Fifty single-room modular homes are opening soon to people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo as they transition from the shelter system.
Connective, which is operating the site at at 1300 Island Highway South in Chase River, announced Friday, May 9, that the units are for people who have been staying in overnight shelters and are ready for more independence.
Yael Zachs, vice-president of service delivery for Connective, told the News Bulletin that how long someone stays depends on the individual, with 24/7 support staff on-site to assist with addictions, mental health, life skills and employment applications.
"We're still putting some finishing touches on the site and so we hope either later this month or early next month we will start to welcome people onto the site," Zachs said.
The support staff will work with the residents on next steps, whether that is affordable housing or supportive housing.
"A lot of people who are coming here are coming with individual needs and are starting fresh," said Anne Marie Tosh, Connective senior program manager. "We're providing an assessment for them, and whatever that looks like for them – whether it's re-integration back into the community, then that's something we'll work on, if it's employment, if it's life skills – it depends on their goals and where they're at at that time."
The province, through B.C. Housing, provided $5.5 million to build the units, as well as $167,000 in one-time start-up funding and $2.3 million in annual operating dollars. The site is intended to be temporary but will be in place for at least three years.
Temporary homes are also being set up at 1030 Old Victoria Road, where 59 units will be operated by the Vancouver Island Mental Health Society. Tenants aren't expected to move into that site until later this summer. The province also pointed to 78 renovated units at Sparrow housing at 1298 Nelson St. – formerly Travellers Lodge – operated by Pacifica Housing.
Nanaimo-Gabriola MLA Sheila Malcolmson, B.C's minister of social development and poverty reduction, told the News Bulletin that each site is specifically tailored to the needs of the clients they serve, as the individuals transition from the shelter system.
"Here's a vulnerable senior, not in active [hard drug] use, that is going to be a good person who is fit for Sparrow housing, the old Travellers Lodge," Malcolmson said. "They would say, 'That's the recommendation.' Here is a person that has pets, they're not going to be a good fit here [at 1300 Island Highway South] because the spaces are too small to have animals, but the relationship with their animal is so important so we're going to send them to the Old Victoria Road housing."
All three sites will be staffed 24/7 and will have a single point of entry. The site at 1300 Island Highway South has six wheelchair accessible units as well as accessible laundry services and washrooms.
The province promises permanent "purpose-built" supportive housing "after the eventual closure of temporary sites," and notes that a re-zoning application is in the work for 60 units at a McKenzie Avenue address adjacent to 1030 Old Victoria Rd.
The sites, in addition to supportive housing at 250 Terminal Ave., are part of a partnership agreement that the city and province signed in 2024 to implement better homelessness response actions and to create new temporary housing options.
Harold Wilson, who is currently staying at 250 Terminal Ave., also known as Newcastle Place, spoke at this week's announcement, calling the supports "life changing" for him.
"Having your own bathroom and bed, and the staff are amazing..." he said. "I'm very fortunate, it has changed me a lot."
