The B.C. government has announced plans for 190 permanent supportive housing units around Nanaimo, including 50 at the current temporary supportive housing site on Terminal Avenue.
The B.C. Ministry of Muncipal Affairs and Housing announced in a press release Monday that it intends to create supportive housing at 250 Terminal Ave., 285 Prideaux St., 355 Nicol St. and 702 Nicol St.
The release says the new housing is intended to replace the temporary supportive housing on Terminal Avenue and Labieux Road.
The Terminal property would have approximately 50 supportive housing units and another 40 units of other affordable housing. The Prideaux property would house 50 supportive housing units. There would be approximately 40 supportive housing units at the 355 Nicol property and about 50 more at the 702 Nicol property.
“We are working with our partners in Nanaimo to make sure people from all backgrounds, from people who are experiencing homelessness to young families, have homes they can afford,” said Selina Robinson, minister of municipal affairs and housing, in the release.
Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog said in the release that the city has been “working hard” with B.C. Housing to move forward on housing options.
“I’m extremely pleased to see these efforts come to fruition, and I look forward to our ongoing partnership with the province,” he said.
According to the release, all new supportive housing buildings have “around-the-clock-staffing” to provide services and supports to tenants.
The province’s plan for Terminal is to remove the temporary modular housing and replace the units with “purpose-built” supportive housing and affordable rental suites. People currently living there “would be supported by B.C. Housing in moving to permanent housing in the community,” the release says.
The Prideaux property housing the city’s community services building is being used partly as a temporary emergency response centre. The release says the city will work with organizations that lease space in the building to look for premises elsewhere in the community.
B.C. Housing recently purchased 355 Nicol St. Samaritan House services operating there will be relocated first to 285 Prideaux St. and eventually 702 Nicol St., the release notes. The 702 Nicol St. property is intended to house both supportive housing and shelter spaces.
There will be “virtual neighbourhood meetings” this summer for community members to offer input, the release says.
At the same time as the announcement on the supportive housing sites, the ministry also previewed affordable housing projects in the works at 564 Fifth Street and 1425 Cranberry Ave.
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