There will be a public hearing on plans to turn a former Victoria care home into low-barrier housing, but people living nearby are worried it’s already a done deal.

The Cool Aid Society wants to put a 101-bed complex at the old Mount Edwards Court Care Home site on Vancouver Street, across from an elementary school.

Cool Aid has raised close to $2-million toward its goal of $3.5-million to purchase the site, but would have to get the land rezoned and hold public consultations to turn it into low-barrier housing.

But there are unconfirmed reports that the province has stepped in and purchased the building, possibly to temporarily house homeless campers from Victoria’s tent city.

Cool Aid reported a “very positive development” for the proposal in a post on its website, but said it couldn’t share details for confidentiality reasons.

“We are expecting that a full announcement will be made in the very near future so please stay tuned,” the post said.

Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps said the city hasn’t heard anything, but said the homeless housing project would face a round of public consultation if it pushes forward.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen with the building, there may be some short-term uses, but anyone who wants to open 101 beds in that space will need to go through a rezoning process,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps. “It’s a very very public process.”

Contractors were spotted at the building Monday morning.

While some residents in the neighbourhood are on board with the project, staff and parents of students at Christ Church Cathedral have spoken out against it.

An open letter from the Christ Church Educational Society said the group continues to support efforts to find long-term solutions for the poor and homeless, and that there are alternative locations available.