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The diners were a bit more spread out than at previous Christmas meals at Our Place Society, but the turkey dinner with all the fixings was just as crucial this year, with people struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There are probably more people walking through Our Place’s door that thought they would never have to because they lost their job or their home,” said Our Place spokesman Grant McKenzie. “Thankfully we’re here for everybody.”

Chef Mike Radovanovic prepared about 400 plates of turkey, stuffing, gravy, vegetables and cranberry sauce that were served cafeteria-style to people sitting three to a table instead of six.

Rogers Chocolates donated 700 individual chocolate packages. Any left over from Tuesday’s lunch will fill the stockings of people living in supportive housing facilities managed by Our Place, including the former Howard Johnson hotel on Gorge Road East and the former Comfort Inn on Blanshard Avenue.

McKenzie said the former Comfort Inn is now housing 80 more people who were displaced by the November fire at the Capital City Centre Hotel.

Sitting alone in the courtyard just outside Our Place’s dining hall, Shelly Steele tucked into her stuffing and described the difficult year she’s had. The 51-year-old said she was evicted in June from a supportive housing building on Humboldt Street and has been homeless ever since.

Steele is sleeping on a mat in the First Metropolitan United Church, but said her personal items are often stolen. She said a friend is looking after her cat, Maverick, but if she doesn’t find a stable home soon, she’s afraid she’ll have to give up the cat.

Steele has lived in Victoria since she was eight and said she’s never had such a hard time finding a place to live.

A support worker at Our Place helped her fill out a B.C. Housing application, but she’s been waiting months with no housing leads.

On Christmas Day, she plans to go to Our Place to warm up. The emergency drop-in shelter is open 365 days a year and will have a hot lunch that day for anyone in need.

McKenzie said amid the dual health crises of the pandemic and illicit-drug overdoses, hundreds of people without homes have been placed in supportive housing, but there are still hundreds more sheltering in parks, including Beacon Hill Park and Central Park.

Our Place has been working with B.C. Housing to identify future supportive housing buildings, but the non-profit also has to hire the right staff to manage any new accommodation, he said.

“It’s just something we have to do,” he said. “We can’t leave people outside, especially in the cold.”

kderosa@timescolonist.com