The need for sheltering in Victoria has never been greater. The rocketing cost of living and low vacancy rates have left hundreds sheltering in parks and on the streets in our community. For many there is nowhere else to go. In the winter of 2023 SOLID Outreach Society opened it’s first seasonal shelter at the corner of Quadra and Mason Street in partnership with St. John the Divine. This site can sleep 30 people, which may sound small but it means 30 people who aren’t out in the cold; 30 people who wouldn’t otherwise have access to food, harm reduction supports, and peer counselling. At SOLID we see this as an opportunity to strengthen our community by helping individuals to access healthcare, food, employment opportunities and hopefully find more suitable long-term housing solutions.
