It appears Victoria is one step closer to erecting a tiny-home village made out of shipping containers that would house people in need.
The 30 units fabricated out of 15 shipping containers will be located in a city-owned parking lot on Caledonia Avenue, across from Royal Athletic Park, and staffed 24/7 in an effort to help people sheltering outside in the provincial capital transition into stable housing.
The concept came to light in December 2020, however, at that time, local developer Aryze and the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness were looking to raise 500,000 dollars through crowdfunding in order to build the shipping container village.
On Tuesday, Mayor Lisa Helps hinted that the project was inching closer to a reality.
Mayor Helps, who spoke to CBC’s On The Island on Wednesday, said the project is “very likely” to go ahead.
The concept, if developed, will include 30 separate homes installed in 15 different shipping containers.
Our Place Society announced on Monday that it would be an operational partner on the project, managing the site.
Each micro-unit will have a floor size of around 100 square feet and will be equipped with a bed, desk, wardrobe and fridge. Electricity will be setup in each unity, however, there will be no cooking capacity.
Meals will be delivered to residents from onsite staff and the plans indicate a common area that can be used to cook and reheat food.
Showers and washrooms will also be communal for residents.
“It will just be a simple home, but a home nonetheless,” said Julian Daly, CEO of Our Place in an interview on CBC’s On The Island on Tuesday.
During Wednesday’s interview, Helps added that council has already unanimously approved permit applications from Aryze and the Coalition and the next step for the city will be to hear from the public on March 18.
If the project is greenlit, the tiny-home village could be developed and welcoming residents as early as the end of the month.
With files to CBC News.
Graham Cox
