Nanaimo – 1030 Old Victoria Road

We will be suspending website content updates due to the B.C. election. Content is current as of September 20th, 2024. We look forward to resuming our regular updates after the election. Thank you for your understanding.

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 neighbour and keeping lines of communication open with the community.

Letters to neighbours 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.