Courtenay - Braidwood & Ryan Road

Rendering of a modern building with a mix of wood and dark-colored materials.


BC Housing is working on a purpose-built shelter and supportive housing building at 925 Braidwood and Ryan Road, in Courtenay. BC Housing purchased this land in March 2024, in consultation with the City.

  • The shelter building would provide approximately 73 shelter spaces with capacity for 30 extra spaces during extreme weather.
  • The supportive housing building would provide approximately 70 studio homes for people from the local area who need supports to maintain stable housing.

This development is an important part of our effort to address the urgent need to offer culturally safe, indoor shelter to people experiencing homelessness in the Comox Valley. The 2025 Point-in-Time homeless count identified 218 people experiencing homelessness in the community. The actual number is likely higher, as this count does not include people who are in hospital, couch surfing or living in vehicles.

Moving indoors is an important step in a person’s transition out of homelessness and into stable housing. People without access to basic shelter must focus solely on survival. After a person can access a warm bed, washrooms, and meals, they are in a much better position to improve their housing situation and well-being. This supports healthier and safer communities for everyone.

What is a purpose-built shelter?

Purpose-built shelters are intentionally designed spaces. Unlike shelters which are set up in community centres, halls or other buildings, purpose-built shelters are designed specifically as temporary shelter spaces with specific features in mind to support those who stay there and the surrounding community.

Compared to supportive housing, shelters are a temporary accommodation. A person could stay in a shelter from one night to a few months or longer. A case worker works with each shelter guest to help them along their individual journey to transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

Features of purpose-built housing and shelter may incorporate specific features such as central kitchens, storage for belongings and private outdoor areas. They may also have features to mitigate any impacts in the surrounding community such as specific types of lighting, landscaping, fencing and security systems.

What is supportive housing?

Purpose-built supportive homes are deeply affordable studio apartments intended for people who need supports and services to maintain their housing.

Residents are single adults (19+) of all genders, including seniors, people with disabilities, people who have experienced trauma or poverty and people who have struggled with the high cost of housing.

Supports are provided on site to help residents maintain housing stability. These typically include:

  • daily meals
  • life skills training
  • employment assistance
  • referrals to health care connections to other community services

Resident Selection

Indigenous people are over-represented among Courtenay’s local homeless population. In the 2025 Point-in-Time homeless count for the Comox Valley, 30% of people experiencing homelessness self-identified as having Indigenous ancestry. In response to this, the supportive housing program will prioritize Indigenous members, followed by other equity seeking people.

Purpose-Built Shelter Operator

BC Housing selected Connective through a fair and public process to operate the shelter. They will manage the building and the property and provide 24/7 support services to the shelter guests.

Connective is a non-profit social services organization with decades of experience supporting people across B.C. and the Yukon. Connective offers a range of holistic programs including housing, employment, outreach, justice and community services, with the goal of creating safe, healthy and inclusive communities for all.

Learn more about Connective by visiting connective.ca.

Permanent Supportive Housing Operator

BC Housing selected Lookout Housing and Health Society through a fair and public process to operate the supportive housing. They manage the building and the property and provide 24/7 support services to the residents.

Lookout is a non-profit organization that has been helping people for over 50 years. Every day, Lookout supports more than 6,000 people across B.C. Their housing and health programs aim to foster resilience, independence, and community well-being.

Learn more by visiting lookoutsociety.ca.

Rezoning and Development

Rezoning was approved unanimously by City Council in August 2024 and formally adopted on September 11, 2024. The project is now moving through the Development and Building Permit process.

We currently expect construction to begin in winter 2025.

Community Engagement

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of supportive housing residents and people transitioning out of homelessness. BC Housing and our non-profit partners commit to keeping lines of communication open throughout this project.

  • On March 28, 2024, BC Housing announced that it had purchased 925 Braidwood Rd. in Courtenay with plans to build supportive housing and shelter.
  • On June 21, 2024, we mailed a letter to neighbours sharing information about the proposed project and inviting them to a Neighbour Discussion Session and Community Open House.
  • From June 21 to July 24, 2024, we published a discussion guide and survey to collect community input on the project design. BC Housing has considered all community input along with technical, cultural and financial factors.
  • On July 18, 2024, we hosted a Community Open House at Native Sons Hall in Courtenay. At the event, we displayed the latest project information, met community members and answered questions. Thank you to everyone who participated. View the Engagement Summary Report.
  • On November 10, 2025, we mailed a letter to neighbours announcing the operators and inviting them to Meet the Operators Open House in December.
  • On December 8, 2025, we will host a Meet the Operators Open House at Glacier View Secondary School in Courtenay.

Questions?

To learn more about this project, download our Community FAQ.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to be added to our contact list for updates, please email us at communityrelations@bchousing.org.


