The Burnside Gorge Housing Outreach helps families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to find shelter and/or maintain their housing. We work with single parents, two-parent and extended families, and pregnant women. Outreach workers support families by:
There is a housing crisis in Victoria leading to a dramatic increase in the number of families needing support and access to affordable housing. At less than 1%, Victoria’s vacancy rate (rental market) is one of the lowest in the country. According to the CRD Housing Affordability Strategy, rents are increasing at twice the rate of inflation. Individuals with children who have limited incomes are severely affected.
With few immediate shelter options available to them, families are often living in motels during the off season or camping during the tourist season when they initially connect with our outreach workers. They are frequently couch surfing with friends or family, living in vehicles, or staying in transitional housing. Too often, these families have no idea where they will sleep that night. The most common reasons for their lack of housing are fleeing an abusive relationship and/or being unable to find affordable, safe and/or appropriate places to live within the Victoria region.
Call 250-388-5251 to set up an appointment with a Housing Outreach Worker or visit Burnside Gorge Housing Outreach for more information.
BC Housing- Rental Assistance Program
The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income working families with monthly assistance to help with their monthly rent payments.
To qualify, families must have a total before-tax household income of $40,000 or less, were working at some point in the last year, and have at least one dependent child. Existing clients need to reapply each year.
Find out how much rent help you could get and get an estimate.
Vancouver Island Region Office
Suite 201-3440 Douglas Street
Victoria, BC V8Z 3L5
Reception hours: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Phone: 250-475-7550
Toll-free: 1-800-787-2807
Fax: 250-475-7551
Email: vanislandregion@bchousing.org
or visit BC Housing Rental Assistance Program
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BC Housing
BC Housing offers a search tool for rentals based on specific criteria such as household type and region.
Visit the BC Housing Search Tool for more information
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BC Housing – Housing Registry
The Housing Registry, managed by BC Housing, is a centralized database of applicant information used by housing providers when units become available. Housing providers will gather updated information on all household members, including income and assets, and may complete additional checks to assess a household’s ability to uphold the obligations of a tenancy agreement. This may include reference checks, personal interviews and /or reviewing information available from public sources such as Court Services Online and police websites. In addition, some housing providers may ask for consent to perform a credit or criminal record check or to obtain information from other private sources.
Visit the BC Housing – Housing Registry to apply.
Pacifica Housing
Pacifica Housing provides over 1,400 units of quality, affordable independent and supportive housing across Greater Victoria and Nanaimo, including some designated for geriatric specialty seniors.
250-385-2131
827 Fisgard Street
tenantservices@pacificahousing.ca
Visit Pacifica Housing for more information.
The Vancouver Island Co-op Housing Association (VICHA) offers their members many advantages that are often unavailable in other forms of housing.
As a co-op member, you have security of tenure. That means you can live in your home for as long as you wish if you follow the rules of the co-op and pay your housing charges on time.
As a co-op member, you have a say in decisions that affect your home. You and your neighbours own your homes together, which means you have a say in how they are managed. Co-op housing is not public housing. Co-ops are self-governed, mixed-income communities, home to people of all ages and backgrounds. This diversity is one of the co-op movement’s greatest strengths.
Co-ops are communities in the truest sense of the word. While it’s common to hear people in other forms of housing say they don’t know or never speak to their neighbours, co-op members live and work together to create homes in active communities.
Visit the Vancouver Island Co-op Housing Association for more information.
Greater Victoria has a number of Emergency and Second Stage Housing Options for women fleeing abuse.
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The Cridge Transition House
The Cridge Transition House is a safe place for women with or without children fleeing violence or abuse in their homes.
Call 250-479-3963 any time of day or night
or visit the Cridge Transition House for more information.
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Victoria Women’s Transition House
The Victoria Women’s Transition House can provide you with the help you need – from a safe place to stay to counselling, support and referrals.
Call the 24-Hour Helpline at 250-385-6611
or visit the Victoria Women’s Transition House for more information.
