Courtenay - Braidwood & Ryan Road (925 Braidwood Road)

BC Housing is working on a proposed purpose-built shelter and supportive housing building. BC Housing purchased this land in March 2024, in consultation with the City.

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 Courtenay. The 2023 Point-in-Time homeless count identified 272 people experiencing homelessness in the Comox Valley. This is a 106% increase from the previous count in 2020.

When vulnerable people have stable housing with a range of supports, they can access things like health care, wellness services and skills training to help rebuild their lives, supporting healthy and safe communities for everyone.

What is a purpose-built shelter?

The new purpose-built shelter will be quite different from the existing CONNECT shelter in Courtenay. While the CONNECT shelter operates in a repurposed commercial building owned by the City of Courtenay, this new shelter will offer more beds and include more indoor and outdoor communal spaces. Shelter guests will receive a range of supports, including connections to health care and mental health services.

Because the shelter will be purpose-built, we are also able to include more safety and security features for the benefit of the shelter guests as well as the surrounding community.

What is supportive housing?

Supportive housing is an opportunity for people to leave the streets and shelter system for safe and stable housing that will contribute to an improved quality of life.

At 925 Braidwood Road, residents would pay rent and have a self-contained studio home with supports provided on-site to ensure they can achieve and maintain housing stability. Supports typically include:

• cultural supports
• 24/7 staff presence
• wellness checks
• life skills training
• employment assistance
• connection to other services

Resident Selection

Indigenous people are over-represented among Courtenay’s local homeless population. In the 2023 Point-in-Time homeless count for the Comox Valley, 28% 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 individuals.

Operator

BC Housing will select a non-profit operator for this project through a fair and open process. They will be responsible for managing the building, the property, and providing support services to the residents. The chosen operator will also bring experience and knowledge to build the relationships needed to make this housing successful in the community.

Rezoning and Development

Braidwood is currently zoned at Residential Four A ( R-4A). Rezoning is required to permit the proposed use. If rezoning is approved, the project would then require a Development Permit and a Building Permit.

We currently expect construction to begin in sometime in 2025.

Community Engagement

We hosted a design feedback period from June 21 to July 24, 2024. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the discussion guide and submitted feedback forms.

We also hosted an in-person open house for the community on July 18, 2024 in Courtenay. At the event, we displayed the latest project information, met community members and answered questions. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Community members can also post questions to this page using the Q&A tool below. The Q&A will be open until August 15, 2024.

Input from all engagement activities will help shape the final project design. BC Housing will consider all community input along with technical, cultural, and financial factors. We will share an engagement summary report with the community and Courtenay City Council prior to rezoning.

Questions and Comments

We welcome your questions or comments by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org