A new “dry” supportive housing facility is coming to Victoria, meaning the building will be free of substance use.
The B.C. government and City of Victoria announced the new recovery-oriented facility which is geared specifically for people who are homeless on Wednesday.
The facility will be located at 1153 Johnson St. and will include 20 units with an estimated opening date of early spring 2026.
It will be operated by the Victoria Cool Aid Society and is intended for people who have been sober for at least 60 days and who have completed post-detox and treatment – and who are unhoused.
The facility will also offer peer-supported coaching, referrals to other services, and help with independent living skills to prepare residents for transitioning into long-term housing.
“We’ve heard from the community that there is a lack of dry, recovery-oriented housing, which plays a critical role post-treatment,” said Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto in a statement.
“This collaboration between the city and the Province will help create more positive flow in our housing continuum and support vulnerable residents as they move from homelessness to recovery after detox,” she said.
The B.C. government is providing $1.2 million in operating funding over the next three years, while the City of Victoria is contributing nearly $590,000 over the next three years – as well as an additional $250,000 in capital funding to renovate the building.
Renovations to the building, called the Johnson Manor, include upgrading the living units, renovating washrooms, replacing kitchen equipment, and other improvements to indoor programming areas.
The province says BC Housing will notify neighbours about the property’s renovations once they begin, and will provide the community with information on how the facility will operate and who to contact if people have questions or concerns closer to its opening date.
The funding from the B.C. government comes from the province’s Homeless Encampment Action Response Team (HEART) and Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) programs.
“There’s an urgent need in Victoria to support the housing needs for people well on the way in their recovery journey,” said Christine Boyle, minister of housing and municipal affairs.
“Helping people move forward with the dignity and the confidence needed to begin a new, healthy life is a powerful way to build safer, stronger communities for everyone,” she said.
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