The Cool Aid Society said about half of the 375 people it houses in its 10 apartment buildings in Greater Victoria are 55 or older, while 15 per cent of people staying at its three emergency shelters — 260 people — were also 55 or older.

“Not only is ending homelessness the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do, because it’s more expensive to leave someone homeless on the street, or in shelters, than it is to provide them with a home and the supports they need to have a valued life in our community,” Stinson said.

On Tuesday, politicians and housing advocates stood in the overgrown grass of the property at 3207 Quadra St. — acquired by the Cool Aid Society from the estate of Herman Rebneris for just more than $1 million — to celebrate the project’s readiness.

Rebneris died Oct. 29, 2010, after a five-year fight with cancer. He was respected in the region for his tireless efforts to supply affordable housing for families and seniors.

The project is “shovel-ready” — site architectural and landscaping plans are complete and Saanich has approved the development permit — but no sod will be turned until the B.C. government kicks in its $4.8 million of the $6.6 million needed to start building, said Alan Rycroft, society spokesman.

Saw them with the drawings on easels on-site yesterday and figured it was blitz to tell people about it. Finally that blight will be useful!

It's not a bad looking building, that's for sure.