Rock Bay Victori Case Study

For this study, I have analysed the various socio-economic phenomena within the neighbourhood of Rock Bay Victoria. My initial impression of the site was that it it was primarily industrial and operated mostly as a place of employment rather than residence. Although my first impressions were accurate to a large extent, upon further research I discovered that the area consisted of a far greater variety of elements. For instance, due to deindustrialization, the area is currently in a state of transformation from heavy industry, such as steel and gravel production, to advanced technology and green enterprise. In addition, the land use in the region is far more versatile than my first impression indicated, and the area does not only serve as a place of employment but it is also the a primary residence for the majority of victoria's homeless population. The specific boundaries of the Rock Bay neighbourhood …show more content…
In the case of Rock bay, due to the lack of residential space in the neighbourhood, this aspect is easy to overlook. However, since the implementation of Victoria's largest homeless shelter in 2008, this region has seen an informal rise in residents. The Victoria Cool Aid Society has provided refuge to many of Victoria's homeless people by offering 84 beds, 23 transitional housing units, two emergency family shelter units and twenty additional shelter mats for use during emergencies (BC Housing, (n.d.)). Although the shelter is located just outside of the confines of the study area, I found that its impact on the community was worth noting. The City of Victoria has a very low tolerance for homelessness, likely due to the fact that Victoria's most prosperous industry is tourism (Adam, 2010). As a result of this attitude, Victoria's homeless population tends to congregate in industrial areas such as Rock Bay, rather than