The Tally-Ho hotel will be used for supportive housing starting in March.
Residents from the Choices shelter in View Royal will have to wait until March. 31, 2018 before they can move to the shuttered Tally-Ho Hotel, says the provincial government.
The B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing made the announcement on Wednesday and says the delay will give the necessary time to transition current residents to the new supportive housing development that is currently being renovated.
The current shelter is at the former provincial Youth Custody Centre, and is run by Our Place Society. Once the move in complete the View Royal facility will be shut down.
The Victoria Cool Aid Society was approved by Victoria City Council for a temporary-use three-year permit for the Tally-Ho Hotel on Nov. 24.
The new facility looks to offer 52 units of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals with mental health and substance use issues.
The province had paid $9.3 million for the hotel on Douglas Street. The 2.5-acre property was valued at $5,145,000 by the B.C. Assessment Authority in 2016.
There will be two residents support workers on site 24/7, as well as an on-site supervisor 40 hours a week. There will also be a full-time client services worker.
Tenants will receive one hot meal a day and a light breakfast. They will be able to access programming at Cool Aid Society’s downtown community centre, the casual labour pool and the society’s community health centre.
Julian Kolsut
