Nanaimo – 1030 Old Victoria Road

Satellite map image of the site just off the Trans-Canada highway at 1030 Old Victoria Road, Nanaimo

BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo are working together on new temporary housing with 24/7 support services at 1030 Old Victoria Road. This site will offer approximately 60 sleeping units to provide urgently needed temporary spaces as we continue to explore new permanent housing options.

Each unit in the modular building(s) would be for one person and would have a locking door, bed, and place to store personal belongings. There would also be communal washrooms, a commercial kitchen, laundry/utility room, amenity room and office space.

The Ministry of Housing and City of Nanaimo signed a HEART & HEARTH Memorandum of Understanding in January 2024 committing to work together to create more housing and shelter options for people experiencing homelessness in the community. This project is part of that commitment.

Services & Supports

Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (VIMHS) will operate the site which will be by referral only for people who are experiencing long-term homelessness and who are currently staying in overnight community shelters.

The temporary transitional housing at 1030 Old Victoria Road is considered a mode of supportive housing. As with other supportive housing, residents of the temporary transitional units will pay the shelter rate set by the Province (subject to periodic adjustments).

Services offered will include:

24/7 on-site services
Individualized attention
Culturally appropriate services for Indigenous clients
Integrated supports and case planning
Health services, including connections to community-based mental health and substance use programs, in conjunction with health partners
Services focused on stabilization and connections to housing
Overdose prevention and response programs
A daily meal program

About the Operator

VIMHS is a non-profit organization that has been providing opportunities for recovery in the Nanaimo region for more than 40 years. They engage communities through programs that promote recovery, social inclusion, safe housing and public education. Learn more at: vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org.

Community Updates

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of supportive housing residents. BC Housing and VIMHS are committed to being a good neighbor and keeping lines of communication open with the community.

Letters to neighbors and stakeholders were sent out with the announcement of this new HEARTH site in July, 2024. Please watch for potential engagement opportunities in the coming months.

Residents are encouraged to post questions to this page using the Q&A tool below. We also welcome questions and comments by email at any time to: communityrelations@bchousing.org.