HOUSING

Having safe and accessible housing people can afford is a basic need that contributes significantly to quality of life.


Sooke Shelter Society, where support meets dignity 

Housing


Sooke Shelter Society, where support meets dignity 

The Sooke Shelter Society, founded in 2017, is on a mission to prevent and end homelessness in the Sooke region by providing essential services and compassionate support to those experiencing housing insecurity.

Offering free access to emergency shelter and supportive housing, the Society meets people where they’re at with a range of outreach services. This includes comprehensive case management and temporary outdoor survival supplies such as tents, sleeping bags, warm clothing, and non-perishable food. Individuals can also access showers, bus tickets, and other basic necessities. Emotional support and referrals to longer-term resources are also available to those in need. 

Sherry Thompson, Executive Director, brings lived experience to her role and understands the urgency of the work. “Addressing housing is just the right thing to do,” she said. “Everyone deserves to have their basic needs met, and I truly believe this issue could be solved if we put real focus on it.”

At Sooke Shelter Society, staff and volunteers work to ensure that no one feels forgotten or misunderstood by building relationships rooted in empathy. The Society depends on the strength of community partnerships and donor support. With a vision established to uplift dignity, respect, and action, the Society continues to be a deeply supportive place for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.

Sponsored by
OAKCREST PARK ESTATES LTD.


Photo by: Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography 

Vital signs citizen survey grade

D

Last year’s grade was D-

Housing

Vital signs citizen survey grade

D
Sustainable Development Targets

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TARGETS

HOUSING SALES AND PRICES

Properties sold in Greater Victoria in May 2025

758 DOWN 0.7% FROM MAY 2024

The ratio of residential sales to active residential listings was 25% in May 2025, making Greater Victoria a more balanced market that was positive for consumers on both sides of the transaction.

Median sale prices in May 2025

SINGLE-FAMILY HOME
$1,200,000
up 0.8% from $1,191,000 in 2024

TOWNHOUSES
$807,750
up 2.3% from $789,574 in 2024

CONDOS
$535,000
down 2.3% from $547,450 in 2024

May is typically when Greater Victoria is at or near peak of activity in the property market.

SOURCE: VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD 

RENTS AND RENTAL VACANCIES

In Greater Victoria in October 2024
Average vacancy rates for purpose-built rental apartments (i.e., units built as long-term rental housing)

ALL UNIT TYPES2.5% up from 2023 (1.6%)

HIGHEST VACANCY RATE3.4% 3+ bedroom units

LOWEST VACANCY RATE2.3%1 bedroom units

Average apartment rents in 2024

ALL UNIT TYPES $1,696
up from 3.1% from $1,571 in 2023

BACHELOR $1,366

3+ BEDROOM $2,439

The supply of purpose-built rentals grew by 1,785 units in 2024, compared to 1,490 units in 2023, with most of the new supply in the Westshore (58%) and Victoria (32%) in 2024.

SOURCE: CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION 

0%

A person working 35 hours a week at BC’s minimum hourly wage of $17.85 would need to spend 50% of their gross monthly income to rent a bachelor apartment ($1,366) in Greater Victoria, based on 52 weeks per year.

59 HOURS per week at minimum wage is required to affordably rent this apartment (i.e., spend no more than 30% of household income on rent). 

HOUSING STARTS AND COMPLETIONS

Housing Starts in Greater Victoria in 2024

4,185 TOTAL
down 16% from 4,992 in 2023

3,411Apartment and other unit types

298Single-detached units

384Row units

92Semi-detached units

Housing Completions in Greater Victoria in 2024

4,435 TOTAL
up 6% from 4,194 in 2023

3,635Apartment and other unit types

421Single-detached units

309Row units

70Semi-detached units

SOURCE: CANADA MORTGAGE AND HOUSING CORPORATION 

SHELTER COST TO INCOME RATIO

Proportion of renter and owner households that spend 30% or more of household total income on shelter costs

201120162021
Canada26%24%21%
BC30%28%26%
Greater Victoria31%29%26%
THEN & NOW

From our first Vital Signs report (2006): In 2001, 28% of households in Greater Victoria spent 30% or more of income on shelter costs.

Shelter costs for renter and owner households include, where applicable, rent, mortage payments, property taxes and condominium fees, along with the costs of electricity, heat, water, and other municipal services.

SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA 

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF CO-OPERATIVES

The United Nations declared 2025 the International Year of Co-operatives, highlighting how member-owned enterprises build inclusive, resilient, and sustainable communities.

Housing co-operatives offer a blueprint for housing affordability and social cohesion. Residents co-own the property, set the rules, and share responsibility for its future. Because every member has a vote, co-op governance is a community-building exercise. Housing charges are tied to actual operating costs, with surpluses reinvested into the co-op to ensure long-term viability. The results are stable costs, secure tenure, and a built-in network of member support.

Across the region, there are an estimated 34 housing co-ops and co-op associations.

SOURCE: CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING FEDERATION OF BC 

COMMUNITY IN FOCUS

Supporting Renters in a Financial Crisis

The Greater Victoria Rent Bank, operated by the Community Social Planning Council of Greater Victoria, provides a no-interest repayable loan to households at risk of eviction or essential utility disconnection due to short-term financial crisis. The loan can also be used as a damage deposit or first month’s rent to move to safe and sustainable housing.

In 2023/24, BC rent banks supported 1,513 households, preventing over 600 people from becoming homeless and 1,000 households from spending more than they could afford on rent—an estimated $27.5 million in avoided costs. Every $1 invested in BC rent banks delivered $5 in savings for individuals, families, and government.

SOURCE: COMMUNITY SOCIAL PLANNING COUNCIL OF GREATER VICTORIA AND BC RENT BANK.