Nanaimo – 1030 Old Victoria Road
Project Overview
BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo have built 59 units of temporary housing at 1030 Old Victoria Road.
The modular buildings include:
- 59 units of temporary housing with support services
- Indoor and outdoor common areas
- Central kitchen
- Shared washroom and laundry facilities
- Reception area and office space for staff
- Fenced grounds and on-site parking
This project is funded through the Province’s HEART & HEARTH program. Through this program, we can build and offer housing quickly to people experiencing homelessness. This housing will be in place temporarily while we continue to build more permanent supportive homes in the community.
Temporary Housing with Supports
Temporary housing with supports provides safe, stable housing for adults (19+) who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. This can include seniors and people with disabilities.
All residents apply to live in temporary housing, sign program agreements and pay rent.
Typical supports include:
- 24/7 onsite staff support
- Daily meals
- Life-skills and employment training
- Access to health supports
- Connections to community and social services
- Access to permanent housing when available
Operator
BC Housing selected Vancouver Island Mental Health Society (VIMHS) to operate this building. Staff will manage the building and provide services to residents.
Learn more about VIMHS by visiting vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org.
Community Engagement
We commit to being good neighbours. We have shared a direct phone number for the building with neighbours and will address any concerns quickly and collaboratively.
- June 26 to 28, 2024 – Project announced as the Nanaimo Navigation Centre
- News release
- Letter - June 2024 (PDF) mailed to neighbours and local businesses within 200 m
- Late 2024 – Navigation Centre title removed from the project
- September 2024 – Commitment to develop a Neighbourhood Integration Plan
- January 15, 2025 – Project updates
- Letter - January 2025 (PDF) (incorrectly dated as January 15, 2024) mailed to neighbours and local businesses within 400 m
- February 27, 2025 – Neighbourhood Integration Plan design workshop
- April 25, 2025 – Neighbourhood Integration Plan finalized
- Letter - April 2025 (PDF) and postcard (PDF) inviting neighbours and local businesses within 400m to upcoming neighbourhood integration activities
- Letter - April 2025 (PDF) and postcard (PDF) inviting neighbours and local businesses within 400m to upcoming neighbourhood integration activities
- May 14 to 23, 2025 –Neighbour Dialogue Session 1
- Poster boards (PDF)
- Letter - May 2025 (PDF) updating neighbours and local businesses within 400 m about neighbourhood integration activities
- June 24, 2025 – Opening celebration and neighbourhood tours
- Spring 2026 – Housing site beautification initiative
- Summer 2026 – Neighbour Dialogue Session 2
Resources
Questions?
Please email communityrelations@bchousing.org with questions about this project. You can also ask to be added to our contact list for updates.