Safe and affordable housing is a key part of the solution to homelessness and it makes neighbourhoods safer & more vibrant. Homes are critical for people to regain their health and dignity. Cool Aid continues to develop more affordable housing. It’s a priority.
When it comes to basic needs, nothing is more critical than safe and secure housing. People who have experienced homelessness, more than the rest of us, appreciate how fundamental a home is to maintaining health and wellness. It is also essential for recovery from many challenges, such as trauma, mental health challenges, chronic illness, substance use and more. A home provides a sanctuary and a place where we can regain our strength and move forward.
Cool Aid is the organization most focussed on long-term solutions to ending homelessness in Greater Victoria.
Our services start with affordable housing and around-the-clock support for tenants in Victoria, Saanich & Langford. With over 550 apartments for people who were previously homeless, Cool Aid has more housing options for this population than any other organization. Plus, we are actively developing over 220 more affordable apartments.
Cool Aid also offers our tenants full health and dental care services, employment and volunteer opportunities, and healthy wellness and recreation offerings.
Emergency shelters and transitional housing provide a first step away from being homeless, but are not in themselves the solution to homelessness. People staying in shelters have access to many services to help them stabilize and become ready for permanent housing. Everyone staying at a Cool Aid shelter receives three nutritious meals daily, on-site health services, counselling and assistance with a wide variety of needs, such as income assistance, ID replacement and the search for an apartment.
“Supportive” housing is an apartment building where staff are on site to assist tenants with their needs and ensure they are doing well. Tenants who have been homeless, often for years, benefit greatly from some extra assistance to encourage them, teach and help them learn household skills, and to make sure they are doing well and have access to the healthcare and resources that they need. We provide more supportive housing for people formerly homeless than any other local organization.
Supportive housing is important for every senior at some stage in their life and even more important for people who have been homeless and are challenged with health conditions such as mental illness, head injuries and substance misuse (addictions). Cool Aid operates five apartment buildings for 55+ seniors who need some extra help to stay well housed and healthy, including one assisted living building. All Cool Aid seniors housing is also supportive housing.
The cost of renting an apartment has climbed dramatically over the past few years and being able to afford rent, food and other basics needs has become much more difficult for many people living on fixed and low incomes — even those working full-time jobs. If we are to prevent more of our neighbours from becoming homeless we must build more affordable housing.
Cool Aid provides affordable housing at several of its sites and are developing more in every new property or redevelopment.
Housing has become one of the most critical challenges for our community and everyone recognizes that more has to be built to catch up with the demand. Then we need to continue building to stay ahead of demand so that people no longer find themselves homeless for long periods of time.
One of Cool Aid’s top priorities is to build additional supportive, affordable and seniors housing throughout the Capital Region. Keep up with our new proposals on the Properties Under Development page.
"Now I’m a peer support worker and help people who are addicted. I get paid and it brings me pride to be one step closer to a full-time job."
Client Volunteer, Recovered Addict
