
The City of Langford will be matching donations up to $75,000 for the displaced residents of RidgeView Place.
Donations will be accepted through an online portal on the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria’s website, and information for RidgeView Place residents to apply for funding will be announced in the coming days.
“Working with the Westshore Developers Association, we’re able to make a larger impact while also ensuring those with the greatest need are considered,” said Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson.
“Working with a charitable organization that is experienced in this work will ensure all donations are recognized, and the residents of RidgeView Place have the additional supports they need.”
Ron Coutre, president of the West Shore Developers Association, who is working with the city on the fundraiser, says the association is happy to assist the displaced residents.
“Our association and its members have always supported our community, no matter what the need, helping to sponsor local events or step up with funds in an emergency,” said Coutre. “We are pleased to partner with the City of Langford and the Community Social Planning Council to raise funds that will help residents of RidgeView Place access the resources they need.”
The city has engaged the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria for the fundraiser to ensure there are no administrative fees deducted from the fundraiser, and so donors can receive an eligible tax donation receipt.
- Community Social Planning Council’s donation page can be found here.
“The Community Social Planning Council is pleased to partner with the City of Langford to help these households in need,” says Diana Gibson, executive director of the CSPC. “The Community Social Planning Council operates the Greater Victoria Rent Bank and has experience administering grants programs.”
The city says it has also applied for funding through the Ministry of Emergency Management Climate Readiness to hire a Community Navigator whose job it will be to help displaced residents find new homes.
In addition to the fundraiser being run through the city, a group of Langford residents has set up a GoFundMe for the residents of the city.
“We launched it because we heard about these residents in this desperate situation,” organizer Lisa Foxall told CHEK News on April 27. “We felt so awful for them, we wanted to do what we could to help them. Our hearts were aching for them.”
The platform GoFundMe charges an administrative fee of 2.9 per cent plus 30 cents per donation, and donations are not eligible for a tax donation receipt.
- The GoFundMe to support RidgeView residents can be found here.
Danbrook One/RidgeView Place timeline:
- APRIL 25: Displaced Langford high-rise residents frustrated over lack of answers, support: ‘We deserve to live there’
- APRIL 26: Who should cover emergency costs for Langford’s RidgeView Place tenants?
- APRIL 27: RidgeView Place tenants insurance deny claims; Centurion offers additional funds
- APRIL 27: ‘I am asking you to please leave’: Langford mayor provides update on RidgeView Place
- APRIL 28: Ridgeview Place tenant worries about financial help that has yet to arrive