Salt Spring Island – Supportive Housing

Digital illustration of apartment buildings


BC Housing is building 36 new homes at 161 Drake Road on Salt Spring Island. This building will provide 32 supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as well as four affordable rental homes for low to middle income earners.

Construction is nearing completion, and residents are expected to begin moving into their new homes in Fall 2025. The homes will be offered first to former residents of Seabreeze Inne and current residents of Kings Lane who meet the requirements for subsidized housing, and then to other Salt Spring Island residents.

Operator selected for new housing

BC Housing has selected Lookout Housing & Health Society to operate the new supportive and subsidized housing at 161 Drake Road.

Lookout is a 54-year-old non-profit that provides vital housing and health services to over 3,000 marginalized individuals daily across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The organization also serves communities on Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Duncan, Courtenay, and Campbell River.

Lookout provides a range of housing and health services that help build resilience, independence and hope with the goal of transforming lives and strengthening communities.

The non-profit operator will work with residents, staff and the surrounding community on an ongoing basis to address any safety concerns quickly and collaboratively. We will share site contact information with neighbours closer to the Fall opening date.

Development history

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 repurposed modular units.

This project faced several delays due to the complexity of the site. In Fall 2023, the project was redesigned to the new, purpose-built, modular building.

In early March 2025, prefabricated modular units were delivered to the site, then craned into place. Water main upgrades along Drake Road took place in April and May 2025.

Supportive housing

The supportive homes will be deeply affordable apartments (29 studios, one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units), each with their own private bathroom and a kitchenette with full-size appliances. There will be staff on-site 24/7 to provide services to residents such as:

  • Meals
  • Health care referrals
  • Substance-use services
  • Life skills training
  • Education
  • Employment support

Site Safety

The safety and well-being of residents and staff and the surrounding community is our priority. Site safety measures include:

  • Trained staff on site 24/7 to support residents and provide a point of contact for neighbours.
  • Security features like lighting and cameras
  • Policies regarding smoking and guest visits
  • Regular property maintenance and cleaning

Supportive housing is also an important part of community safety. Having supportive housing in a community means there are fewer vulnerable people sheltering outdoors. This increases people’s personal safety and well-being and contributes to community safety overall.

154 Kings Lane – Temporary Supportive Housing

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Housing provided emergency shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness on Salt Spring Island at the Seabreeze Inne (101 Bittancourt Road).

BC Housing then leased the land at 154 Kings Lane from the Gulf Island Seniors Residence Association (GISRA) for temporary supportive housing where many residents still live. Umbrella Society currently operates this temporary housing and provides services to the residents.

Residents of the temporary housing at 154 Kings Lane and people who previously lived at the Seabreeze Inne and remain eligible for supportive housing will be prioritized for the new homes at Drake Road. At Drake Road, Lookout Society will provide services to residents.

Once all residents have left Kings Lane, we will remove the temporary units and return the land to the GISRA. We are grateful for GISRA’s support as we work towards building permanent housing on Salt Spring Island.

Community engagement

Between November 2022 and March 2023, BC Housing hosted two online information sessions and one in-person open house. More information about the feedback shared at those events can be found in our Community Engagement Report.

In February and March 2025, BC Housing sent letters to neighbours sharing that construction, including delivery and craning of the modules, was starting.

In April 2025, BC Housing mailed a letter to neighbours within a 600-meter radius of the housing site with information about water main upgrades along Drake Road.

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of supportive housing residents. We recognize there is much local interest in supportive housing on Salt Spring Island. BC Housing is committed to being a good neighbour and keeping lines of communication open throughout this project.

We welcome questions and comments at any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.


BC Housing is building 36 new homes at 161 Drake Road on Salt Spring Island. This building will provide 32 supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as well as four affordable rental homes for low to middle income earners.

Construction is nearing completion, and residents are expected to begin moving into their new homes in Fall 2025. The homes will be offered first to former residents of Seabreeze Inne and current residents of Kings Lane who meet the requirements for subsidized housing, and then to other Salt Spring Island residents.

Operator selected for new housing

BC Housing has selected Lookout Housing & Health Society to operate the new supportive and subsidized housing at 161 Drake Road.

Lookout is a 54-year-old non-profit that provides vital housing and health services to over 3,000 marginalized individuals daily across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The organization also serves communities on Vancouver Island, including Victoria, Duncan, Courtenay, and Campbell River.

Lookout provides a range of housing and health services that help build resilience, independence and hope with the goal of transforming lives and strengthening communities.

The non-profit operator will work with residents, staff and the surrounding community on an ongoing basis to address any safety concerns quickly and collaboratively. We will share site contact information with neighbours closer to the Fall opening date.

Development history

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 repurposed modular units.

This project faced several delays due to the complexity of the site. In Fall 2023, the project was redesigned to the new, purpose-built, modular building.

In early March 2025, prefabricated modular units were delivered to the site, then craned into place. Water main upgrades along Drake Road took place in April and May 2025.

Supportive housing

The supportive homes will be deeply affordable apartments (29 studios, one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units), each with their own private bathroom and a kitchenette with full-size appliances. There will be staff on-site 24/7 to provide services to residents such as:

  • Meals
  • Health care referrals
  • Substance-use services
  • Life skills training
  • Education
  • Employment support

Site Safety

The safety and well-being of residents and staff and the surrounding community is our priority. Site safety measures include:

  • Trained staff on site 24/7 to support residents and provide a point of contact for neighbours.
  • Security features like lighting and cameras
  • Policies regarding smoking and guest visits
  • Regular property maintenance and cleaning

Supportive housing is also an important part of community safety. Having supportive housing in a community means there are fewer vulnerable people sheltering outdoors. This increases people’s personal safety and well-being and contributes to community safety overall.

154 Kings Lane – Temporary Supportive Housing

During the COVID-19 pandemic, BC Housing provided emergency shelter and services for people experiencing homelessness on Salt Spring Island at the Seabreeze Inne (101 Bittancourt Road).

BC Housing then leased the land at 154 Kings Lane from the Gulf Island Seniors Residence Association (GISRA) for temporary supportive housing where many residents still live. Umbrella Society currently operates this temporary housing and provides services to the residents.

Residents of the temporary housing at 154 Kings Lane and people who previously lived at the Seabreeze Inne and remain eligible for supportive housing will be prioritized for the new homes at Drake Road. At Drake Road, Lookout Society will provide services to residents.

Once all residents have left Kings Lane, we will remove the temporary units and return the land to the GISRA. We are grateful for GISRA’s support as we work towards building permanent housing on Salt Spring Island.

Community engagement

Between November 2022 and March 2023, BC Housing hosted two online information sessions and one in-person open house. More information about the feedback shared at those events can be found in our Community Engagement Report.

In February and March 2025, BC Housing sent letters to neighbours sharing that construction, including delivery and craning of the modules, was starting.

In April 2025, BC Housing mailed a letter to neighbours within a 600-meter radius of the housing site with information about water main upgrades along Drake Road.

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of supportive housing residents. We recognize there is much local interest in supportive housing on Salt Spring Island. BC Housing is committed to being a good neighbour and keeping lines of communication open throughout this project.

We welcome questions and comments at any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.