Nanaimo – Boxwood Road

Rendering of a modern three-storey complex care housing building in Nanaimo with a mix of green, grey, and wood-tone siding.

The above image is a rendering subject to change.

BC Housing is working with Island Health on a proposal to build approximately 20 units of Complex Care Housing (CCH) at 1850 Boxwood Road in Nanaimo. This project is an important part of our continued effort to address and prevent homelessness and improve access to health services, including mental health and substance-use services, in the community.

If approved, the new homes would give people facing or at risk of homelessness, and who have complex health challenges, a better chance at leading healthy, stable lives.

BC Housing plans to submit a rezoning application to the City of Nanaimo in February 2025. The rezoning process would take 6-12 months. A development permit application and a building permit would also be required.

About the Building

The proposed three-storey building at 1850 Boxwood Road would have approximately 20 studio homes with kitchenettes and private bathrooms. There would also be:

  • A central kitchen
  • Communal dining area
  • Amenity spaces
  • Clinical spaces for residents to receive on-site health care services

The building would be designed to provide a welcoming, home-like atmosphere that fits into the local neighbourhood.

About Complex Care Housing

CCH is for people who require additional supports to manage their health needs, including those with mental health and substance-use challenges, brain injury, disabilities and chronic illness. The program provides deeply affordable homes with person-centered health, cultural and social supports. These supports are available to residents under one roof and in their own home, for as long as they need. Residents would be adults (19+) of all genders, including seniors.

Complex Care Housing has been a welcome addition to supportive housing programs across B.C., including Vancouver Island. Learn more by visiting gov.bc.ca/complexcarehousing

Services & Supports

BC Housing would select an experienced non-profit housing operator through a fair and open process to manage the building and provide support services to residents, including:

  • Daily meals
  • Life skills training
  • Social, cultural and recreational programs

Health services would be delivered in partnership with Island Health and would include:

  • Primary care
  • Nursing
  • Specialized mental health and substance use care

Staff would be on site 24/7 to support residents and provide a point of contact for neighbours.

Supportive Housing vs Complex Care Housing

Supportive housing provides deeply affordable homes with services to a wide variety of people who need supports to maintain stable housing. Supports are provided by a non-profit operator and can include daily meals, life skills and employment support, and other social and recreational programs. Staff also help connect residents to health care and community services, which are often provided off-site.

CCH also provides deeply affordable homes, but with enhanced health, cultural and social supports. Many of these supports are available to residents under one roof and in their own home, for as long as they need. In CCH, teams of professionals work with residents and their support networks to develop personalized plans aimed at improving their quality of life. This approach focuses on reducing hospital visits and interactions with emergency services and fosters long-term stability and well-being.

Community Engagement

A caring community contributes greatly to the success of people transitioning out of homelessness. BC Housing thanks everyone who attended our Small Group Information Sessions and Open House, held April 2 and 3. Also please see the final Engagement Summary Report.

Questions?

We welcome questions about this project at any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

The above image is a rendering subject to change.

BC Housing is working with Island Health on a proposal to build approximately 20 units of Complex Care Housing (CCH) at 1850 Boxwood Road in Nanaimo. This project is an important part of our continued effort to address and prevent homelessness and improve access to health services, including mental health and substance-use services, in the community.

If approved, the new homes would give people facing or at risk of homelessness, and who have complex health challenges, a better chance at leading healthy, stable lives.

BC Housing plans to submit a rezoning application to the City of Nanaimo in February 2025. The rezoning process would take 6-12 months. A development permit application and a building permit would also be required.

About the Building

The proposed three-storey building at 1850 Boxwood Road would have approximately 20 studio homes with kitchenettes and private bathrooms. There would also be:

  • A central kitchen
  • Communal dining area
  • Amenity spaces
  • Clinical spaces for residents to receive on-site health care services

The building would be designed to provide a welcoming, home-like atmosphere that fits into the local neighbourhood.

About Complex Care Housing

CCH is for people who require additional supports to manage their health needs, including those with mental health and substance-use challenges, brain injury, disabilities and chronic illness. The program provides deeply affordable homes with person-centered health, cultural and social supports. These supports are available to residents under one roof and in their own home, for as long as they need. Residents would be adults (19+) of all genders, including seniors.

Complex Care Housing has been a welcome addition to supportive housing programs across B.C., including Vancouver Island. Learn more by visiting gov.bc.ca/complexcarehousing

Services & Supports

BC Housing would select an experienced non-profit housing operator through a fair and open process to manage the building and provide support services to residents, including:

  • Daily meals
  • Life skills training
  • Social, cultural and recreational programs

Health services would be delivered in partnership with Island Health and would include:

  • Primary care
  • Nursing
  • Specialized mental health and substance use care

Staff would be on site 24/7 to support residents and provide a point of contact for neighbours.

Supportive Housing vs Complex Care Housing

Supportive housing provides deeply affordable homes with services to a wide variety of people who need supports to maintain stable housing. Supports are provided by a non-profit operator and can include daily meals, life skills and employment support, and other social and recreational programs. Staff also help connect residents to health care and community services, which are often provided off-site.

CCH also provides deeply affordable homes, but with enhanced health, cultural and social supports. Many of these supports are available to residents under one roof and in their own home, for as long as they need. In CCH, teams of professionals work with residents and their support networks to develop personalized plans aimed at improving their quality of life. This approach focuses on reducing hospital visits and interactions with emergency services and fosters long-term stability and well-being.

Community Engagement

A caring community contributes greatly to the success of people transitioning out of homelessness. BC Housing thanks everyone who attended our Small Group Information Sessions and Open House, held April 2 and 3. Also please see the final Engagement Summary Report.

Questions?

We welcome questions about this project at any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.