Victoria pulls cash from its financial reserve to help its most vulnerable citizens

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto says city council wants to prevent some of the issues faced by its most vulnerable citizens, rather than simply dealing with the aftermath, even if it means stepping outside of what's normally seen as a local government responsibility.

Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto says city council wants to prevent some of the issues faced by its most vulnerable citizens, rather than simply dealing with the aftermath, even if it means stepping outside of what's normally seen as a local government responsibility.

The City of Victoria is providing $1.8 million in operating funding for a new facility opening in the coming months aimed at addressing the risks and impacts of homelessness.

The 5,200-square-foot "access hub" will offer food, harm reduction and overdose prevention services, as well as supports including referrals for wound care and longer-term health issues.

Alto said in an interview Friday that the agreement with the non-profit organization SOLID is the first time the city has directly contracted with a single service provider for this kind of wide-ranging set of services

The move is part of what she believes is an evolving understanding of what Canadian municipalities have to step up and support, to help those struggling in their communities.

"We have spent, over the years, millions of dollars, responding through maintenance, bylaw, policing, infrastructure upgrades," she said.

"(We're) dealing with the ramifications of a very challenged health-care system, impossibly unaffordable housing and a lack of housing, … a fairly broken set of social service structures, and as a result of that, the city ends up responding to that, and essentially picking up the tab for that response."