Nanaimo - Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new housing

Illustration of buildings


We have exciting news about new housing for Nanaimo! The City of Nanaimo and BC Housing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new housing in the community over the next few years.

This is a working agreement to help ensure some of Nanaimo’s most vulnerable people can access the basic and fundamental human right of housing. When vulnerable people have stable housing with supports, they can begin to access health care, and skills training, to help rebuild their lives. This supports healthy and safe communities for everyone (see below for more info).

What’s Happening

The landmark MOU includes new developments proposed on six sites around the city for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness:

  • Three affordable rental buildings with approximately 125 homes for families and individuals
  • Four purpose built permanent supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes.

Project background

There is a clear need for more affordable and supportive housing in Nanaimo:

  • The 2016 Canadian Rental Housing index confirmed there were more than 68,000 renters in Nanaimo and 23% of those considered themselves at risk of homelessness.
  • In addition, the 2020 Point In Time Count for Nanaimo confirmed there were 425 people who were counted as experiencing homelessness in the city.

This partnership between the City, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and BC Housing is a commitment to act on solutions to those needs in the community of Nanaimo.

Community Benefits of Supportive Housing

Supportive housing facilities and services don’t just help residents, they help the community on a whole:

  • On average, a person experiencing homelessness with addiction and /or mental illness used $55,000/year in health care or corrections services while a person in supportive housing with addictions and/or mental illness used $37,000/year
  • Supportive housing works to reduce homelessness in our communities and neighbourhoods as individuals are housed in a supportive housing unit, with access to employment, income, education, addiction and mental health issues, life-skills and more
  • After six months, 94% of housing residents remained housed
  • Every dollar invested in supportive housing creates 4-5 in social and/or economic value

Timeline at a glance

Please note the final numbers of units per project are approximates only:

  • 702 Nicol St – 52 homes now open and operated by Island Crisis Care Society.
  • 250 Terminal Ave – 50 new homes under rezoning, with construction anticipated for 2025
  • 285 Prideaux St – 51 new homes undergoing final construction with move in anticipated for early 2024
  • 355 Nicol St – 51 homes to be operated by Snuneymuxw First Nation, anticipated construction date TBD.
  • 1425 Cranberry Ave – 1425 Cranberry Ave – Approximately 25 homes for women and childreninformation coming soon!

Information on each site can be found on the project pages below.


We have exciting news about new housing for Nanaimo! The City of Nanaimo and BC Housing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build new housing in the community over the next few years.

This is a working agreement to help ensure some of Nanaimo’s most vulnerable people can access the basic and fundamental human right of housing. When vulnerable people have stable housing with supports, they can begin to access health care, and skills training, to help rebuild their lives. This supports healthy and safe communities for everyone (see below for more info).

What’s Happening

The landmark MOU includes new developments proposed on six sites around the city for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness:

  • Three affordable rental buildings with approximately 125 homes for families and individuals
  • Four purpose built permanent supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes.

Project background

There is a clear need for more affordable and supportive housing in Nanaimo:

  • The 2016 Canadian Rental Housing index confirmed there were more than 68,000 renters in Nanaimo and 23% of those considered themselves at risk of homelessness.
  • In addition, the 2020 Point In Time Count for Nanaimo confirmed there were 425 people who were counted as experiencing homelessness in the city.

This partnership between the City, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, and BC Housing is a commitment to act on solutions to those needs in the community of Nanaimo.

Community Benefits of Supportive Housing

Supportive housing facilities and services don’t just help residents, they help the community on a whole:

  • On average, a person experiencing homelessness with addiction and /or mental illness used $55,000/year in health care or corrections services while a person in supportive housing with addictions and/or mental illness used $37,000/year
  • Supportive housing works to reduce homelessness in our communities and neighbourhoods as individuals are housed in a supportive housing unit, with access to employment, income, education, addiction and mental health issues, life-skills and more
  • After six months, 94% of housing residents remained housed
  • Every dollar invested in supportive housing creates 4-5 in social and/or economic value

Timeline at a glance

Please note the final numbers of units per project are approximates only:

  • 702 Nicol St – 52 homes now open and operated by Island Crisis Care Society.
  • 250 Terminal Ave – 50 new homes under rezoning, with construction anticipated for 2025
  • 285 Prideaux St – 51 new homes undergoing final construction with move in anticipated for early 2024
  • 355 Nicol St – 51 homes to be operated by Snuneymuxw First Nation, anticipated construction date TBD.
  • 1425 Cranberry Ave – 1425 Cranberry Ave – Approximately 25 homes for women and childreninformation coming soon!

Information on each site can be found on the project pages below.

  • 702 Nicol St.

    Permanent supportive housing is now in operation at 702 Nicol St, with residents moved in as of March 2022. The new development features 52 self-contained homes, as well as 14 ‘bridge to housing’ spaces, exclusively for vulnerable women, on the second floor. Island Crisis Care Society operates the building, with 24/7 staff.

  • 250 Terminal Ave.

    This project features approximately 50 permanent supportive housing homes as well as future affordable rental housing. These new housing solutions are replacing temporary supportive housing facility. The location has been pending rezoning, with construction expected to begin in 2024 and completion anticipated for spring/summer 2025. The site will be operated by an experienced and trusted non-profit provider selected through fair process.

  • 285 Prideaux St.

    Previously used as a COVID-19 emergency response centre (ERC), BC Housing is completing construction of 51 new permanent supportive homes with completion and move-in early 2024. Construction is expected to wrap up in fall of 2023, with a tentative move in date for residents later this year. Connective Supportive Society Nanaimo operates the building, with 24/7 staff.

  • 355 Nicol St.

    The 355 Nicol Street supportive housing project will feature 40 permanent homes. With rezoning approved in August 2023, construction is slated to begin in spring of 2024 with a projected completion for 2025. The Snuneymuxw First Nation will operate the building, with 24/7 staff.

  • 1425 Cranberry Ave.

    Approximately 25 homes for women and children

    Information coming soon! Please check back for updates.

  • 564 Fifth St, 502 & 505 Howard Ave (Te'tuxwtun)

    Te’tuxwtun (pronounced Tey-tux-tun) is a proposed large-scale development intended to respect the restoration of land and serve the needs of the community. This 5.8-acre site spans the Fifth Street Corridor (564 Fifth Street, 502 and 505 Howard Avenue) in the Harewood neighbourhood of Nanaimo. The Te’tuxwtun development project is a unique collaboration between Snuneymuxw First Nation, BC Housing, the City of Nanaimo and Nanaimo Ladysmith Public Schools (known as the Knowledge Partners). Te’tuxwtun, which means “grandmother of all surrounding mountains,” is the traditional name for Mount Benson, which overlooks the community and holds an important place in Snuneymuxw culture.

Page last updated: 30 Jan 2024, 04:12 PM