A Call to Action on Homelessness

Homelessness has been an issue in Victoria for a while – with many questions about how to address it. But actions to tackle this problem in recent years are starting to pay off.

There is no doubt that the Victoria community wants to help the homeless. The question is how best to do that. Does handing the panhandler some change do any good? Well, are you looking to provide short term relief or are you interested in finding a long term solution?

Our city of Victoria’s homeless are a diverse population made up of individuals dealing with unique challenges. The one common thread that ties them all together is the need for a roof over their heads. Everyone should have access to safe, comfortable, affordable housing.

This notion is perhaps one that recently sparked a generous gift of $50,000 from donors to the Victoria Foundation. It started with a couple who, a few years ago, came to the Foundation to establish the Sun Star Fund. But the story doesn’t end there.

The Sun Star gift came with a call to action: A call to the citizens of this region to dig deep and recognize that homelessness is a community problem that requires all of our attention.

For this reason, the Sun Star Fund announced that it would match, dollar for dollar, any and all donations directed specifically to the Streets to Homes program of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness http://www.solvehomelessness.ca/ – in essence doubling the impact of their grant.

The effect this grant will have on the Streets to Homes http://www.solvehomelessness.ca/news.html?n=70 pilot initiative will be immense. For starters, it will provide a significant boost to this program, which over the next two years will house and support 120 people who are chronically homeless across this region.

Streets to Homes adapts the successful Toronto Streets to Homes program to the Victoria context and builds on the current resources and knowledge that exist in our community and throughout British Columbia.

To find out more about the I’ll Match initiative, visit the Victoria Foundation http://www.victoriafoundation.bc.ca/ .

Shannon Drew-Burrows is Director of Communications for Victoria Foundation