Victoria, BC – June 16, 2025 – The City of Victoria has launched Halisat, a comprehensive Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan aimed at addressing pressing challenges like housing shortages, mental health crises, and social disorder while fostering a safer, more inclusive community. Named after the Lekwungen word meaning “bringing to life; awakening,” the plan reflects 18 months of community engagement, data analysis, and collaboration with local leaders, Indigenous Nations, and residents.
Spearheaded by Mayor Marianne Alto and guided by an 11-member Community Leaders Panel, Halisat tackles interconnected issues such as homelessness, healthcare access, downtown vitality, and social cohesion. The plan, part of the City’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, proposes immediate and long-term actions to enhance quality of life for all Victorians, including housed and unhoused residents, businesses, and visitors.
Key Issues and Community Input
Over 1,600 voices, including 40 local organizations, the Songhees Nation, Xwsepsum Nation, and diverse community members, shaped Halisat through surveys, pop-up events, and facilitated dialogues. Data from HelpSeeker and Muflehun highlighted critical areas needing improvement: housing, food security, mental healthcare, safety perceptions, and service delivery.
Residents expressed concerns about rising costs, social isolation, and visible poverty, particularly in the downtown core. “Victoria is renowned for being polite but cold,” one survey respondent noted, underscoring the need for stronger community connections. The plan acknowledges these challenges and aims to balance upstream prevention—like investing in housing and healthcare—with enforcement against crime and disorder.
Eight Sectors, Bold Actions
Halisat organizes its recommendations into eight sectors: Housing, Healthcare, Service Delivery, Downtown, Residents, Commerce, Policing and Justice, and City Services. Key actions include:
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Housing: Simplify housing policies, fund anti-hoarding programs, and explore tiny homes for those transitioning from homelessness. The plan also calls for a Regional Homelessness Strategy led by the Capital Regional District.
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Healthcare: Support mental health training, pilot evidence-based health programs, and advocate for provincial reforms to improve access to primary care and substance use services.
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Downtown: Boost evening activity through the OUR DWTN program, increase funding for graffiti removal, and invest in late-night safety teams to make downtown welcoming.
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Residents: Enhance community cohesion with neighbourhood events, a Parks and Tree Cover Strategy, and a diversity, equity, and inclusion review of City services.
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Commerce: Streamline business permits, incentivize employee housing, and create emergency financial supports for small businesses.
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Policing and Justice: Strengthen ties with Victoria Police, support community resource officers, and advocate for bail reform to address repeat offenders while prioritizing rehabilitation.
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Service Delivery: Improve coordination of social services, create asset maps, and pilot storage systems for unhoused individuals.
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City Services: Reorganize staff to prioritize safety and wellbeing, mandate impact analyses for all City projects, and develop a Vulnerable People Strategy.
A Collaborative, Adaptive Approach
Halisat emphasizes collaboration with the provincial and federal governments, recognizing that issues like healthcare and justice require multi-level action. The plan also commits to ongoing consultation with the Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations, honoring Indigenous knowledge as a cornerstone of reconciliation.
The plan is designed to evolve, with the Community Leaders Panel continuing as an advisory group to monitor progress. Immediate actions will be implemented within the 2025 budget, while City staff assess long-term budget implications for 2026.
A Call to Action
Mayor Alto described Halisat as a “practical re-imagination” of community safety, urging collective action. “This plan is a roadmap to transform Victoria into a safer, more connected city,” she said. “It’s about compassion, resilience, and bold change.”
Halisat is now before Victoria City Council for endorsement, marking a pivotal step toward a vibrant, inclusive future for the capital city.
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