Nanaimo – Nicol Street - Supportive Housing

Illustration of supportive housing

New supportive housing is in place for the new Samaritan Place, 702 Nicol Street, Nanaimo. Residents of the purpose-built facility moved in March 2022. It includes 52 units that will provide long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. There are also 14 bridge-to-housing beds for women.

About supportive housing and bridge-to-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 Nanaimo
  • Apply to live in the building
  • Pay rent
  • Sign a program agreement (like a tenancy agreement)

Bridge to housing provides beds, showers, and meals for women in need. It also offers many of the same 24/7 support services as permanent supportive housing.

Non-Profit Operator

Island Crisis Care Society (ICCS) will manage day-to-day operations of the supportive housing. They will provide 24/7 supports to residents, which can include medical and mental health care, life skills, addictions services, food and laundry. Learn more about ICCS at: islandcrisiscaresociety.ca.

Community Engagement

Early engagement

BC Housing and its partners hosted an online virtual neighbourhood meeting on July 28, 2020, to share information about the plan for 702 Nicol Street, answer questions and collect community feedback with the public.

Development engagement

Subsequent neighbourhood dialogues were hosted on December 10 and 15, 2020 to discuss the project in more detail and collect feedback into the exterior, landscape, and community amenity space design. A survey was live on this page to collect input into the proposed design options from December 4 - 18, 2020.

The project was submitted for rezoning and approved by Council at a public hearing, in February 2021.

Community Amenity Space

One outcome of development engagement process was the inclusion of a community amenity space on the ground floor:

  • The space is available to rent for community events
  • The room has its own entrance off Nicol Street
  • Rental costs are set every six months by ICCS, and reflect a fair calculation of energy, admin and cleaning costs associated with the room use

To inquire about the space, and to book, please contact Island Crisis Care Society at 1-250-585-5505 or by emailing info@iccare.ca.

Community Advisory Committee

To help build a good relationship with the neighbourhood, a Community Advisory Committee was set up in September 2022. This committee is made up of members of your community and the project partners. The group meets monthly to share information, ask questions and work together to build a strong community.

Who to call

To support neighbours and the greater Nanaimo community, we have added a Who to Call infosheet. This sheet provides a quick list of important contact details and in which situations they could be used.

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.

New supportive housing is in place for the new Samaritan Place, 702 Nicol Street, Nanaimo. Residents of the purpose-built facility moved in March 2022. It includes 52 units that will provide long-term housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. There are also 14 bridge-to-housing beds for women.

About supportive housing and bridge-to-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 Nanaimo
  • Apply to live in the building
  • Pay rent
  • Sign a program agreement (like a tenancy agreement)

Bridge to housing provides beds, showers, and meals for women in need. It also offers many of the same 24/7 support services as permanent supportive housing.

Non-Profit Operator

Island Crisis Care Society (ICCS) will manage day-to-day operations of the supportive housing. They will provide 24/7 supports to residents, which can include medical and mental health care, life skills, addictions services, food and laundry. Learn more about ICCS at: islandcrisiscaresociety.ca.

Community Engagement

Early engagement

BC Housing and its partners hosted an online virtual neighbourhood meeting on July 28, 2020, to share information about the plan for 702 Nicol Street, answer questions and collect community feedback with the public.

Development engagement

Subsequent neighbourhood dialogues were hosted on December 10 and 15, 2020 to discuss the project in more detail and collect feedback into the exterior, landscape, and community amenity space design. A survey was live on this page to collect input into the proposed design options from December 4 - 18, 2020.

The project was submitted for rezoning and approved by Council at a public hearing, in February 2021.

Community Amenity Space

One outcome of development engagement process was the inclusion of a community amenity space on the ground floor:

  • The space is available to rent for community events
  • The room has its own entrance off Nicol Street
  • Rental costs are set every six months by ICCS, and reflect a fair calculation of energy, admin and cleaning costs associated with the room use

To inquire about the space, and to book, please contact Island Crisis Care Society at 1-250-585-5505 or by emailing info@iccare.ca.

Community Advisory Committee

To help build a good relationship with the neighbourhood, a Community Advisory Committee was set up in September 2022. This committee is made up of members of your community and the project partners. The group meets monthly to share information, ask questions and work together to build a strong community.

Who to call

To support neighbours and the greater Nanaimo community, we have added a Who to Call infosheet. This sheet provides a quick list of important contact details and in which situations they could be used.

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.

Page last updated: 30 Apr 2025, 04:10 PM