At least 1,958 people used an emergency shelter bed in 2010-2011. Others lived on the street and did not seek shelter. Many more stayed temporarily with family and friends, a hidden experience of homelessness.

Thousands more are at risk of homelessness in our community. Homelessness is an extreme form of poverty characterized by unstable housing and inadequate income, health care supports and social supports. In 2006, one in eight families in Greater Victoria lived in housing that was either inadequate, in disrepair or unaffordable.  In 2008, one in six families in Greater Victoria lived on low income. 

The solutions to end homelessness are as diverse as homelessness itself, and we all have a role to play in ending homelessness. The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness Society (the Coalition) is a partnership of all levels of government, service providers, business members, the faith community, post-secondary institutions and private citizens.

This Community Plan is a summary of the common vision and strategies identified by these partners to focus action over the next three years in the Capital Regional District towards ending homelessness. The Community Plan is intended to be a catalyst for action by a range of community partners including agencies serving people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The Coalition is not solely responsible for implementing the Plan. Rather, the Plan is a framework for organizations to work together to achieve common goals, and to assist the community to make the best possible use of scarce resources by reducing overlap and duplication.

Throughout this Plan, Greater Victoria is used to refer to the Capital Regional District, which includes the Southern Gulf Islands , Salt Spring Island and the Juan de Fuca electoral area.