoning
Council passed the application, with Coun. Geoff Young opposed. Coun. Charlayne Thornton Joe said she heard and acknowledged the communityB次元官网网址檚 misgivings but gave her support to the project.
B次元官网网址淧eople have expressed fear for their children, and I respect that,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭his council has said our goal is to solve the issue of homelessness. One of the [steps in] solving the issue of homelessness is providing homes, and this is an opportunity thatB次元官网网址檚 been placed before us.B次元官网网址�
Thornton Joe said the application is not for a shelter or transitional housing, but for supportive and affordable housing. Equating Mount Edwards Court to a shelter is not an accurate comparison, she said, however operators need to be held accountable should issues arise.
B次元官网网址淎s council, we need to stand up when there are concerns. We need to put the fire under Cool Aid, B.C. Housing and Island Health if there are concerns, and we need to make sure we have policing,B次元官网网址� she said.
Mount Edwards Court previously operated as a seniors care home with 83 units. The first and second floors will be renovated to include 78 supportive housing units with shared kitchen and shower facilities. The third floor, which has not been occupied for nearly 40 years, will be renovated before the 15 new affordable rental apartments are built.
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