BC Housing is working on a purpose-built shelter and supportive housing building at 925 Braidwood and Ryan Road, in Courtenay. BC Housing purchased this land in March 2024, in consultation with the City.

  • The shelter building would provide approximately 73 shelter spaces with capacity for 30 extra spaces during extreme weather.
  • The supportive housing building would provide approximately 70 studio homes for people from the local area who need supports to maintain stable housing.

This development is an important part of our effort to address the urgent need to offer culturally safe, indoor shelter to people experiencing homelessness in the Comox Valley. The 2025 Point-in-Time homeless count identified 218 people experiencing homelessness in the community. The actual number is likely higher, as this count does not include people who are in hospital, couch surfing or living in vehicles.

Moving indoors is an important step in a person’s transition out of homelessness and into stable housing. People without access to basic shelter must focus solely on survival. After a person can access a warm bed, washrooms, and meals, they are in a much better position to improve their housing situation and well-being. This supports healthier and safer communities for everyone.

What is a purpose-built shelter?

Purpose-built shelters are intentionally designed spaces. Unlike shelters which are set up in community centres, halls or other buildings, purpose-built shelters are designed specifically as temporary shelter spaces with specific features in mind to support those who stay there and the surrounding community.

Compared to supportive housing, shelters are a temporary accommodation. A person could stay in a shelter from one night to a few months or longer. A case worker works with each shelter guest to help them along their individual journey to transition out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

Features of purpose-built housing and shelter may incorporate specific features such as central kitchens, storage for belongings and private outdoor areas. They may also have features to mitigate any impacts in the surrounding community such as specific types of lighting, landscaping, fencing and security systems.

What is supportive housing?

Purpose-built supportive homes are deeply affordable studio apartments intended for people who need supports and services to maintain their housing.

Residents are single adults (19+) of all genders, including seniors, people with disabilities, people who have experienced trauma or poverty and people who have struggled with the high cost of housing.

Supports are provided on site to help residents maintain housing stability. These typically include:

  • daily meals
  • life skills training
  • employment assistance
  • referrals to health care connections to other community services

Resident Selection

Indigenous people are over-represented among Courtenay’s local homeless population. In the 2025 Point-in-Time homeless count for the Comox Valley, 30% of people experiencing homelessness self-identified as having Indigenous ancestry. In response to this, the supportive housing program will prioritize Indigenous members, followed by other equity seeking people.

Purpose-Built Shelter Operator

BC Housing selected Connective through a fair and public process to operate the shelter. They will manage the building and the property and provide 24/7 support services to the shelter guests.

Connective is a non-profit social services organization with decades of experience supporting people across B.C. and the Yukon. Connective offers a range of holistic programs including housing, employment, outreach, justice and community services, with the goal of creating safe, healthy and inclusive communities for all.

Learn more about Connective by visiting connective.ca.

Permanent Supportive Housing Operator

BC Housing selected Lookout Housing and Health Society through a fair and public process to operate the supportive housing. They manage the building and the property and provide 24/7 support services to the residents.

Lookout is a non-profit organization that has been helping people for over 50 years. Every day, Lookout supports more than 6,000 people across B.C. Their housing and health programs aim to foster resilience, independence, and community well-being.

Learn more by visiting lookoutsociety.ca.

Rezoning and Development

Rezoning was approved unanimously by City Council in August 2024 and formally adopted on September 11, 2024. The project is now moving through the Development and Building Permit process.

We currently expect construction to begin in winter 2025.

Community Engagement

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of supportive housing residents and people transitioning out of homelessness. BC Housing and our non-profit partners commit to keeping lines of communication open throughout this project.

  • On March 28, 2024, BC Housing announced that it had purchased 925 Braidwood Rd. in Courtenay with plans to build supportive housing and shelter.
  • On June 21, 2024, we mailed a letter to neighbours sharing information about the proposed project and inviting them to a Neighbour Discussion Session and Community Open House.
  • From June 21 to July 24, 2024, we published a discussion guide and survey to collect community input on the project design. BC Housing has considered all community input along with technical, cultural and financial factors.
  • On July 18, 2024, we hosted a Community Open House at Native Sons Hall in Courtenay. At the event, we displayed the latest project information, met community members and answered questions. Thank you to everyone who participated. View the Engagement Summary Report.
  • On November 10, 2025, we mailed a letter to neighbours announcing the operators and inviting them to Meet the Operators Open House in December.
  • On December 8, 2025, we will host a Meet the Operators Open House at Glacier View Secondary School in Courtenay.

Questions?

To learn more about this project, download our Community FAQ.

If you have any questions about this project or would like to be added to our contact list for updates, please email us at communityrelations@bchousing.org.