Capital Regional Housing Corporation - Victoria, British Columbia

Caleb F.

I’ve lived in one of the Capital Region Housing Corporation’s affordable housing complexes for several years, and I strongly urge prospective tenants and their families to carefully consider what they may be stepping into.

The conditions have been deeply concerning:

Threats of violence and intimidation are not uncommon. Some residents have targeted and harassed others for months at a time.

Chronic drug and alcohol abuse fuels much of the instability here. I’ve personally witnessed drug and sex trafficking, and people openly driving under the influence.

Some tenants purposely create noise and disturbances—banging, stomping, tapping, playing loud bass at all hours—seemingly to provoke or manipulate others. When I first moved in, it felt more like a chaotic mental institution rather than a home.

There have been multiple reports of break-ins, and there is strong suspicion that at least one problematic tenant may have unauthorized access to building keys, putting the safety of others at risk.

The root of these issues is a complete lack of support services on site. While CRHC may provide housing, the mental health and safety needs of vulnerable tenants are being neglected, and that creates dangerous living conditions for everyone.

Our mental health care system seems more focused on control than healing, and tenants are often left to fend for themselves in environments that can be traumatic or even dangerous.

Until CRHC takes real steps to provide trauma-informed, on-site supports and a higher standard of tenant protection, I would not recommend their buildings to anyone.

Joel M.

Apartments are made from paper. You can hear your neighbor's talking. When anyone closes a door, it shakes your apartment. Not an exaggeration.

abhimanyu U.

The Rental Assist sincerely lacks empathy, East Saanich rd caretaker was hard to reach and unreasonable; only can communicate with voicemails. West Park lane caretaker was the only positive person I interacted with at CRDH. Dealing with them is a classical case of bureaucratic red tape. It's ironic that a public enterprise which is not for profit housing is in fact creating systemic barriers for people to get into affordable housing.

I had applied for 2 of their listings : 1910 West Park Ln and 7612 East Saanich Rd.

1910 West Park Ln - I was contacted by the rental assist and given the impression that they had multiple units available, I agreed to view unit 303. The Caretaker was great to deal with, they showed me the unit on a week day at 3:30 pm, however the unit was designed for accessibility and backed on to the highway also had horrible road noise and disturbance. Next day I contacted the rental assist and discussed that the unit 303 is designed for accessibility and could I look at a regular unit? they replied that all other units are leased. all units got leased overnight almost felt that they were trying to manipulate me into getting into that unit. fortunately I declined.

7612 East Saanich Rd - I received a voicemail from caretaker asking me to view the unit at 11 am on a weekday. I replied back with a voicemail that I am unable to get away from work that time on a weekday but can get off early at 3pm if that worked for them. Got a voicemail back stating that they can only show units between 10 am -12 pm. So I got back to them stating I can view around a certain date around 11 am. but they got back to me again via voicemail mentioning that they can show 2 day prior or a day after to the day I mentioned. In addition they mentioned that they hope I take the unit because it's going to be quite late in the month and I was suppose to look at the unit in the first week when they initially contacted me. Again I felt they were trying to manipulate me into getting into a unit I had not viewed and may not like on viewing. we could not find a time that worked for them or me. So I was unwilling to continue the "voicemail conversation" therefore I declined.

CRDH It's not always possible for people to get out of work at 11 am.

In the process I gained ample amount of distrust in CRDH. If you are looking for a place to rent please stay away from CRDH, they make you jump through a lot of hoops and they do not care. However, they will try to manipulate and influence your decision in a very systemic fashion.

Chris B.

Don't move in to Hockley House - the property manger could care less that the building has theft - literally said "This building is not secure" - responded to tenants mail being delivered and stolen by other tenants who live in the building as "it is what it is" and then when the idea of cameras to prevent theft was suggested the response "CRD doesn't do that" was it. We pay almost 2k to live here. 2k and we can't even trust that the building is secure - from the mouth of the literal property manager. Don't waste your money - find a better place to live. There are really shady people that live here. Crooks own the building to allow crooks to live here.

William C.

This corporation provides and manages housing in the CRD. I find the staff helpful,polite and professional. The staff know their jobs and it has always been a pleasure to deal with them.

Britt Z.

Bruce Vail you are so amazing, John care taker of Gladstone is also amazing. Thank you for always being so helpful and responding so quickly to all of our needs.

Red R. (.

They help you out especially if you have family si gle dudes will wait like 2 years. Best to apply early

Catherine N.

If you are a low-income family, get onto the BC Housing list and choose CRHC Housing. These are well-maintained housing developments, with rent geared to income, in some excellent locations. All the staff are very approachable.