The Victoria Cool Aid Society, also known as "Cool Aid" is a
charitable organization that provides shelter and other services to disadvantaged and
homeless youth and adults. It was founded in
Victoria, British Columbia,
Canada, in 1968 as an
emergency hostel for transient youth.
[ - ''He also worked with Cool-Aid, a society which has its origins in the Cool Aid Hostel established in 1968 to provide short-term emergency shelter for transient youth, and today offers a wide range ...''][ -''Aid in Victoria and Oolagen in Toronto. Cool-Aid in Victoria was started by the Victoria Youth Council in 1968 to meet the needs of the young transients who flock to British Columbia in the summer.'']
History
During April and May 1968, members of the Victoria Youth Council researched the extent and quality of helping facilities available to youth in the
Greater Victoria
Greater Victoria (also known as the Greater Victoria Region) is located in British Columbia, Canada, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. It is usually defined as the thirteen municipalities of the Capital Regional District (CRD) ...
area. For housing, the picture was “dismal” with the
Salvation Army
Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...
housing only men, and the
YMCA housing women but charging $2.50 - $3.50 per night. For counseling, the outlook was even worse. This led to the idea of a hostel and an emergency-oriented,
crisis intervention service, run by youth. Having obtained permission from a Vancouver group to use the name “Cool Aid,” the group began operations with a phone number and a single shelter.
Between 1970 and 1976 Cool Aid evolved into a more serious and adult run organization operating a
shelter and medical clinic.
In 1976 the organization was formally incorporated as the Victoria Cool Aid Society. Over the following years and decades Cool Aid has expanded its shelter facilities and increased the range of services to include medical and dental, counseling, employment and a community center which promotes healthy living.
See also
Homelessness in Canada
References
Further reading
*
External links
*{{official website, http://www.coolaid.org/, CoolAid.org
Charities based in Canada
Organizations based in Victoria, British Columbia
Organizations established in 1968