Nanaimo – 1030 Old Victoria Road

BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo are working together to build new temporary housing with 24/7 support services at 1030 Old Victoria Road. This site will provide approximately 50 urgently needed sleeping units as we continue to explore more permanent housing options throughout Nanaimo.

Each unit in the modular buildings will be for one person and will have a locking door, bed, and place to store personal belongings. There will also be communal washrooms, a central kitchen, laundry/utility room, amenity room and office space for staff.

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.

Development & Construction

Site preparation work has already begun on the property. Starting in late January, trucks will deliver modular units to the site and cranes will move them into place. We will then connect utilities onsite. We currently expect the buildings to open in Spring 2025.

Services & Supports

Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (VIMHS) will operate the temporary housing and provide services to residents. BC Housing and VIMHS will work alongside community partners to offer the units to people based on their individual needs, goals and the services provided. Most residents will be people from local shelters who are ready to transition into housing. This, in turn, will help free up shelter spaces for those sleeping outside or in encampments.

The temporary transitional housing at 1030 Old Victoria Road is a type of supportive housing. As with all supportive housing, residents will pay rent at 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 neighbour and keeping lines of communication open with the community.

The Province announced this project in June 2024 as the Nanaimo Navigation Centre. In late 2024, the City of Nanaimo and BC Housing chose to remove this title from the project. The HEARTH program provides temporary housing to a wide variety of people based on their needs and services available. As such, this building is no longer intended to specifically serve people who require higher levels of support.

Neighbourhood Integration Plan

BC Housing, VIMHS, the City of Nanaimo and several community representatives are also working together to develop a Neighbourhood Integration Plan for the temporary housing at 1030 Old Victoria Road. Through this pilot project, we will create a plan that is unique to the neighbourhood and will guide everyone’s efforts to build positive relationships among the residents, staff and surrounding community after the temporary housing opens. We will share the full plan when it is available, and neighbours can watch for future opportunities to get involved.

We welcome questions and comments via the form below or by email at any time to communityrelations@bchousing.org.