Council heard community agencies describe how City funding is being used for housing stability, youth support, recovery, and cultural connection. Presenters reported concrete results, including 12 Indigenous people supported to return to their home communities, 102 people kept housed through rent-bank assistance, and 20 residents living in a new recovery-housing program. The presentations also highlighted continuing gaps: more than 130 young people were waiting for Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring, and a speaker called for more recovery housing. Council heard the presentations but made no funding-allocation decisions during the meeting.
Generated from the recording's captions and the official minutes.
Council approved the agenda unanimously.
Routine: approve the agenda for this meeting.
Representatives from funded agencies described work supported by City grants and partnerships. A peer-led Indigenous relocation program said it had helped 12 people return to their home communities, including three who entered long-term recovery. The Greater Victoria Rent Bank reported providing more than $108,000 in assistance to 102 people, including 22 children, and said a $210,000 City investment had expanded its loan, grant, and support capacity. Other presenters described youth mentoring and food programs, justice and recovery supports, Indigenous cultural and land-based activities, shelter expansions, and a new 20-unit recovery-housing program where all residents remained housed and no relapses had been reported. Presenters also stressed that demand exceeds available support: Big Brothers Big Sisters had over 130 youth on its waitlist, and a recovery-housing representative said people leaving treatment still lacked places to go. Council listened to the presentations; no new funding allocation was decided.
Allow the listed Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan funding recipients to address Council.
Council ended the meeting at 8:12 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.
Routine: end the Council meeting at 8:12 p.m.
All 3 decisions from the minutes appear under the agenda items above.