When the doors of the former Boys and Girls Club reopen as a temporary housing facility this Wednesday (Nov. 29), the reception will be a little warmer.

Earlier this month, Victoria city council unanimously granted the application to lease the property at 1240 Yates St. to Our Place to operate My Place Transitional Home, on behalf of BC Housing. On Wednesday, 40 tenants will move into the facility B次元官网网址� who provides residents with meals, shower facilities, individual beds and a place to store their things. They will reside there until April 30.

B次元官网网址淭his is a real stable community thatB次元官网网址檚 moving in there,B次元官网网址� said Grant McKenzie, Our Place director of communications. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be a dry facility, no drug use, lights out at 9 0B次元官网网址檆lock.B次元官网网址�

In the spring, McKenzie said, the objective is to move these people into more permanent housing. Because these residents are sober, he added they will make good candidates for places like Mount Edwards Court, operated by the Cool Aid Society on Vancouver Street.

B次元官网网址淭hese people are the working poor,B次元官网网址� McKenzie pointed out. B次元官网网址淧eople who have just fallen through the cracks and fallen on hard times and are looking to get their lives back.B次元官网网址�

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Coun. Charlayne Thornton Joe, who is councilB次元官网网址檚 liaison to the Fernwood neighbourhood, noted the communityB次元官网网址檚 receptivity to the project seems noticeably different this year. She said that while the security and staffing are the same, the way My Place operates will be different.

B次元官网网址淲e have addressed some of the concerns we heard in the past, and the model has changed,B次元官网网址� she said.

Previous residents came from tent city or from the streets, but this year, the people receiving housing have been staying at First Metropolitan Church where they have been vetted and assessed. Along with a spot at My Place will come responsibilities for the tenants, including monitoring and upkeep of the grounds, which McKenzie said makes a difference.

B次元官网网址淭he school has said they found it much nicer when we were there because we take care of things,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 much more comfortable and stable than a shelter.B次元官网网址�

Central Middle School principal Christoper McIntosh said the school is B次元官网网址渜uite comfortableB次元官网网址� with the new arrangement. Despite initial misgivings when the shelter opened last year, he staff, parents and students the school became accustomed to the neighbours after a time.

B次元官网网址淎 couple of our Grade 8 classes had interactions [with previous residents] through events they put on for them, and they shared a couple of meals with them,B次元官网网址� he said, noting those gatherings were in a controlled environment. B次元官网网址淚 would say it was very successful, and the reality is that our kids learned a lot.B次元官网网址�

- With files from Lauren Boothby