VICTORIA - People in recovery in Victoria who are experiencing homelessness or leaving supportive housing will soon have a safe place to stay, with the Province, the City and the Victoria Cool Aid Society partnering to deliver recovery-oriented homes downtown.
“There’s an urgent need in Victoria to support the housing needs for people well on the way in their recovery journey,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “That’s why our government is glad to be working with the city and local partners to open these recovery-oriented housing spaces and supports in a community-living environment. Helping people move forward with the dignity and the confidence needed to begin a new, healthy life is a powerful way to build safer, stronger communities for everyone.”
The recovery-oriented housing at 1153 Johnson St. will include 20 self-contained units in substance-free surroundings for people who have completed early-stage recovery and are ready to prepare for independent living. This means they are a minimum 60 days sober, post-detox and treatment, and without a fixed address or exiting supportive housing. Supporting people who are ready to move into recovery-oriented housing will free up supportive housing spaces so other people experiencing homelessness can come indoors.
“We’ve heard from the community that there is a lack of dry, recovery-oriented housing, which plays a critical role post-treatment,” said Marianne Alto, mayor of Victoria. “This collaboration between the city and the Province will help create more positive flow in our housing continuum and support vulnerable residents as they move from homelessness to recovery after detox. This partnership illustrates how, working together, we are creating a positive pathway to provide opportunity and housing for everyone.”
The housing cost will be shared between the Province and the City of Victoria. The Province, through BC Housing, is providing $1.2 million in operating funding over three years. The City of Victoria is providing almost $590,000 over three years toward the facility’s operations, in addition to $250,000 in capital funding for building improvements.
The housing site, known as Johnson Manor, is owned and operated by Cool Aid and will support continued recovery, promote independent living skills and prepare residents to transition into long-term, stable housing. This housing will help residents embrace an abstinence-based lifestyle with access to supports including harm-reduction information, peer-supported coaching and referrals to other services.
The Province, through BC Housing, currently funds and supports various supportive-housing operating models based on the needs of the community in Victoria. In communities that already have a range of minimum-barrier supportive housing, a recovery-focused supportive-housing model can provide an additional housing option. The Johnson Manor recovery-oriented housing is in addition to other low-barrier supportive housing available in Victoria, including 162 built and operational spaces through the Province’s homeless and encampment response and temporary housing solutions, and 826 supportive housing spaces open or underway.
“Adding recovery housing to Cool Aid’s housing continuum is a major strategic priority and a housing model that we have been working toward for several years,” said Angela Moran, director of housing and shelters, Cool Aid. “We are thrilled that the city and the Province are in alignment with this vision. Our shared commitment will provide lasting after-care for people who are at a critical stage in their recovery journey.”
BC Housing will be notifying the surrounding community while the property renovations are underway. Letters are being provided to neighbours and stakeholders outlining how the facility will operate and who to contact with any questions or concerns. The new residents are expected to move there in early spring 2026.
The program is part of the Province’s commitment to expand the Homeless Encampment Action Response Team (HEART) and Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) programs, as part of the 2025 Co-operation and Responsible Government Accord (CARGA) with the B.C. Green Party caucus.
Victoria is one of 11 local governments partnering with the Province to put in place HEART and HEARTH. The others are Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Duncan, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Powell River, Prince George and Vancouver. This is the seventh HEARTH project in Victoria since the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the Province in February 2024. The agreement includes the development of new temporary shelter and housing options, and increased support to people sheltering outdoors and in encampments.
This work is part of the Province’s Belonging in B.C. plan to help prevent homelessness and bring more people indoors quickly. Since 2017, the Province has more than 93,600 homes delivered or underway, including nearly 4,000 homes in Victoria.
Learn More:
To read the Belonging in B.C. plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BelongingStrategy.pdf
For information about the Homeless Encampment Action Response Teams (HEART) and the Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) programs, visit: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/HEART-HEARTH
To learn about the steps the Province is taking to address the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for people in B.C., visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/
To see a map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C., visit: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC
To learn more about Victoria’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan and priority actions, visit: https://www.victoria.ca/cswb
Backgrounders
What people are saying about Johnson Manor housing:
Josie Osborne, Minister of Health –
“Health and housing go hand in hand. This project shows what’s possible when we come together to meet people where they are in their recovery. These homes will offer the stability and connection people need to move forward, while strengthening the communities around them. Everyone benefits when we create housing that supports dignity, independence and a healthier future.”
Grace Lore, MLA, Victoria-Beacon Hill –
“It is great news that, in Victoria, we will offer a housing model that helps people who are ready to take the next step in their recovery journey to be surrounded by others who are on the same pathway out of homelessness and instability. This housing pilot and partnership will help make this city an even better place to live, and give hope to people who need a hand up to a better life.”
Rob Botterell, MLA, Saanich North and the Islands –
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to responding to homelessness or substance-use challenges. People require complex supports and a range of housing options. Substance-free supportive-housing spaces like this are essential for many who need a safe place to continue their journey in recovery. The B.C. Greens are hopeful the government will continue to fund spaces like this, in addition to low-barrier supportive housing models across the province.”
Housing supports for people experiencing homelessness
- The Province, through BC Housing, will provide annual operating funding through the Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) program.
- Improvements to the existing building will focus on modest upgrades to the living units (e.g., new fire alarms, washroom renovations, kitchen equipment, flooring and paint) and improvements to indoor programming areas.
- Budget 2023 included a $1.5-billion investment in the Belonging in B.C. plan, with $228 million dedicated to encampment-related initiatives.
- The Province is also investing as much as $90 million over three years from Budget 2025 to expand access to housing and supports, helping people move from homelessness to stability and dignity.
- Of the $90 million, $30 million has been secured through an agreement with the B.C. Green Party caucus, to further support communities.
- Funding from the City of Victoria is part of the $10.35 million allocated from their 2025 budget to support the city’s 11 community-safety and well-being-priority actions.