Vancouver - 1525 & 1535 Western Street

Aerial rendering of future project

Aerial rendering of future project

BC Housing and the City of Vancouver have worked together to build 60 new temporary transitional homes at 1525 & 1535 Western Street (near Main Street and Terminal Avenue).

We are offering these transitional homes primarily to people who are living in shelters in Vancouver. This will open more shelter spaces for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and sleeping outdoors.

The Building

Western Street is one of two temporary transitional housing sites in Vancouver. The other 29-unit building is located at 2142 Ash Street (near the Olympic Village SkyTrain station). In total, this project is providing urgently needed transitional homes for 89 people.

Suport Services Info Graphic

These modular buildings are the type that workers use in logging or mining camps. Each unit is a private room. There are shared washroom, laundry and kitchen spaces. Staff will be onsite 24/7. Residents will receive meals, onsite health services and access to other supports depending on their needs.

We are currently planning to operate these buildings for three years while we continue to build permanent supportive and affordable housing across the city. After this time, we will remove the buildings from the site.

The Operator

Lu’ma Native Housing Society will manage these buildings and provide services to the residents. Lu’ma brings over 40 years of experience managing affordable housing while offering a wide range of programs, services and initiatives that aim to alleviate poverty, improve the overall health of the urban Indigenous community and respond to the evolving needs of Indigenous peoples.

While Indigenous cultural services will be available, residents are not required to be Indigenous.

Temporary Transitional Housing Info Graphic

Community Engagement

People who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness are not all the same. They can be young people, seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone who has experienced trauma, poverty or struggled with the high cost of housing.

Since 2017, BC Housing has more than 8,400 homes complete or underway in Vancouver. Of these, more than 2,200 are specifically for people experiencing homelessness.

These temporary transitional homes will offer people access to basics for life like food, washrooms and laundry. When people have a safe and private home, they will also rebuild important connections and start to heal from the experience of living outdoors and in shelters. This improves security and safety in the entire neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood Outreach

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success and well-being of people who are transitioning out of homelessness. BC Housing and the City of Vancouver first announced this project in December 2022. At that time, we communicated directly with neighbours of both sites to share project details and welcome questions.

In August 2023, we shared another update with neighbours to celebrate the opening of the temporary transitional homes and share contact information.

Community Advisory Committee

In August 2023, BC Housing and Lu’ma also reached out to community members, nearby businesses, and other local organizations with information on how to apply to join the a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Western Street. We also posted this opportunity on our Let’s Talk page online.

We did not receive enough applications to form this CAC by the deadline of August 9, 2023.

Though a CAC was not created, we are dedicated to being good neighbours and integrating well into this community. BC Housing and Lu’ma commit to keeping lines of communication open throughout this project. For site-related questions or concerns, please download our Who to Call / When to Call sheet. We also continue to welcome your questions, comments and ideas any time by emailing communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Aerial rendering of future project

BC Housing and the City of Vancouver have worked together to build 60 new temporary transitional homes at 1525 & 1535 Western Street (near Main Street and Terminal Avenue).

We are offering these transitional homes primarily to people who are living in shelters in Vancouver. This will open more shelter spaces for people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and sleeping outdoors.

The Building

Western Street is one of two temporary transitional housing sites in Vancouver. The other 29-unit building is located at 2142 Ash Street (near the Olympic Village SkyTrain station). In total, this project is providing urgently needed transitional homes for 89 people.

Suport Services Info Graphic

These modular buildings are the type that workers use in logging or mining camps. Each unit is a private room. There are shared washroom, laundry and kitchen spaces. Staff will be onsite 24/7. Residents will receive meals, onsite health services and access to other supports depending on their needs.

We are currently planning to operate these buildings for three years while we continue to build permanent supportive and affordable housing across the city. After this time, we will remove the buildings from the site.

The Operator

Lu’ma Native Housing Society will manage these buildings and provide services to the residents. Lu’ma brings over 40 years of experience managing affordable housing while offering a wide range of programs, services and initiatives that aim to alleviate poverty, improve the overall health of the urban Indigenous community and respond to the evolving needs of Indigenous peoples.

While Indigenous cultural services will be available, residents are not required to be Indigenous.

Temporary Transitional Housing Info Graphic

Community Engagement

People who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness are not all the same. They can be young people, seniors, people with disabilities, and anyone who has experienced trauma, poverty or struggled with the high cost of housing.

Since 2017, BC Housing has more than 8,400 homes complete or underway in Vancouver. Of these, more than 2,200 are specifically for people experiencing homelessness.

These temporary transitional homes will offer people access to basics for life like food, washrooms and laundry. When people have a safe and private home, they will also rebuild important connections and start to heal from the experience of living outdoors and in shelters. This improves security and safety in the entire neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood Outreach

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success and well-being of people who are transitioning out of homelessness. BC Housing and the City of Vancouver first announced this project in December 2022. At that time, we communicated directly with neighbours of both sites to share project details and welcome questions.

In August 2023, we shared another update with neighbours to celebrate the opening of the temporary transitional homes and share contact information.

Community Advisory Committee

In August 2023, BC Housing and Lu’ma also reached out to community members, nearby businesses, and other local organizations with information on how to apply to join the a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Western Street. We also posted this opportunity on our Let’s Talk page online.

We did not receive enough applications to form this CAC by the deadline of August 9, 2023.

Though a CAC was not created, we are dedicated to being good neighbours and integrating well into this community. BC Housing and Lu’ma commit to keeping lines of communication open throughout this project. For site-related questions or concerns, please download our Who to Call / When to Call sheet. We also continue to welcome your questions, comments and ideas any time by emailing communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Page last updated: 11 Dec 2023, 02:48 PM