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Victoria Cool Aid Society

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The Victoria Cool Aid Society, also known as "Cool Aid" is a charitable organization that provides shelter and other services to disadvantaged and homeless youth and adults. It was founded in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in 1968 as an emergency hostel for transient youth.

History

During April and May 1968, members of the Victoria Youth Council had researched, analyzed and discussed the extent and quality of helping facilities available to youth in the Greater Victoria area. For housing, the picture was “dismal” with the Salvation Army housing only men, and the YMCA housing women but charging $2.50 - $3.50 per night. For counseling, the outlook was even worse. Thus was born the idea of a hostel and an emergency-oriented, crisis intervention service, run by youth. Having obtained permission from a Vancouver group to use the name “Cool Aid,” the group obtained a phone number – 250-383-1951 that is still the number for Cool Aid’s main shelter today.

In May 1970, the Pacific Self-Development Society Board of Directors “passed the hat” at a meeting, and came up with a $1,000 deposit on the purchase of the former Emmanuel Baptist Church on Fernwood Road .

On August 18th, 1970, the Cool Aid Free Medical Clinic opened its doors. The former church on Fernwood Road was converted for Cool Aid use with the Cool Aid Youth Hostel opening on July 29, 1971. The site included the medical clinic to bring services under one roof.

On October 28th, 1976, Cool Aid was incorporated as the Victoria Cool Aid Society. The group had come of age and was no longer a group of youth with no credentials or financial savvy. It was now run by an adult board of directors and could thus access more sources of funding. On May 3rd, 1972, the "Fernwood Dental Clinic" began operation, adding to services for clients. By August 1988, it was obvious that the Fernwood Road facility was too small, and was unsuitable for the additional service that were required. The open dormitories were not popular with clients and could lead to one person with nightmares or hallucinations keeping the whole dormitory awake at night. As well, there was a desire to provide low cost housing on a permanent basis, not possible at the small site.

Purpose-built shelter and housing

On December 15, 1989 Social Services Minister Peter Dueck announced that a former meat-packing plant on Store Street would be the new home of Streetlink and other Cool Aid services. It would have 55 emergency shelter beds in two- and three-bed rooms, instead of the warehouse-style dormitories in the current shelter. The medical clinic on the main floor and large interior street prevented the indignity of clients having to line up on the street for food and beds. On the top two floors were 25 one-bedroom apartments, available for people ready for independent living, with the units to rent for 30% of a tenant’s income, that the tenants soon named “Swift House.” The Streetlink Building was a benchmark in Cool Aid’s evolution as it was a purpose-built shelter. From there Cool Aid moved from one housing project to another as they were able to tap into an increase in alternative funding.

Cool Aid’s Housing Program is specifically designed for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Greater Victoria. It demonstrates the success of how a supported, independent living, social housing, not-for-profit model can provide a very cost-effective solution to the crisis of homelessness in Canada. It began with Swift House and now includes the Pandora Apartments, Mike Gidora Place, Johnson Manor, FairWay Woods, Desmond House, Cedar Grove, Hillside Terrace, Olympic Vista and Queens Manor. In December 2004, Cool Aid first participated in the Cold, Wet Weather Strategy with other agencies to increase shelter capacity from September to April. This has now evolved to the Extreme Weather Protocol, a community response program involving shelter providers, faith groups, social service agencies, fire and police, working together to increase the number of emergency shelter beds available during acute winter weather conditions of heavy wind, heavy rain, snow and temperatures of zero or below. When extreme weather conditions are predicted and year-round shelter beds are full, participating organizations implement the Extreme Weather Protocol by opening up additional shelters and moving to overflow beds. Shelter capacity expands from 245 to 370 emergency beds and mats, including 30 mats for youth from October 15 to April 15 and 40 mats for adults from November 1 to March 31.

In 2010, the new Rock Bay Landing, a purpose-built facility, replaced the old Streetlink emergency shelter. Rock Bay offers 84 permanent shelter spaces, 23 units of transitional housing, and two units of family shelter.

Other programs

Women’s Services

Health and Dental programs

Medical and dental services begun in the early days of Cool Aid continue to be offered in the Access Health Centre, the re-purposed Mable Carriage Factory building at 713 Johnson Street. Opened in 2009, the award-winning renovation brings health care under one roof with other social services, offering care for those who do not have medical coverage or live in the downtown core with mental health and addiction illnesses or other chronic health problems. A multitude of health services is available for the whole person without having to visit elsewhere for specialized attention.

Employment programs

Today, the Casual Labour Pool, now part of the REES (Resources, Education, Employment and Support) suite of programs, continues to help workers find job placements.

Downtown Community Centre

The Centre is part of the Pandora project and offers free and low-cost community activities and facility rentals that focus on healthy living, health promotion and social diversity. The facility includes a mid-sized gymnasium, a non-commercial kitchen and computer access.

References

  1. Valerie Green (2001). If These Walls Could Talk: Victoria's Houses from the Past. TouchWood Editions. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-0-920663-78-3. Retrieved 6 July 2013. - He also worked with Cool-Aid, a society which has its origins in the Cool Aid Hostel established in 1968 to provide short-term emergency shelter for transient youth, and today offers a wide range ...
  2. New Zealand. Committee on Drug Dependency and Drug Abuse in New Zealand (1973). Drug dependency and drug abuse in New Zealand: second report. Board of Health. p. 197. Retrieved 6 July 2013. -Aid in Victoria and Oolagen in Toronto. Cool-Aid in Victoria was started by the Victoria Youth Council in 1968 to meet the needs of the young transients who flock to British Columbia in the summer.
  3. Victoria Project Newsletter, February 17, 1969, page 1
  4. http://www.belfry.bc.ca/about/
  5. Letter from Roy E. L Watson, Associate Professor, University of Victoria, to Mr. Hugh Wade, December 1, 1972
  6. “Peace, Brother, It’s Chow Time,” Victoria Daily Times, July 26, 1971.
  7. Judith Lavoie, “Cool Aid looking to move downtown,” Times Colonist, August 11, 1988.
  8. Judith Lavoie, “Cool Aid shares in $23-million rehab fund,” Times Colonist, September 21, 1988.
  9. Victoria Cool Aid Society Annual Report to the Community 2005-2006, page 2.
  10. Watts, Richard (July 2, 2013). "Victoria Cool Aid touts plan to solve homelessness". Times Colonist. Retrieved 6 July 2013. - Victoria Cool Aid also operates the REES (Resources, Education, Employment and Support) program to help people who live with mental illness, addictions or other issues.
  11. Susan Danard, “Province kicks in for homeless shelter,” Times Colonist, April 20, 1996.

Further reading

External links

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