“We are at risk of losing downtown, the economic engine of the region,” says Coun. Krista Loughton. “I qualify that as an emergency.”
Victoria Coun. Krista Loughton is pushing for B.C. Housing to prioritize finding supportive housing for those sleeping in doorways and on sidewalks downtown.
She also wants Island Health to assign an outreach worker who can refer those who need treatment to complex care or whatever health service they require.
“This will help our relocation co-ordination team work quickly and more effectively at a time when we absolutely need to get help and support to people who are sheltering on our streets downtown,” she said, noting the city’s relocation co-ordinator has helped house 40 people since being appointed in 2023.
Council voted 7-2 Thursday in favour of the motion, which Loughton said was motivated by the fact that Victoria’s downtown is in crisis.
“We are at risk of losing downtown, the economic engine of the region,” she said. “I qualify that as an emergency.”
Councillors Marg Gardiner and Stephen Hammond both voted against the motion. While the two agreed there should be an Island Health representative on the ground able to refer people to treatment, they said they were against anything that could mean more supportive housing in the city.
“Shelter spaces in supportive housing that permit use of illicit drugs do not have to be in Victoria. We have too many, too much already, I believe,” said Gardiner. “I cannot support any advocacy for more shelters or housing to permit the use of illicit drugs in our city.”
Arguing the city is already overwhelmed with shelters and supportive housing, Gardiner tried without success to amend the motion to urge the province to place any additional shelters in other municipalities.
She also questioned whether something that has been going on for years could be classified as an emergency.
“I just find this very bothersome that we’re even asking for any more of this,” Gardiner added.
Loughton said the city does have more than 85% of the region’s supportive housing, but given the state of downtown, they need to act quickly and be realistic about where shelter may be found.
“We are in an emergency crisis situation with street disorder downtown. And the point of this motion is to try to get people who are sleeping on the sidewalks and in doorways of businesses downtown indoors somewhere,” she said.
A recent report by the Downtown Victoria Business Association found 48 per cent of businesses said they would not renew their leases based on current conditions downtown.
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