Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto voiced support for a comprehensive plan aimed at supporting and housing those living on Victoria's streets with the help of several government and community stakeholders.
On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Victoria Police Chief Del Manak revealed the Pandora and Ellice Safety Plan, a three-stage plan that outlines steps to safely remove encampments along Pandora Avenue and Ellice Street while also finding housing, health care, and addiction support for those living in the encampments.
"There's also no doubt that there is a dramatic need for change within the health system, and that's not just for emergency services, but for all types of health services in a complex care system. We have massive gaps," Alto said while speaking with media on Aug. 7. "I will applaud the fact that local service providers are working with us comprehensively, not just with police but other emergency responders, and trying to do the best we can to resolve these symptoms as long as we can."
The second and third phases of the plan, laid out by VicPD, focus on sheltering enforcement where the city would help remove problematic structures like more permanent setups, abandoned tents and ones only containing garbage, and with the help of local service providers, find treatment or housing for those still living on the streets.
When asked about how and where people will be housed, Alto said a number of local service providers have applied through the province for additional funding, which is still pending,
"Kudos to the province for the work they're doing. In the longer term, they are building hundreds of units, but many of those units are years away and, meanwhile, we need to create additional shelter spaces immediately," she said. "We're aware that there have been applications from a variety of different service providers for provincial funding. We're also aware that some of those are pending. We would just urge that that pending nature be acted upon, now."
Alto said she hopes to see change within Island Health in particular, suggesting the agency review how they release patients who don't have homes and how they deal with a person in crisis.
In an email statement, Island Health said the situation on Pandora Avenue is a complex, societal issue and they are committed to work with the city, police, service partners and the public to seek long-term, permanent solutions.
"The situation on Pandora Avenue is challenging for the people living there, the service providers working to meet the social and care needs, the first responders who help save lives every day, and the health care staff seeking to connect people with ongoing services and supports that lead to improved health and wellness," noted the statement. "This is a complex, societal challenge involving trauma, poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental health and marginalization. It requires a multi-level, cooperative response from all levels of government, non-governmental agencies, non-profits and housing and health sectors."
Julian Daly, CEO of Our Place, a community organization that supports Victoria's homeless population, said he is feeling optimistic moving forward as the organization has been calling for a similar plan for years.
"The plan that's out there, it's basically what we've been calling for every year now, including most recently Pathways Off Pandora which was about bringing all the right people together, who all had a piece of the solution for street homelessness in Victoria, and bringing us all together to work together, and I believe this is now happening," said Daly.
A more comprehensive public safety and well-being plan will be presented to council in early fall.
