In a significant blow to Victoria’s fight against homelessness, the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness announced it will cease operations on October 31 after 17 years of advocacy and community coordination. The decision, confirmed Wednesday, stems from insurmountable financial challenges that have plagued the organization in recent months.
“This is a devastating development for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Lisa Helps, former Victoria mayor and early coalition supporter. “The coalition has been the connective tissue between government agencies, non-profits, and those with lived experience of homelessness since 2008.”
The coalition, which has served as a central hub for coordinating homelessness initiatives across Victoria, cited “changes to the funding landscape” as the primary reason for its closure. According to internal documents obtained by CO24, the organization has struggled with declining government grants and increased operational costs since the post-pandemic period.
Executive Director Sylvia Ceacero expressed profound disappointment in a statement to CO24 News, noting that “despite exhaustive efforts to secure sustainable funding, we’ve reached a point where continuing operations is no longer viable.” The coalition had previously operated on an annual budget of approximately $1 million, primarily through provincial funding and municipal contributions.
Victoria’s homelessness crisis has intensified in recent years, with the 2023 point-in-time count identifying over 1,900 people experiencing homelessness in the region—a 33% increase from pre-pandemic figures. The coalition played a crucial role in coordinating emergency shelter responses, advocating for affordable housing initiatives, and ensuring services reached those most in need.
British Columbia’s Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon acknowledged the coalition’s contributions while speaking to reporters at the provincial legislature. “Their work has been invaluable in addressing homelessness in Greater Victoria. We’re committed to ensuring the important coordination work continues through other channels,” Kahlon stated.
The closure raises serious questions about future homelessness coordination in Victoria. Kelly Roth, executive director of the Greater Victoria Canada News Sheltering Society, warned that “this creates a dangerous gap in our community’s response system. Without the coalition’s coordination, we risk fragmentation of services and duplicated efforts.”
Community reaction has been swift and concerned. Housing advocates have expressed alarm about the potential impacts on Victoria’s most vulnerable residents, particularly as winter approaches. “The timing couldn’t be worse,” said Margaret Forbes, director of Victoria’s Street Community Action Network. “We’re entering the coldest months with no coordinating body to ensure shelter spaces are maximized and resources properly allocated.”
The coalition’s board of directors is working with partner organizations to transition key projects and ensure minimal disruption to frontline services. Several staff members will lose their jobs in the closure, though some may find positions with partner agencies continuing specific initiatives.
City Councillor Jeremy Caradonna called the development “deeply troubling” at yesterday’s council meeting and proposed emergency funding to potentially salvage key coalition functions. However, staff indicated such intervention would likely come too late given the organization’s imminent closure timeline.
As Victoria grapples with this significant shift in its homelessness response infrastructure, the fundamental question remains: In a region facing one of Canada’s most acute housing crises, who will now take responsibility for coordinating the complex web of services needed to effectively address homelessness?