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Sooke Transition House
The Sooke Transition House Society (STHS) provides emergency shelter for women and their children who are in crisis resulting from family violence.
Call 250-642-2591 to speak with someone directly
or Email anniesplace@shaw.ca
Visit Sooke Transition House for more information.
Cool-Aid Emergency Shelters
People who are homeless often choose to stay in a shelter when beds or mats are available. At Cool Aid shelters we provide meals, counselling, harm reduction, and support to help people find suitable, affordable housing, work and income, health services, and whatever else they need to move forward in their lives.
Visit Cool Aid Shelters for more information on Rock Bay Landing, Sandy Merriman House, Next Steps Transitional Shelter and Temporary Shelter
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Turtle Refuge Hostel
Turtle Refuge Hostel offers affordable student dorm-style housing
1608 Quadra Street
250-381-3210
turtle.hostel@gmail.com
Visit Turtle Refuge Hostel for more information
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Ocean Island Backpackers Inn
The Ocean Island Backpackers Inn offers affordable student dorm-style housing.
791 Pandora Ave
250-385-1789
info@oceanisland.com
Visit the Ocean Island Backpackers Inn for more information
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Kiwanis Emergency Youth Shelter
The Kiwanis Emergency Youth Shelter offers shelter for youths aged 13-18.
Phone: 250-386-8282
Email: keys@vyes.ca
Visit the Kiwanis Emergency Youth Shelter for more information
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Out of the Rain Youth Shelter
Out of the Rain Youth Shelter provides emergency shelter for youth aged 15-25
Available October 15 – April 15 from 9 pm-8 am.
Pets are welcome.
250-415-3856
Facebook: Out of the Rain Youth Shelter
Visit Out of the Rain Youth Shelter for more information.
Cridge Centre for the Family
The Cridge Centre for the Family offers affordable housing to women and children fleeing abuse, and immigrant & refugee individuals and families
Office: 1307 Hillside Avenue
250-384-8058
Visit the Cridge Centre for the Family for more information
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Kiwanis House
Kiwanis House offers a supportive, transitional housing program for single, young mothers (ages 16-29) parenting one child under the age of 5 years.
Phone: 250-382-1004
ymp@victoriay.com
Visit Kiwanis House for more information
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Margaret Laurence House
Margaret Laurence House (MLH) is a community-based second stage program for women who are leaving an abusive intimate relationship and who have their children in their care at least 50% of the time. MLH provides housing, support, counselling and advocacy. Women will be considered for admission through self-referral or referral from other agencies.
250-995-0058
program@margaretlaurencehouse.org
Visit Margaret Laurence House for more information
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Boys & Girls Club Youth Prenatal & Parenting Program
(formerly CHPP)
The Boys & Girls Club Youth Prenatal & Parenting Program (YP3 Program) helps young women (15-21) who are pregnant or in the early months of parenting through a combination of housing, life skills training and counselling.
250-384-9133
Visit the Boys & Girls Club YP3 Program for more information.
The Residential Tenancy Information Office provides information regarding housing procedures, legal advice, and tenant information.
250-387-1602
HSRTO@gov.bc.ca
Visit Residential Tenancy Information for more information
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Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre
Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) provides information and an online copy of the Tenant’s Survival Guide
1-800-665-1185
Visit the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre for more information.
M’akola Housing Society
The M’akola Housing Society provides safe, affordable and appropriate homes primarily for Indigenous people and families. Through community partnerships and funders M’akola is able to provide subsidized housing, affordable rentals and assisted living units throughout most of British Columbia.
104-550 Goldstream Avenue
250-590-0204
Visit M’akola Housing Society for more information and housing applications.
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Victoria Native Friendship Centre
The Victoria Native Friendship Centre offers programs that assist aboriginal families with securing housing.
231 Regina Avenue
Victoria BC V8Z 1J6
250-384-3211
Visit Victoria Native Friendship Centre for more information.