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. When complete, 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.

Development

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 (including stream and tree/wildlife protection) as well as a change in contractors in Fall 2023. At that time, the project was redesigned to the new, purpose-built, modular building currently underway.

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.

We currently expect the building to open in late Summer 2025.

Supportive housing

The supportive homes will be deeply affordable apartments, each with a private bathroom and kitchenette. Services can include meals, counselling, health care referrals, substance-use services, life skills training, education, and employment support.

BC Housing will select a non-profit operator through a fair and open process to manage the building and provide services to the residents. We are currently planning to announce this operator in early Summer 2025.

BC Housing will work with community service providers to assess potential residents. Supportive homes will be offered based on each person’s individual needs and the supports available. This process also ensures there is a balanced mix of residents in the building. All supportive housing residents pay rent contributions and sign program agreements.

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.

We will share a direct phone number for the housing operator with neighbours when it is available. 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.

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

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. When complete, 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.

Development

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 (including stream and tree/wildlife protection) as well as a change in contractors in Fall 2023. At that time, the project was redesigned to the new, purpose-built, modular building currently underway.

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.

We currently expect the building to open in late Summer 2025.

Supportive housing

The supportive homes will be deeply affordable apartments, each with a private bathroom and kitchenette. Services can include meals, counselling, health care referrals, substance-use services, life skills training, education, and employment support.

BC Housing will select a non-profit operator through a fair and open process to manage the building and provide services to the residents. We are currently planning to announce this operator in early Summer 2025.

BC Housing will work with community service providers to assess potential residents. Supportive homes will be offered based on each person’s individual needs and the supports available. This process also ensures there is a balanced mix of residents in the building. All supportive housing residents pay rent contributions and sign program agreements.

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.

We will share a direct phone number for the housing operator with neighbours when it is available. 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.

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

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.

Page last updated: 27 May 2025, 01:05 PM