Nanaimo - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new housing

Illustration showing various multi-storey residential buildings and trees.


We have exciting news about new housing for Nanaimo! The city of Nanaimo and BC Housing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new housing in the community over the next few years.

This is a working agreement to help ensure some of Nanaimo's most vulnerable people can access the basic and fundamental human right of housing. When vulnerable people have stable housing with supports, they can begin to access health care, and skills training to help them rebuild their lives. This supports healthy and safe communities for everyone.

What's happening

The landmark MOU includes new developments proposed on six sites around the city:

  • Three affordable rental buildings with approximately 125 homes for families and individuals
  • Four purpose-built permanent supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes

Project background

There is a clear need for more affordable and supportive housing in Nanaimo:

  • The 2016 Canadian Rental Housing index confirmed there were more than 68,000 renters in Nanaimo and 23% of those considered themselves at risk of homelessness
  • In addition, the 2020 point in time count for Nanaimo confirmed there were 425 people who were counted as experiencing homelessness in the city

This partnership between the city, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and BC Housing is a commitment to act on solutions to those needs in the community of Nanaimo.

Community benefits of supportive housing

Supportive housing facilities and services don't just help residents, they help the community as a whole:

  • On average, a person experiencing homelessness with addiction and/or mental illness used $55,000/year in health care or corrections services while a person in supportive housing with addictions and/or mental illness used $37,000/year
  • Supportive housing works to reduce homelessness in our communities and neighbourhoods as individuals are housed in a supportive housing unit, with access to employment, income, education, addiction and mental health issues, life-skills and more
  • After six months, 94% of housing residents remained housed
  • Every dollar invested in supportive housing creates 4-5 in social and/or economic value

Projects at a glance

Please note the final numbers of units per project are approximate only:

  • 702 Nicol St – 52 homes now open and operated by Island Crisis Care Society
  • 250 Terminal Ave – 50 new supportive homes under rezoning, with construction anticipated for 2026, as well as a future phase with approximately 34 affordable rental homes
  • 285 Prideaux St – 51 new homes undergoing final construction with move-in anticipated for early 2024
  • 355 Nicol St – 51 homes to be operated by Snuneymuxw First Nation, anticipated construction date TBD
  • 564 Fifth St, 502 & 505 Howard Ave (Te'tuxwtun) - Approximately 390 new rental homes across three buildings with a mix of non-market, affordable and market rentals, plus a variety of other public amenities
  • A family housing development project in partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation. The proposed development will provide 42 units (mix of studio to 3-bedroom) with priority for Indigenous women and children

Information on each site can be found on the project pages below.


We have exciting news about new housing for Nanaimo! The city of Nanaimo and BC Housing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new housing in the community over the next few years.

This is a working agreement to help ensure some of Nanaimo's most vulnerable people can access the basic and fundamental human right of housing. When vulnerable people have stable housing with supports, they can begin to access health care, and skills training to help them rebuild their lives. This supports healthy and safe communities for everyone.

What's happening

The landmark MOU includes new developments proposed on six sites around the city:

  • Three affordable rental buildings with approximately 125 homes for families and individuals
  • Four purpose-built permanent supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes

Project background

There is a clear need for more affordable and supportive housing in Nanaimo:

  • The 2016 Canadian Rental Housing index confirmed there were more than 68,000 renters in Nanaimo and 23% of those considered themselves at risk of homelessness
  • In addition, the 2020 point in time count for Nanaimo confirmed there were 425 people who were counted as experiencing homelessness in the city

This partnership between the city, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and BC Housing is a commitment to act on solutions to those needs in the community of Nanaimo.

Community benefits of supportive housing

Supportive housing facilities and services don't just help residents, they help the community as a whole:

  • On average, a person experiencing homelessness with addiction and/or mental illness used $55,000/year in health care or corrections services while a person in supportive housing with addictions and/or mental illness used $37,000/year
  • Supportive housing works to reduce homelessness in our communities and neighbourhoods as individuals are housed in a supportive housing unit, with access to employment, income, education, addiction and mental health issues, life-skills and more
  • After six months, 94% of housing residents remained housed
  • Every dollar invested in supportive housing creates 4-5 in social and/or economic value

Projects at a glance

Please note the final numbers of units per project are approximate only:

  • 702 Nicol St – 52 homes now open and operated by Island Crisis Care Society
  • 250 Terminal Ave – 50 new supportive homes under rezoning, with construction anticipated for 2026, as well as a future phase with approximately 34 affordable rental homes
  • 285 Prideaux St – 51 new homes undergoing final construction with move-in anticipated for early 2024
  • 355 Nicol St – 51 homes to be operated by Snuneymuxw First Nation, anticipated construction date TBD
  • 564 Fifth St, 502 & 505 Howard Ave (Te'tuxwtun) - Approximately 390 new rental homes across three buildings with a mix of non-market, affordable and market rentals, plus a variety of other public amenities
  • A family housing development project in partnership with Snuneymuxw First Nation. The proposed development will provide 42 units (mix of studio to 3-bedroom) with priority for Indigenous women and children

Information on each site can be found on the project pages below.

  • 702 Nicol St.

    Permanent supportive housing is now in operation at 702 Nicol St, with residents moved in as of March 2022. The new development features 52 self-contained homes, as well as 14 ‘bridge to housing’ spaces, exclusively for vulnerable women, on the second floor. Island Crisis Care Society operates the building, with 24/7 staff.

  • 250 Terminal Ave.

    This project features approximately 50 permanent purpose-built supportive homes which will replace Newcastle Place, the temporary supportive housing currently on site, as well as 34 units of future affordable rental housing. The location was recently rezoned and is pending development permits.

  • 285 Prideaux St.

    Completed in May 2024, the Cornerstone supportive housing project has 51 new permanent supportive homes. Connective operates the building, with staff on-site 24/7.

  • 355 Nicol St.

    The 355 Nicol Street project will feature 35 permanent supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Snuneymuxw First Nation will operate the building and Indigenous People will be prioritized.

  • 564 Fifth St, 502 & 505 Howard Ave (Te'tuxwtun)

    Te’tuxwtun (pronounced Tey-tux-tun) is a proposed large-scale development intended to respect the restoration of land and serve the needs of the community. This 5.8-acre site spans the Fifth Street Corridor (564 Fifth Street, 502 and 505 Howard Avenue) in the Harewood neighbourhood of Nanaimo. The Te’tuxwtun development project is a unique collaboration between Snuneymuxw First Nation, BC Housing, the City of Nanaimo and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (known as the Knowledge Partners). Te’tuxwtun, which means “grandmother of all surrounding mountains,” is the traditional name for Mount Benson, which overlooks the community and holds an important place in Snuneymuxw culture.

Page last updated: 30 Apr 2025, 04:09 PM