the pacifica connector · game to follow. the day will include a bouncy castle, kids baseball game...

SPRING 2018

THE PACIFICA CONNECTOR

VIRTUES YOUTH GROUP

Virtues is a free, onsite, weekly drop-in program attended

by approximately 100 children living in Pacifica Housing’s

subsidized family housing complexes.

[ INSIDE ] Pacifica Housing’s year at a glance

More housing added to Pacifica’s

properties to help meet new housing

targets

Annual assessment and on the Virtues

Youth Group Program, HarbourCats

game and more!

This past year marks significant growth in Pacifica Housing’s presence and

engagement with the communities we serve. We have proudly introduced a new

Pet Policy, received the green light for new developments, and funded our Housing

Crisis Prevention program by three years.

Knowing that finding adequate housing for those with pets can be near impossible

in Victoria, we felt it was time to create the change we wanted to see in our own

rental properties. We became pet friendly. Pets contribute to our well-being and

that is something we want to ensure for the families, kids, and individuals we call

our residents. We are currently assessing the impact of our Pet Policy and hope to

share results by the year’s end.

To ensure we are able to meet the growing need for housing, we are always

exploring new and innovative options. We are excited to announce Pacifica

Housing’s latest project in conjunction with the Burnside Gorge Community

Association. Along with the support of BC Housing, the City of Victoria and SD61,

Pacifica is able to bring 88 units affordable family housing and childcare facilities,

which will revitalize the Burnside School site.

Rounding out the great news on Pacifica’s achievements for our community, we are

now able to provide support to low-income tenants in subsidized family housing.

With the support of the United Way of Greater Victoria, we are thrilled to extend

the Housing Crisis Prevention program from a pilot into a three year venture. This

vital program will continue to assist families who may be facing eviction or housing

loss by taking proactive measures to keep them housed. These supports include

strengthening life skills, improving coping strategies and building support systems.

This has truly been a year of exciting change and growth, and we will continue to

reflect on how we can most effectively support our clients, tenants and neighbours.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us find creative solutions to increasing the

housing stock for those who need it most. Your engagement makes us all stronger

as individuals and as a community.

Dean Fortin, Executive Director

SPRING 2018

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

3

RECENT EVENTS

4

FROM CAR TO

HOME - NOREEN’S

STORY

6

VIRTUES YOUTH

GROUP

7

HARBOURCATS

EVENT

8

AMBASSADORS’

CORNER

A LETTER FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

2 SPRING 2018 | The Pacifica Connector

THANK YOU!

We are extremely grateful to all those who support Pacifica Housing.

Through donations of time, resources and money our programs and

services continue to support those in need throughout Greater Victoria,

Duncan and Nanaimo. We could not make any of our goals a reality

without YOU!

On behalf of all the lives you have changed, thank you!

PACIFICA IS GROWING...AGAIN!

SPRING 2018 | The Pacifica Connector 3

QUICK FACTS

37 buildings in Greater Victoria,

Duncan and Nanaimo

Total of 1200 units

Serving over 2000 people

Pacifica Seniors Lodge

HELIOS (Colwood)

Construction is well underway on the redevelopment of Colwood Lakes into an expanded Affordable Housing project.

Located at 2006 Sooke Rd, this development will create more homes for median income earning households, two-

parent families with children, and single person

households (including adults with disabilities and

seniors) who, despite being able to live

independently, may still be vulnerable in a rental market

challenged by low vacancy rates and high shelter costs.

We are placing 12 older units with a new four storey,

82-unit building comprised of bachelor, one, two, and

three bedroom units. Pacifica’s relocation plan for

current tenants has helped them find new homes and

offers them the option of returning once the new

building is complete. This project was made possible

through the support of Mayor Hamilton and

Council - thank you!

OAK PARK (Langford)

Pacifica Housing is also in progress with

redevelopment of our Oak Park complex at 616

Goldstream Ave. in Langford, just northwest of

Colwood. The project adds a new four storey

building that includes a number of bachelor, one,

two, three, and four bedroom units. A special

thanks to Mayor Young and Council for their

support of this project!

If you are interested in renting a suite, please

contact Pacifica Tenant Services department at

[email protected] or call

250-385-2131

mailto:[email protected]

OUR MISSION

“To be a leading innovative provider of affordable homes and support services that

contribute to the independence of individuals and families.”


with my laptop computer, e-reader, and cellphone. Many

people who are homeless are sleeping on the street, in a

park, have issues with substances, or are fleeing domestic

violence, so my situation was less dire. Keeping

perspective is important to me, but a person shouldn’t

have to live in a vehicle. The worst part is not having

access to a bathroom.

It wasn’t until I came into contact with a support worker

from Pacifica Housing, that I was able to finally have a

roof over my head again. My worker was a powerhouse,

and found me a place to live. I owed rent from the place

where I was evicted, so she paid that off so I was able to

rent at a new place. Through the Downtown Outreach

office, I was provided a $300 rental subsidy. Without

that, I would not have been able to afford rent. Having

the team at Pacifica helping me made me feel like I had

real support system.

I first learned about Pacifica Housing through a friend of

mine who knew someone working for them. My friend –

after seeing my frustration from attempting to find a

Seven years ago, I was laid off from teaching sociology at

the University of Victoria. I spent a year looking for work,

with no luck. I had to make the difficult decision to sell my

house and move into a rental. I was able to make ends

meet for a few years, until two years ago, on May 1st,

when I was evicted. I had run out of money and ended up

living out of my car for eight months.

