For over 30 years, Threshold Housing Society (Threshold) has provided safe housing and support services for youth and young adults aged 15 to 24 at risk of homelessness.
Threshold has significantly impacted the community and is currently implementing three capacity-expanding projects to ensure that impact grows for many years to come: 1) the purchase of Threshold House; 2) the expansion of Forrest House; and 3) the purchase of Shelbourne Street.
Threshold will soon own Threshold House, ensuring stability for the youth who live there.
The first capacity-building project is the purchase of Threshold House.
Threshold House is Threshold’s flagship home. It offers “youth their own studio suites – with a large bedroom, kitchenette, and full bathroom – connected to generous shared living room, kitchen and dining room” spaces. The youth living at Threshold House are semi-independent and have the support of daytime staff, evening staff, and dedicated case managers. The youth also benefit from life-skills workshops and other foundational programming.
However, Threshold does not own Threshold House. For the last seven years, Threshold has leased the Threshold House space from Oak Bay United Church.
Now, thanks to a large financial contribution received for this very purpose, Threshold is working to purchase the space. The purchase is nearly complete, pending only the District of Oak Bay’s completion of the subdivision process. The purchase will allow Threshold to guarantee Threshold House’s eight spaces for at-risk youth will continue to be available for years to come.
Threshold identified a new funding model for the redesign of Forrest House.
The second capacity-building project is the development of a new funding model that will support the redesign of Threshold’s Forrest House, freeing up substantial funds previously earmarked for the redesign.
Threshold’s Forrest House is located at 1502 Davie St. and is owned by Threshold. Threshold is currently working to redesign Forrest House for two reasons. First, the redesign will create 17 new spaces in Forrest House, meaning 17 more at-risk youth will have a place to call home. Second, the redesign will style the building using traditional Coast Salish colours – with a heavy emphasis on red – and architecture, creating a more welcoming space for the many Indigenous youth Threshold serves.
The aesthetic portion of the redesign was drafted with significant input from NIȽ TU,O Child and Family Services Society (NIȽ TU,O ). According to Threshold Executive Director Colin Tessier, “as Threshold has grown in the last several years, so has our partnership with NIȽ TU,O. From initial conversations about redeveloping Forrest House” to “the invaluable contributions of Salish design concepts to that project, NIȽ TU,O have repeatedly shown their commitment to collaboration in serving youth at risk of homelessness.”
After years of collaborative design work and due-diligence efforts, Threshold will break ground on the Forrest House redesign this year.
While Threshold originally received a grant for the redesign of Forrest House from NIȽ TU,O and intended to rely on a large capital campaign, Threshold has now identified a funding model that relieves the need for these types of funding. Thus, funds already secured for Forrest House are now diverted to purchase a brand new home for at-risk youth.
Threshold purchased a brand-new home for at-risk youth: Shelbourne Street.
The third capacity-building project is the purchase of a brand-new space: Shelbourne Street. To make this purchase, Threshold used the funds diverted from the Forrest House project – including a financial commitment made by NIȽ TU,O – and funds provided by the Kirzinger family. Shelbourne Street is a six-bedroom home that blends character, charm, and modern comfort. Shelbourne Street has space for six youth and a staff office. Threshold Director of Strategic Relations Shannon Whissell explains the flexibility of the interior space allows for “a spectrum of housing and support” that encourages a deeper level of “online support or on-site support.” Threshold will begin moving youth into this space once operational funding is secured.
Whissell further explains that, while six new spaces may not seem like much, “when you think about six youth who have lived with instability and trauma,” providing “a safe place to call home with appropriate supports” actually has a substantial impact. Whissell adds, “It’s the threshold model to have smaller buildings and to move at a more human pace,” so “six youth in a house is an ideal size for us.”
The acquisition of Shelbourne Street is especially noteworthy as it represents Threshold’s first home purchase in W̱SÁNEĆ territory, and because it will focus on housing youth connected to NIȽ TU,O. Threshold looks forward to contributing in a meaningful way to the growth and healing of W̱SÁNEĆ youth through the services provided at Shelbourne Street. “We’re doing our best to learn to do better,” says Whissell, “to walk in a way that really goes far beyond land acknowledgments and words about reconciliation.”
In further efforts to enact reconciliation, Threshold is working with NIȽ TU,O to expand the Threshold Indigenous Wellness Program. According to Mavis David, a Knowledge Keeper who works with the Indigenous Wellness Program:
“Without community, there is no such thing as Indigenous Wellness. One person, or one organization, cannot recreate the networks of support that our people experienced before our practices were taken from us. Threshold’s relationship with NIȽ TU,O provides a connection to the nations they partner with, opening doors for our youth to heal, grow, and learn.”
The Threshold House, Forrest House, and Shelbourne Street projects signify more than just the acquisition or expansion of new buildings—they represent the expansion of hope, security, and community for young people navigating challenging circumstances. Threshold extends heartfelt gratitude to all partners, donors, and supporters who have made these advancements possible.
For further details and updates, please visit Threshold Housing Society’s official website and the NIȽ TU,O official website. Additionally, be sure to subscribe to the NIȽ TU,O newsletter.
