Resources
Housing & Basic Needs
BC Family Benefit / CRA Benefits
Income-tested family benefits and tax-related supports for families with children.
https://www.canada.ca/benefits BC Housing
Affordable and subsidized housing information, applications and housing resources.
https://www.bchousing.org Sooke Family Resource Society
Serving the West Shore and Sooke area, amily support, parenting resources, early years and community programs
https://www.sfrs.ca
Beacon Community Services
Community support, food and household assistance, employment/community programs and family supports.
https://beaconcs.ca
WorkBC
Employment counselling, training, job search help, education and financial supports for eligible clients.
https://www.workbc.ca
Greater Victoria Food Share / Community Food Resources
Food access and community food programs; 211 BC can help locate current options near the family's home.
https://bc211.ca
Food & Financial Support
211 BC
Information and referral for food, housing, childcare, financial assistance, health and community services.
Call or text 2-1-1 • https://bc211.ca
Beacon Community Services
Community support, food and household assistance, employment/community programs and family supports.
https://beaconcs.ca
BC Family Benefit / CRA Benefits
Income-tested family benefits and tax-related supports for families with children.
https://www.canada.ca/benefits
Greater Victoria Food Share / Community Food Resources
Food access and community food programs; 211 BC can help locate current options near the family's home.
https://bc211.ca
Childcare, Parenting & Family Support
Anney’s Closet Address material poverty by assisting families in difficult transitions to set up a stable comfortable home by redistributing gently used household goods and furniture; families can self-select essential household goods, at no cost. 1621 Island Highway (Phone 250-812-5768).
Best Babies Colwood, Public Health and Boys Club, Girls Club Westshore: 345 Wale Road, B.C.
Support to pregnant family and their newborn
infor@bgcsvi.org (Phone: 250-216-9538).
Island Health – Public Health / Maternity & Child Health at the West Shore Health Unit, located at the 345 Wale Road, B.C.
Public health nurses, infant and child health support, parenting information and referrals
https://www.islandhealth.ca (Phone: 250-519-5300)
My ChildCareBC Services
BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, in Victoria, (Phone 250-356-6501)
BC Child Care Subsidy Guide
BC child care subsidy options plus eligibility, parent fee support, and funding information for families
Choosing Child Care Child care is short-term care by someone other than a parent. Two basic types of child care, individual and group.
Child Care in BC
Finding child care can be challenging. The BC government offers financial support with child care costs.
West Shore Child, Youth & Family Services Society
Counselling, youth/family support and community-based services.
https://www.westshorecentre.com
Sooke Family Resource Society located at the 345 Wale Road, B.C.
Family support, parenting resources, early years and community programs serving the West Shore/Sooke area.
https://www.sfrs.ca (Phone: 250-642-5152)
Single Parent Resource Centre
Support for single parents, located in Saanich BC.
(250-385-1114)
Victoria Native Friendship Centre in Victoria - 231 Regina Avenue, Victoria, BC
Promotes the traditional values, culture, and well-being of urban aboriginal people by strengthening individuals, family and community; they provide family services, addiction-related services, early childhood and youth services, and aboriginal early intervention services.
(Phone 250-384-3211)
West Shore Parks & Recreation
Affordable recreation, family programs, swimming and community activities.
https://www.westshorerecreation.ca
Child Care BC
Child-care information, finding licensed care and fee reduction/assistance programs, access to affordable, quality, inclusive child care. .
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/caring-for-young-children
Education & Employment
Greater Victoria Public Library
Free library services, internet/computer access, literacy and family/children's programs.
https://www.gvpl.ca
WorkBC
Employment counselling, training, job search help, education and financial supports for eligible clients.
https://www.workbc.ca
BC Family Benefit / CRA Benefits
Income-tested family benefits and tax-related supports for families with children.
https://www.canada.ca/benefits
Health & Mental Health
Alcoholics Anonymous Help Line For those who think they have a problem with alcohol and would like to speak with a sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous call. Support is available through fellowship sharing experiences, strength and hope. https://www.aavictoria.ca (Phone: 250-383-0415 (during office hours) or 250-383-7744 (24 Hours)
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors Provide information about finding a counsellor to assist with individual and family related challenges https://bcacc.ca (Phone:1800-9099-6303) BC Legal Help Line 24/7 Victoria Legal Aid Assist with family, criminal and MCFD law issues. (Phone: 250-382-4620). For matters re tenancy and wills, call the Law Centre (Phone:250-385-1221) Credit Counselling Society Provide confidential, nonjudgmental free credit counselling Crisis Centre BC
Immediate access to barrier free, non-judgmental support i.e., crisis support and suicide prevention resources.
Call or text 988 • https://www.crisiscentre.bc.ca Drug and Poison Information: (Phone 1-800-567-8911) Call 911 Provide help and information re overdose/ excess medication errors, biological toxicity i.e., mushrooms, household chemical etc. Gambling Support Line Provides support and services available (Phone 1-888-795-6111) Island Health – Public Health / Maternity & Child Health
Public health nurses, infant and child health support, parenting information and referrals.
https://www.islandhealth.ca Health Link BC (Nurses Line) Nurses are Health Services Navigator available 24 hrs. to assist with health related questions; exercise physical therapist, nutritionists are available Mon – Fri. 9-5pm. Pharmacists available outside of business hours, medications related questions etc. (Phone 811) Foundry
Free/low-barrier mental health, substance-use, physical health and social support for youth and young adults.
https://foundrybc.ca South Vancouver Island Narcotics Anonymous The 24 hr helpline is 250-383-3553. For information, support, resources, location and times of meetings, (Phone: 250-383-7744) More information is at https://www.svina.ca. West Shore Child, Youth & Family Services Society
Counselling, youth/family support and community-based services.
https://www.westshorecentre.com Provides team-based primary care through doctors and nurse practitioners, alongside additional health and social care professionals who support clients’ physical, social, and emotional wellbeing: it brings trauma informed healthcare to the underserved populations and families of the Westshore Colwood, Langford, Highlands or Metchosin. .
Victoria Women’s Transition House Society
Public service & gov’t in Victoria, B.C provides shelter, support, counselling and education to women of all ages, with or without children.
http//www.transitionhouse.net Phone (250-592-2927)
Community & Recreation
West Shore Parks & Recreation
Affordable recreation, family programs, swimming and community activities.
https://www.westshorerecreation.ca
Greater Victoria Public Library
Free library services, internet/computer access, literacy and family/children's programs.
https://www.gvpl.ca