The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness (the Coalition) was formed in 2008 with a mission to end homelessness in the capital region. The Coalition consists of local housing, health and social service providers; non-profit organizations; all levels of government; businesses; the faith community; people with a lived experience of homelessness (past or present); and members of the general public. This diverse membership, referred to as Coalition Stakeholders, come together to collectively address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in the capital region.
The Coalition’s activities centre around funding effectiveness, system effectiveness, inclusiveness, evidence-based reporting, and building capacity. As a backbone organization the Coalition facilitates information sharing, relationship building, and strategic planning to ensure the collective efforts of stakeholders are making the greatest possible difference.
Our Vision
A region, a province, and a country where everyone has a safe place they can call home.
Our Mission
To ensure experiences of homelessness in the Capital Region by 2030 are rare, brief, and non-recurring and that housing and supports are culturally adaptive, creative, caring, and person-centered.
Background
In May 2007, then Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe struck a 120-day task force to recommend a service model and business plan that would provide better assistance to residents challenged with mental illness, addictions and homelessness.
The Mayor’s Task Force was charged with breaking down the issue of homelessness in Victoria and developing a new service delivery model that would be a substantial shift in the way we all respond to our community’s social and health challenges. It became apparent that Greater Victoria needed a community-owned solution to end homelessness for its residents. As a result of this thorough work, the community rallied and the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness Society was formed in February 2008.
10 Years of Community: A Retrospective
Our Principles
These principles guide our decisions:
People-centred: People come first. We will provide housing
and supports in ways that best meet homeless people’s
needs rather than organizing based on our efficiencies or
expertise.
Appropriate: Supports will be responsive to the diversity of
cultural communities and individual nations.
Seamless: Housing and supports will be integrated,
coordinated and tailored to individual needs.
Accessible: Access to appropriate housing and supports are
a key component of our work; people will be served where
they live and work.
Adaptable: People will be supported along their continuum
of care as needed; care and support will be individualized to
people’s needs, with an emphasis on integration into
the community.
Inclusive: Housing and supports will be provided to all
people facing homelessness and will not be contingent on
abstinence or treatment.
Innovation: We embrace innovation and seek to learn from
our actions and share that learning with the community.
Prevention: Identifying, mitigating and advocating for systemic
change that addresses the root causes of homelessness will
be key components of our prevention work.
Respectful: We treat everyone with respect and dignity.
Community Engagement: We build a broad range
of support for the work that we do and engage all
members of the community in finding and implementing
appropriate solutions.
In Crisis?:
If you require urgent emotional support, including having thoughts of suicide and other mental health issues, please call Vancouver Island Crisis Line: 1-888-494-3888.
Youth (under 25 years of age) may access youthspace.ca for online emotional support.
For other resources, including shelter availability, visit bc211.ca