I wasn’t in the same situation as many others who are

experiencing homelessness. I was parked on Dallas Road,

A place to

call

“I wasn’t in the same situation

as many others who are

experiencing homelessness. I

was parked on Dallas road, with

my laptop computer, e-reader,

and cellphone.”

I am Noreen

home


suitable rental that would take dogs – suggested I contact

Pacifica Housing. It took a few tries but eventually, with

the help of Pacifica, I found a new home for my dogs and I.

We are happy here. The apartments are clean and well

managed, I have a nice kitchen, and most importantly, I

have my dogs with me. They are my life. They have kept

me together. I’d live in my car before leaving my dogs,

which is exactly what I did! Now we are able to wander

down to Moka House where we can sit and I can play

crosswords, read a book or search for a job, and just

relax.

Looking forward to the future, I feel more positive. I am

still job hunting but now that I have the security of a home,

my dogs, and support from Pacifica – I feel there is nothing

to hold me back from getting a great job and moving

forward from there.

“The apartments are clean and well

managed, I have a nice kitchen, and

most importantly, I have my dogs with

me. They are my life.”

For information on Streets to Homes, contact Angela McNulty-Buell

at 250-356-0742 or via email at [email protected]

novabird photography & art - “Beach”

Images on this page are sourced from an article about Noreen in the Globe and Mail, March 29, 2017 | Photo Credit: Chad Hipolito

The full article can be found online at: www.theglobeandmail.com

IN THE NOW - Virtues Youth Group

Our Virtues Youth Group is continuing to help kids realize their passions

and talents, through weekly activities where the children build life skills

while having fun!

This year’s three goals we are working towards in the Virtues Youth

Group are: a) Reflection Activities - Facilitators will give children time

and opportunity in each group for reflection (of activities participated in)

b) Skill Building – Facilitators will introduce and explore a new virtue

every two weeks. c) Leadership – children will be encouraged and given

the opportunity to lead group activities.

With the help our wonderful volunteer videographer, Carol Sherwood,

we completed work on a 3-4 minute video about the Virtues Youth

Group. We are so appreciative of all the time she took to film the Youth

Groups and to give everyone an overview of what Virtues is all about.

The video is on our social media platforms as well as our website at

https://pacificahousing.ca/community-programs/

3

Pacifica Housing could not

accomplish what we do, without

your generous gifts of time. If you

are looking for more ways to

become involved within your

community or if you and your office

are wanting to make a difference as

part of a team building event, please

consider some of the volunteer

options within these programs:

1. Community Gardens

2. Community Meals

3. Bingo Assistant -

PSL Nanaimo

WAYS YOU CAN

VOLUNTEER

WITH US

Virtues Youth Group

A little goes a long way! Please consider

supporting a highly successful and meaningful

program for our family housing kids:

Cooking Workshop: $65/child

Arts & Activities Supplies: $40/child/year

Full program support: $315/child/year

Camp Thunderbird: $80/child


https://pacificahousing.ca/community-programs/


Pacifica Housing is thrilled to be once again partnering with Victoria’s very own HarbourCats baseball

team. Pacifica families are invited to the event on Saturday, June 16th from 3-5PM with a HarbourCats

game to follow. The day will include a bouncy castle, kids baseball game with HarbourCats team

players, snacks and more! Tickets for the evening game are just $2 each and can be picked up at

Pacifica’s office at 827 Fisgard Street.

Proceeds of the event will go towards Pacifica’s

Virtues Youth Group program. If you would like to

learn more about Virtues or how to contribute,

please contact us.

Sponsored by:

UPCOMING TENANT EVENT - Pacifica day at the ball game

Building Support for the Medewiwin Apartments

On February 21, 2018, the Medewiwin Angels

held their semi-annual soup lunch. Supporters

and friends of Pacifica Housing came out to

sample from a large selection of delicious

soups all to support the tenants at the Me-

dewiwin Apartments.

The Angels are one of the key groups that

work with the tenants by providing funds and

support to the individuals that call Medewiwin

home.

Medewiwin houses 18 adults who have been

previously homeless, and struggle with

substance use issues or mental illness. The

contributions made by the Angels creates a

valuable continuity to the tenant community

and show in a tangible way that people care.

Thank you to the Angels and to

everyone who attended for your

support for the wonderful tenants

at Medewiwin!

Thanks to current and ongoing

donations you give, we are able to

provide the following life changing

support to people living in Greater

Victoria, Duncan and Nanaimo:

Affordable housing for low

income families & persons

with disabilities

Supported housing for adults

who are homeless or at risk

of becoming homeless

Housing outreach support

and referral services through

the Downtown Outreach

Services office

Community Gardens and

Youth Groups for those living

in Family Housing

Work Program and

Community meals for

persons in supported housing

To find out more about our

programs please visit our website

at www.pacificahousing.ca.

AMBASSADORS’ CORNER

At Pacifica Housing we would love to have you be

one of our community ambassadors, and share the

achievements you support within your own net-

work. There are many ways to get involved including:

Following our Facebook page and Instagram Sharing content that you find interesting or inspiring Signing up to become a monthly donor Hosting a coffee event with your friends and Pacifica

For questions or further comments please contact

Harrison Ellis at [email protected]

or at 250-507-3438.

OUR ACTIONS

CONTACT

Learn more about Pacifica

Housing and the impact you make possible by contacting our office,

visiting our website or following

us on social media. Thank you!!

827 FISGARD ST

VICTORIA, BC V8W 1R9

P250.385.2131

F 250.385.6776

PACIFICAHOUSING.CA

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

the pacifica connector · game to follow. the day will include a bouncy castle, kids baseball game...

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