Salt Spring Island – Supportive Housing

Digital illustration of apartment buildings


BC Housing is working to build new supportive housing at 161 Drake Road for low to moderate-income residents of Salt Spring Island. When complete, this housing will offer 32 new units as well as four separate-access affordable rental homes to community members in need.

Development

Starting in mid-February 2025, Muchalat Group will use trucks to deliver prefabricated modular units to the site. After the modular units are delivered, a construction crane will lift them into place.

The safety of neighbours and staff is our priority. BC Housing and Muchalat Group will work to minimize impact to residents throughout the construction period (approximately six months). We will follow all local bylaws.

We currently expect the building to open in Summer 2025.

Background

In early 2022, BC Housing leased the land at 161 Drake Road from the Capital Regional District with a plan to build permanent supportive homes using modular units. This project faced several delays due to the complexity of the site as well as a change in contractors.

Following these challenges, the project was redesigned to the new, purpose-built, 3-storey building currently underway.

Supportive housing

BC Housing will operate the supportive homes through an experienced non-profit service provider.

Supportive housing services can include meals, counselling, health care referrals, substance-use services, life skills training and education and employment support.

BC Housing will select supportive housing residents using a Coordinated Access and Assessment model which matches people with the services they need and ensures there is a balanced mix of residents in the building. All residents will pay rent contributions and sign program agreements.

BC Housing and our operators are committed to creating a safe environment for supportive housing residents as well as the surrounding community. We do this by having:

  • Trained staff on site 24/7
  • Security features like lighting and cameras
  • Policies for things like smoking and guests
  • Regular property maintenance and cleaning

154 Kings Lane – Temporary Supportive Housing

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Salt Spring Island community members facing homelessness first accessed emergency shelter and services at the Seabreeze Inne (101 Bittancourt Road), then in temporary modular units at 154 Kings Lane where many are still living now.

BC Housing leased the land at 154 Kings Lane from the Gulf Island Seniors Residence Association (GISRA) and we are grateful for their support as we work towards building permanent housing on Salt Spring Island. The units at 154 Kings Lane are provided and serviced by Black Diamond Group. Umbrella Society is currently providing resident supports.

When the building at 161 Drake Road is ready, we will offer the new homes through our Coordinated Access and Assessment process to ensure an appropriate mix of residents with the right supports live in the housing. Residents of Kings Lane will be prioritized first.

Once all residents have left Kings Lane, we will remove the temporary units and return the land to the GISRA.

Community engagement

BC Housing hosted a series of community engagement activities between November 2022 and March 2023, including two online information sessions and an in-person open house.

More information can be found in the Salt Spring Island Community Engagement Report.

We recognize there is much local interest in supportive housing on Salt Spring Island, and we will continue to work closely with the community to ensure that housing projects are successful for everyone.

Your feedback and comments are important to us! We welcome questions and comments by email: communityrelations@bchousing.org.


BC Housing is working to build new supportive housing at 161 Drake Road for low to moderate-income residents of Salt Spring Island. When complete, this housing will offer 32 new units as well as four separate-access affordable rental homes to community members in need.

Development

Starting in mid-February 2025, Muchalat Group will use trucks to deliver prefabricated modular units to the site. After the modular units are delivered, a construction crane will lift them into place.

The safety of neighbours and staff is our priority. BC Housing and Muchalat Group will work to minimize impact to residents throughout the construction period (approximately six months). We will follow all local bylaws.

We currently expect the building to open in Summer 2025.

Background

In early 2022, BC Housing leased the land at 161 Drake Road from the Capital Regional District with a plan to build permanent supportive homes using modular units. This project faced several delays due to the complexity of the site as well as a change in contractors.

Following these challenges, the project was redesigned to the new, purpose-built, 3-storey building currently underway.

Supportive housing

BC Housing will operate the supportive homes through an experienced non-profit service provider.

Supportive housing services can include meals, counselling, health care referrals, substance-use services, life skills training and education and employment support.

BC Housing will select supportive housing residents using a Coordinated Access and Assessment model which matches people with the services they need and ensures there is a balanced mix of residents in the building. All residents will pay rent contributions and sign program agreements.

BC Housing and our operators are committed to creating a safe environment for supportive housing residents as well as the surrounding community. We do this by having:

  • Trained staff on site 24/7
  • Security features like lighting and cameras
  • Policies for things like smoking and guests
  • Regular property maintenance and cleaning

154 Kings Lane – Temporary Supportive Housing

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Salt Spring Island community members facing homelessness first accessed emergency shelter and services at the Seabreeze Inne (101 Bittancourt Road), then in temporary modular units at 154 Kings Lane where many are still living now.

BC Housing leased the land at 154 Kings Lane from the Gulf Island Seniors Residence Association (GISRA) and we are grateful for their support as we work towards building permanent housing on Salt Spring Island. The units at 154 Kings Lane are provided and serviced by Black Diamond Group. Umbrella Society is currently providing resident supports.

When the building at 161 Drake Road is ready, we will offer the new homes through our Coordinated Access and Assessment process to ensure an appropriate mix of residents with the right supports live in the housing. Residents of Kings Lane will be prioritized first.

Once all residents have left Kings Lane, we will remove the temporary units and return the land to the GISRA.

Community engagement

BC Housing hosted a series of community engagement activities between November 2022 and March 2023, including two online information sessions and an in-person open house.

More information can be found in the Salt Spring Island Community Engagement Report.

We recognize there is much local interest in supportive housing on Salt Spring Island, and we will continue to work closely with the community to ensure that housing projects are successful for everyone.

Your feedback and comments are important to us! We welcome questions and comments by email: communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Page last updated: 14 Apr 2025, 04:20 PM