Greater Victoria Housing Society

GVHS 2023 Annual Report is now available. 2023 truly demonstrated why Greater Victoria Housing Society is considered a leader in affordable rental housing. This year has been a significant one for our organization, filled with progress, growth, and continued commitment to our mission. We continued to grow and expand while staying focused on our strategic priorities; building and maintaining high quality buildings, meeting the needs of engaged and satisfied residents, and supporting our community. And, as we look to the future, we are excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We are committed to our mission of providing high-quality, secure, affordable rental housing, and excellent service to our residents. Read more: https://lnkd.in/giBzhAHB

GVHS is pleased to announce our Strategic Plan 2024-2027. This plan has been prepared by working closely with our staff, Board of Directors, and collaborators, and determines our goals and priorities moving forward. Thanks to everyone who provided valuable input through focus groups, surveys and working sessions. The plan reveals an evolution. Our focus is unwavering: providing affordable rental homes to meet community needs. With this new strategic plan, we are also ensuring that we are inclusive of the communities that we serve, playing a role to advance reconciliation, and ensuring that we build an organization that is resilient to future changes. We would like to acknowledge and thank Ashka Wirk and Wirk Consulting for working with us to develop our new Strategic Plan. 10/10 recommend. Read the full report on our website: https://lnkd.in/gxGYYcQf

Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual General Meeting, held at KWENCH. We welcomed staff, Board members, community partners, and representatives from the Province of BC, City of Victoria, District of Saanich, Township of Esquimalt and City of Colwood. The AGM is a chance to celebrate our successes of the past year, and to look to the future. We released our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, which outlines where we are headed. Reports are now available on our website. Virginia Holden Kent Verge Jenny Konkin Greg Steves

We are pleased that our CUPE staff have ratified our new 5-year collective agreement. Read more: https://lnkd.in/geH58VnZ

Bayview update: The Roundhouse at Bayview Place project in Vic West received Victoria City Council approval of rezoning and amendments to the official community plan on January 25. This project has been in the works for many years, and, as part of this proposal, the developers – Focus Equities - have agreed to donate a half-acre parcel of serviced and shovel-ready land to the Greater Victoria Housing Society for the construction of new below market rental homes. This donation is unprecedented for our organization, and perhaps in Canadian history to a not-for-profit housing provider. It will allow us to build roughly 200 new affordable rental homes. Opponents to development tend to be more vocal and organized than supporters. In this case, it was really important to hear from our supporters, and we thank you for your attendance and participation, letters and videos of support, speaking to local media, and other ways that you have demonstrated your support for this project. There are a couple more steps to complete, but this milestone is a huge win. The sooner we can get shovels in the ground, the sooner we can provide new homes for low-to-moderate income households, especially working individuals, families, seniors, and newcomers who are truly the engine of our economy and communities. This op/ed by GVHS Executive Director Virginia Holden really hits home with the impact that this affordable housing will have for Victoria. Donation will lead to 200 affordable rental homes - Victoria Times Colonist https://lnkd.in/gnMhVMCv James Munro #housing #affordablehousing #rentalhousing #yyjrealestate #yyj #non #nonprofitleadership

If you believe in building new affordable housing in Victoria, will you communicate to Victoria Mayor & Council in support of the Bayview rezoning application? The proposal is going to Public Hearing on January 11, 2024. The Roundhouse at Bayview Place is a master planned community being developed by Focus Equities, who have graciously donated a plot of the land to GVHS for the development of affordable housing on site. GVHS plans to build a tower of up to 23 storeys with approximately 200 units. The whole project aims to include approximately 1,870 residential units including market condominiums and rental homes and affordable below-market homes located in nine buildings ranging in height from 10 to 32 storeys. The proposed GVHS affordable housing development would feature a mixture of studios, 1, 2, 3-bedroom suites to provide needed rental homes to low-to-moderate income households who are not currently being served in the private rental market such as working families, seniors, couples and singles who enable our economy and communities to thrive. We cannot miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build affordable rental housing on this site. You can help by showing your support at the public hearing on January 11, 2024. When preparing your participation, you may want to mention that the development would provide close to 200 affordable rental homes, which would be provided by GVHS, a trusted, local non-profit housing association. We encourage you to use a respectful, professional tone. Reference rezoning application REZ00729. How to Participate: 1. Attend in-person 2. Watch the meeting live at the following link: 3. Submit written comments: 4. Submit a pre-recorded video: 5. Speak via telephone Learn more at the City of Victoria website. https://lnkd.in/g_jSquC3

We celebrate Michael who has been with GVHS for 15 years and is our longest-serving employee. Michael knows our buildings better than anyone and provides outstanding customer service to our residents. Thank you Michael and keep up the good work!

GVHS was pleased to join Ravi Kahlon and District of Saanich to celebrate the work underway at our project in the Nigel Valley, which will provide 70 affordable rental housing units in our region. Congratulations and thank you to our partners! Learn more about this project: https://lnkd.in/gY_SBbFs

Celebrating the renovations at Campbell Lodge in Fairfield which have made life more comfortable for the residents, while maintaining this valuable non-profit housing stock in our community! #housing #affordablehousing #yyj

GVHS Executive Director is quoted in this long form piece about secondary suites in Capital Daily. https://lnkd.in/dz9v7QGR