Nanaimo - 355 Nicol Street – Supportive Housing

Rendering of proposed supportive housing at 355 Nicol Street.


The culturally supportive housing project at 355 Nicol Street is part of two Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) between BC Housing, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and the City of Nanaimo. Located on the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the building at 355 Nicol will have five floors, with 35 studio apartments, four of which would be fully accessible. Once completed, the new permanent homes will provide culturally sensitive, long-term housing for Snuneymuxw members and other Indigenous people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Assuming rezoning approval, construction will begin summer 2023 with a projected completion of winter 2024.

Funded by BC Housing, the building will provide safe, supportive studio homes with supports in a beautiful building designed from an Indigenous perspective. Care has also been taken to align the design with the 702 Nicol several blocks away. The building design has been augmented with a number of features to connect it with the land including Indigenous plantings, a water feature and communal outdoors spaces.

The operator

Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN) will be the operator of 355 Nicol and is best positioned to provide this service as they have the strong relationships, experience, and knowledge in the community to make this housing a success.

Learn more about SFN at: https://www.snuneymuxw.ca/.

What is supportive housing?

Supportive housing is for British Columbians experiencing or at risk of homelessness. People experiencing homelessness are not all the same. They can be young people, seniors, or people with physical or mental disabilities. They may have experienced trauma, poverty, or struggled with the high cost of housing.

Supportive housing provides secure homes with support services to allow residents to shift to a more stable and healthy life. Staff will be onsite 24/7. All residents:

  • Currently live in the area
  • Apply to live in the building
  • Pay rent
  • Sign a program agreement (like a tenancy agreement)

To help address the data that shows more than one third of people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo are self-identified as having Indigenous ancestry, 355 Nicol will prioritize Snuneymuxw members first. Followed by other First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people. If any vacancies remain, SFN will work with BC Housing to identify potential non-Indigenous residents.

Community engagement

BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo hosted design engagement with the community from April 28 to May 26, 2022. Public feedback was then collected online until April 2023. The purpose of these engagement activities was to inform the community and collect comments and questions from neighbourhood residents on the proposed supportive housing development, and future affordable housing component.

In addition to meetings with stakeholders, a virtual info session was held on May 25, 2022. Community members had the opportunity to meet our project team, view designs, and ask questions about the project. Thank you to those who participated; your feedback was considered by BC Housing, along with technical, socio-cultural, and financial factors and input received through the Design Engagement helped shape the final project design.

Get in touch

Questions and comments about the project can be submitted at any time through the form below. You may also contact us by email at communityrelations@bchousing.org or by calling 604-829-9321.


The culturally supportive housing project at 355 Nicol Street is part of two Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) between BC Housing, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and the City of Nanaimo. Located on the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the building at 355 Nicol will have five floors, with 35 studio apartments, four of which would be fully accessible. Once completed, the new permanent homes will provide culturally sensitive, long-term housing for Snuneymuxw members and other Indigenous people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Assuming rezoning approval, construction will begin summer 2023 with a projected completion of winter 2024.

Funded by BC Housing, the building will provide safe, supportive studio homes with supports in a beautiful building designed from an Indigenous perspective. Care has also been taken to align the design with the 702 Nicol several blocks away. The building design has been augmented with a number of features to connect it with the land including Indigenous plantings, a water feature and communal outdoors spaces.

The operator

Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN) will be the operator of 355 Nicol and is best positioned to provide this service as they have the strong relationships, experience, and knowledge in the community to make this housing a success.

Learn more about SFN at: https://www.snuneymuxw.ca/.

What is supportive housing?

Supportive housing is for British Columbians experiencing or at risk of homelessness. People experiencing homelessness are not all the same. They can be young people, seniors, or people with physical or mental disabilities. They may have experienced trauma, poverty, or struggled with the high cost of housing.

Supportive housing provides secure homes with support services to allow residents to shift to a more stable and healthy life. Staff will be onsite 24/7. All residents:

  • Currently live in the area
  • Apply to live in the building
  • Pay rent
  • Sign a program agreement (like a tenancy agreement)

To help address the data that shows more than one third of people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo are self-identified as having Indigenous ancestry, 355 Nicol will prioritize Snuneymuxw members first. Followed by other First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people. If any vacancies remain, SFN will work with BC Housing to identify potential non-Indigenous residents.

Community engagement

BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo hosted design engagement with the community from April 28 to May 26, 2022. Public feedback was then collected online until April 2023. The purpose of these engagement activities was to inform the community and collect comments and questions from neighbourhood residents on the proposed supportive housing development, and future affordable housing component.

In addition to meetings with stakeholders, a virtual info session was held on May 25, 2022. Community members had the opportunity to meet our project team, view designs, and ask questions about the project. Thank you to those who participated; your feedback was considered by BC Housing, along with technical, socio-cultural, and financial factors and input received through the Design Engagement helped shape the final project design.

Get in touch

Questions and comments about the project can be submitted at any time through the form below. You may also contact us by email at communityrelations@bchousing.org or by calling 604-829-9321.

  • CLOSED: The design engagement period has ended

    355 Nicol Street – Design Engagement Form

    Form deadline: April 26, 2022

    Start by reading our Discussion Guide

    The Discussion Guide provides information about the background of 355 Nicol Street, introduces the operator, and shares draft building designs. It also covers topics such as parking and sustainability, and proposed improvements to the City-owned right-or-way land.

    Once you have read the discussion guide, we invite you to provide your feedback by completing the Feedback Form below. There is also an opportunity for additional comments.

    Complete Form
Page last updated: 21 Dec 2023, 10:41 AM