The City of Victoria, BC government and Victoria Cool Aid Society have partnered in an effort to bring more recovery-oriented transitional housing to the region.
The goal of this partnership is to provide additional housing spaces to those who are unhoused or leaving supportive housing.
The transitional housing spaces will be located at 1153 Johnson Street, also known as Johnson Manor, and will include 20 self-contained units.
Transitional housing in this case, and most others require a substance-free space where people who have completed early-stage recovery can prepare for the next step of independent housing.
At this new site, individuals will be required to have been sober and post-detox for a minimum of 60 days prior to admittance.
Additionally, conditions require those who will be residing at this transitional housing initiative to be either without a fixed address or existing supportive housing.
This endeavour is not unlike the mission of SOLID Outreach’s Dowler Place transitional housing facility.
This endeavour will not only help those who have initiated their recovery journey stay the course, but will subsequently help to free up supportive housing spaces so other unhoused individuals may have the tools to begin their own journey.
“We’ve heard from the community that there is a lack of dry, recovery-oriented housing, which plays a critical role post-treatment,” said Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria.
“This collaboration between the city and the Province will help create more positive flow in our housing continuum and support vulnerable residents as they move from homelessness to recovery after detox. This partnership illustrates how, working together, we are creating a positive pathway to provide opportunity and housing for everyone.”
The cost for this project will be shared between the BC government and Victoria.
The Province is providing $1.2 million in operating funding over three years via BC Housing funds, while the City is providing almost $590,000 over three years with an addition to $250,000 in capital funding for building improvements.
Johnson Manor is owned and operated by Cool Aid and will support continued recovery, promote independent living skills and prepare residents to transition into more long-term, stable housing.
Residents are expected to move into the new transitional, recovery-oriented housing in early spring 2026.
