Demand other levels of government create more housing with support, to reduce visible homelessness and relieve pressures on first responders, bylaw, and outreach workers.

Positive Transfer Program
Advance the City's Positive Transfer program, initiated by Councillor Loughton, which helps people who are ready to move out of supportive housing but cannot afford market rents, transition into independent living using light supports and rent supplements. Moving the roughly 100 individuals in this situation in Victoria will create a direct domino effect: freeing supportive housing beds for people in shelters, and opening shelter spaces for those on the street. This will help to reduce visible homelessness downtown. Councillor Loughton will keep advocating for provincial and federal partners to provide the rent supplements needed to scale this effort and keep the system moving.

Sober Recovery Housing
Push provincial health and housing authorities to build more dedicated sober recovery housing units to address the severe regional shortage of substance-free housing. The City-led Johnson Manor project, created with BC Housing and the Victoria Cool Aid Society, proved this demand when it received over 80 referrals in its first week and had to close intake due to long waitlists. Councillor Loughton will advocate for senior levels of government to fund and deliver more of this housing, ensuring people finishing treatment have a safe space to maintain their recovery. Dedicated sober recovery housing also gives people experiencing homelessness an incentive to enter treatment, knowing they will not be forced back onto the street or into supportive housing when their treatment program ends, which often leads to relapse, or in some cases, tragic overdose deaths. This is a crucial piece of the recovery continuum that is absent in our region.

Establish Dedicated Daytime Spaces for Unsheltered Residents
Work with community partners and senior government levels to set up designated indoor and/or outdoor daytime spaces with washrooms, storage, and outreach services. Giving unsheltered people places to go during the day keeps sidewalks, doorways, and business fronts clear while connecting individuals directly with support workers.