Housing Search List for Families
Effective November 1st, 2008, Burnside Gorge Housing Outreach no longer posts housing lists on this website. Any family in need of housing information or services is encouraged to contact the Burnside Gorge Community Centre at 250-388-5251.
Please click on the house image (to the right of this column) to access useful internet information resources that allow housing seekers to search the most current housing advertisements. You will need Adobe Reader to view this file.
Due to the increasing number of rental ad scams, housing seekers are encouraged to be cautious when responding to ads. Please read this Times Colonist article for more information.
Housing Outreach
The Burnside Gorge Homeless
Families Outreach Project was initially developed to support the
alarming number of families living in motels along the Gorge Road
Strip. These motels serve as unofficial emergency shelters for homeless
families in Greater Victoria. The Outreach program sees an average of
25 new families a month; between September 2008 and the end of August
2009, direct support was provided to 249 families, as well as
300+ individuals helped through information and referral.
The Burnside Gorge Housing Outreach helps families who are homeless
or at risk of becoming homeless to find shelter and/or maintain their
housing. Generally, these are single parents with young children,
although we also work with two-parent and extended families and
pregnant homeless women. Outreach Workers support families by:
- Responding to immediate physical needs such as housing/shelter, food and warm clothing
- Advocating for families with employment and assistance workers, landlords, hotel managers, and others as required
- Connecting children and parents with existing support services
- Encouraging families to become involved in BGCA community activities and become an active part of their community
There is a housing crisis in Victoria leading to a dramatic increase in the number of families needing support and access to affordable housing. At less than 1%, Victoria's vacancy rate (rental market) is one of the lowest in the country. According to the CRD Housing Affordability Strategy, rents are increasing at twice the rate of inflation. Individuals with children who have limited incomes are severely affected.
With few immediate shelter options available to them, families are
often living in motels during the off season or camping during the
tourist season when they initially connect with our outreach workers.
They are frequently couch surfing with friends or family, living in
vehicles, or staying in transitional housing. Too often, these families
have no idea where they will sleep that night. The most common reasons
given for their lack of housing are fleeing an abusive relationship
and/or being unable to find affordable, safe and/or appropriate places
to live within the Victoria region.
If you are a family with children and are in need of housing support, please contact us.
Housing
Outreach Staff | t:
250-388-5251
Ryan Calbick | ext. 243
Tory
Kincross | ext. 244