Housing Outreach Media Release

Valuable Housing Outreach Program Running Out of Options

 Quadra Village Community Centre’s crucial and uniquely effective Housing Outreach Program (HOP) is at risk of running out of funding.  Despite helping over 600 community members in the last two years and being a part of both successful saved and new tenancies, there is no funding in place past February 24, 2024.

Quadra Village Community Centre’s (QVCC) Housing Outreach program provides supports single adults and couples over the age of 18 (without children) who are at risk of becoming unhoused, or recently unhoused with services such as system navigation, applying for grants and subsidies, Income Assistance, BC Housing Applications and Resource referrals.

The program has been specifically designed to help people who may not be eligible for or aware of other types of support potentially available.  It was inspired by people who have been told that their rental is no longer available and have quite suddenly gone into crisis due to a lack of affordable housing options.  The stress and potential for a complete loss of shelter are so high and HOW has been a much-needed support while the housing crisis continues in Victoria.

The program has received great amounts of support from other community organizations, in addition to the (former and current) Mayor of Victoria, and other Council Members. In a previous article published by the Times Colonist, reporting on the City Councils unanimous decision to grant further funding to the Housing Outreach Program, “Coun. Sarah Potts said the money would be well spent given the track record of the organization. Thirty-two people were prevented from losing their housing, she said, noting there’s no way $45,000 could ever be able to house 32 people.” she further states “It’s a huge contribution to the health and well-being of our community.”   

With funding options difficult to identify, Quadra Village Community Centre is launching an emergency fundraising campaign to try to raise at least the $25,000 needed to extend the Housing Outreach program through until at least the end of June. This will give the program enough time to secure grants to extend the program. 

In the words of Executive Director, Kelly Greenwell, “we know the community is deeply concerned about unacceptable numbers of people without a home and will want to take this opportunity to help us keep making a difference”. 

Please direct media inquiries to:

Kelly Greenwell, Executive Director

(w)250.388.7696 ext.221; (c)250.888.3238

kelly@quadravillagecc.com