Two new housings sites are set to start this month in Victoria, adding nearly 300 new homes that offer affordable rental and supportive housing – set to finish in 2027 and 2029.
"We know that different people have different housing needs, and we're working on every front to help everyone find a place to call home," Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said in a news release. "During a time of economic uncertainty, these homes will lower rental costs for working people and families while bringing people sheltering outside indoors so they can have stability, dignity and support they need to move forward."
The province kicked in nearly $100 million for the 295 new homes across two separate developments on Pandora Avenue and Discovery Street, announced Saturday (May 3).
A new 21-storey building at 926/930 Pandora Ave. is replacing the existing vacant structures with 158 affordable rental homes, 47 supportive homes and a community space expected to include child care services.
The Capital Region Housing Corporation will manage the affordable rental homes, and an experienced non-profit operator will oversee the supportive housing.
"Since 2019, with our funding partners, the CRHC has introduced more than 800 new affordable homes to the region, and we won't stop there. Projects like Pandora show the powerful possibilities of partnership, and the CRHC is excited to get another 158 affordable homes underway in the City of Victoria,” said Zac de Vries, chair of the Capital Region Housing Corporation.
Construction is expected to start soon, with a target to finish in spring 2029.
A second site also gets shovels in the ground this month, to build 90 new supportive homes at 726 Discovery St. for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The eight-storey, steel-frame building will feature 90 studio units, each with a private bathroom, and is expected to be complete by mid-2027.
Our Place Society will operate the supportive housing at Discovery Street, offering residents daily meals, laundry facilities and a range of 24/7 on-site support services. These will include life-skills training, employment assistance and counselling, as well as access to physical and mental-health care, addiction treatment and recovery services. The building will also feature safety measures such as fenced grounds, a single point of entry, 24/7 staffed reception, security cameras and lighting.
"We're happy to see construction begin on the Discovery Street supportive-housing project, which Our Place Society will be operating,” said CEO Julian Daly. “This much-needed resource will provide 90 supportive homes for people in Victoria, offering stability and services to help them thrive. It's a vital step forward for those we serve and for access to housing in Victoria. The whole community benefits from this."
