The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness says it welcomes the return of the federal government's leadership role on housing and homelessness through the release of the long-awaited National Housing Strategy.
Ian Batey, co-chair of the Victoria organization says it will take a range of ministries at both the federal and provincial levels coming together around community based needs and local opportunities. He says they have a number of local initiatives already underway to hold them over until the federal housing strategy takes shape.
"First of all, the Regional Housing Strategy, last year we rolled out $9 million of new construction for housing specifically focused on individuals who are homeless. We have a request for proposal for that will be going out for Indigenous housing as well as youth housing."
Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps, who is also co-chair of the coalition, says she truly hopes the city is able to put the funding to work right away.