Victoria tent city residents bring their personality to transitional housing
70 residents live in provincially funded housing complex called Choices
Some campers from Victoria's tent city who have been relocated to transitional housing over the past six months say it's helped them get their lives back on track
"Getting back into routine, a regular life, getting up every morning, taking a shower, getting dressed, having breakfast — I mean just simple, simple ways of life was a huge plus for me," said resident Shelby Edison.
Seventy people now live at Choices, a former youth custody centre that has been turned into a housing complex just outside of Victoria.
- Victoria tent city not gone despite court order to end homeless camp
- Poverty 'impossible to ignore' as Victoria tent city shut down draws near, activist says
The facility is run by Our Place Society and funded by the provincial government. CBC was invited inside for a look.
Living quarters
Residents are given the choice to live indoors in former jail cells or in tents in a yard outside to maintain their sense of independence.
Facilities
The agency provides residents with 24-hour support, a professionally staffed kitchen with three meals a day and an arts and fitness area.
Future detox centre?
According to Grant McKenzie, Our Place Society's director of communications, Choices is a low barrier facility — meaning alcohol and narcotics may be consumed on site in the rooms.
He says the hope is that when residents are ready, they will seek help with their addictions.
"We'd like to have them come in here, go through detox and move into sober living ... try and get people so they are walking into a job and employment," he said.
The agency is hoping a detoxification centre can be eventually be set up onsite.
