Youth needing housing will benefit from a partnership between Oak Bay United Church and Threshold Housing Society.
There was some exciting news this week for those dealing with young people who need safe, supportive housing in Victoria. Oak Bay United Church and Threshold Housing Society announced that they are planning on joining forces to create eight new housing units for homeless youth.
The project was presented to the congregation at Oak Bay United Church after the service on Sunday and received enthusiastic support. Threshold Housing Society is proposing to lease a building owned by Oak Bay United Church and upgrade it for both housing and life skills training.
Rev. Michelle Slater, the Minister of Oak 
Bay United Church, says she feels this provides an wonderful opportunity for the congregation to help meet a critical need in the community and at the same time maintain a valuable asset.
Mark Muldoon, the executive director of Threshold Housing, says his organization receives 137 referrals a year and is only able to provide 30 beds. Taking on this project will fill an immediate need and prevents vulnerable youth from ending up on the street.
The building, on Mitchell St. is on the other side of the church’s parking lot. It was originally built to house seniors and has been used as the Easter Seals House for families with someone in hospital. Right now it is being rented to university and college students with the common areas being used by some church groups.
Threshold Housing operates three other facilities, Holly House, Mitchell House and Forest House. It also supports a number of young people in apartments throughout the CRD through the SHY (Safe Housing for Youth) program. It serves youth age 16-24 who need safe, secure and supported housing while they go to school or gain experience in the workforce.
As the plans for the project go forward Oak Bay United Church and Threshold Housing will continue meeting with members of the Oak Bay community and encourages anyone with questions or who wants to help with this project in any way to contact either organization.
For further information contact:
Jo-Ann Roberts – 250-884-6676 – advancement@thresholdhousing.ca
Christine Chepyha – cchepyha@gmail.com