Nanaimo – Old Victoria Road

Satellite map image showing a site located just off the Trans-Canada Highway at 1030 Old Victoria Road in Nanaimo, BC.


BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo are building 59 units of temporary housing with supports at 1030 Old Victoria Road. This project provides urgently needed safe housing options as we continue to build more permanent supportive housing throughout Nanaimo.

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.

Design and Development

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

These temporary housing units will open in June 2025. The modular buildings will stay in place for a minimum of three years as we continue to build permanent supportive housing in the community, including approximately 60 new supportive homes on the adjacent lot (McKenzie Avenue Supportive Housing).

Services & Supports

The temporary 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 Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (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

Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (VIMHS) will operate the temporary housing and provide services to residents. 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 about VIMHS by visiting vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org.

BC Housing and VIMHS will work alongside community partners to offer the temporary housing 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.

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.

Announcement

The Province announced this project in June 2024 as the Nanaimo Navigation Centre. In late 2024, the City of Nanaimo and BC Housing removed this title from the project. The HEARTH funding 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

In September 2024, BC Housing made a commitment to the City of Nanaimo to work with VIMHS to develop a Neighbourhood Integration Plan for the temporary housing at 1030 Old Victoria Road.

In February and March 2025, BC Housing, VIMHS, the City of Nanaimo and several community representatives worked together to develop a Neighbourhood Integration Plan to foster community inclusion around the temporary housing project. This pilot project includes four neighbourhood engagement activities designed to build positive relationships among residents, staff and the community:

  • A Neighbour Dialogue Session in mid-May 2025 prior to opening
  • An opening celebration and neighbourhood tours of the site in late May 2025
  • An opportunity for the community to help beautify the temporary housing site in summer 2025
  • A follow-up Neighbour Dialogue Session in summer 2025

Spring 2025 Engagement

We are inviting immediate neighbours and interested parties to join us on Wednesday, May 14 for a Neighbour Dialogue Session. This event will provide an opportunity to meet the project staff, including the operator VIMHS, learn more and ask questions about the temporary housing project.

VIMHS and BC Housing will host an opening celebration and tours for immediate neighbours and interested parties on Thursday, May 29 ahead of resident move-ins in early June.

We want to thank neighbours for keeping in touch with us throughout the development process and sharing your questions and concerns. We continue to welcome questions and comments via the form below or by email at any time to communityrelations@bchousing.org.


BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo are building 59 units of temporary housing with supports at 1030 Old Victoria Road. This project provides urgently needed safe housing options as we continue to build more permanent supportive housing throughout Nanaimo.

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.

Design and Development

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

These temporary housing units will open in June 2025. The modular buildings will stay in place for a minimum of three years as we continue to build permanent supportive housing in the community, including approximately 60 new supportive homes on the adjacent lot (McKenzie Avenue Supportive Housing).

Services & Supports

The temporary 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 Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (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

Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (VIMHS) will operate the temporary housing and provide services to residents. 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 about VIMHS by visiting vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org.

BC Housing and VIMHS will work alongside community partners to offer the temporary housing 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.

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.

Announcement

The Province announced this project in June 2024 as the Nanaimo Navigation Centre. In late 2024, the City of Nanaimo and BC Housing removed this title from the project. The HEARTH funding 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

In September 2024, BC Housing made a commitment to the City of Nanaimo to work with VIMHS to develop a Neighbourhood Integration Plan for the temporary housing at 1030 Old Victoria Road.

In February and March 2025, BC Housing, VIMHS, the City of Nanaimo and several community representatives worked together to develop a Neighbourhood Integration Plan to foster community inclusion around the temporary housing project. This pilot project includes four neighbourhood engagement activities designed to build positive relationships among residents, staff and the community:

  • A Neighbour Dialogue Session in mid-May 2025 prior to opening
  • An opening celebration and neighbourhood tours of the site in late May 2025
  • An opportunity for the community to help beautify the temporary housing site in summer 2025
  • A follow-up Neighbour Dialogue Session in summer 2025

Spring 2025 Engagement

We are inviting immediate neighbours and interested parties to join us on Wednesday, May 14 for a Neighbour Dialogue Session. This event will provide an opportunity to meet the project staff, including the operator VIMHS, learn more and ask questions about the temporary housing project.

VIMHS and BC Housing will host an opening celebration and tours for immediate neighbours and interested parties on Thursday, May 29 ahead of resident move-ins in early June.

We want to thank neighbours for keeping in touch with us throughout the development process and sharing your questions and concerns. We continue to welcome questions and comments via the form below or by email at any time to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Page last updated: 01 May 2025, 02:24 PM