Despite push back from members of the Gorge-Burnside community -- Victoria Council voted 5:3 to give the Cool Aid Society a 3 year Temporary Use Permit to use the old Tally Ho property on Douglas for transitional housing.
Cool Aid's Kathy Stinson says 52 formerly homeless adults will likely start moving into the renovated property in January. She says while some tenants struggle with substance abuse issues, the site will be staffed at a higher level than most Cool Aid apartment buildings:
"We're going to have 2 staff there on a 24/7 basis. We'll also have a supervisor attached to the building on a fulltime basis. As well as a client services worker who works with residents kind of on a one-on-one basis on the goals that residents want to commit to. So, to help them reconnect with family, or perhaps try to find some employment or some volunteer opportunities. Those kind of things."
Area residents argued against the permit, saying their community is already impacted by other social housing projects as well as the Rock Bay Landing emergency shelter.
Stinson says she is not unsympathetic, and wants to seek input from neighbours and stakeholders. A sessions has been scheduled for next Thursday, November 30 at 6:30 in the former Tally Ho Banquet Room.