Hundreds of new affordable and supportive housing units have been proposed for construction in Nanaimo.
A statement on Monday confirmed a partnership between the City of Nanaimo and the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing through which over 300 new homes have been proposed.
“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 a statement.
“This partnership will help us deliver a mix of homes for hundreds of people in the community.”
These housing units are expected to include affordable rental homes for individuals, seniors and families, as well as permanent, supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness.
The proposal includes new developments on six sites:
- three affordable rental housing developments with approximately 125 homes for people with low to moderate incomes, and
- four supportive housing developments with approximately 190 homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the community.
The new permanent supportive housing development is meant to replace the temporary housing at Labieux Road and Terminal Avenue, and add new supportive housing at additional locations within the city.
According to the provincial government, a 2018 study of the region showed that there were over 68,000 renters in Nanaimo.
Of those, 23 per cent considered themselves at risk of homelessness and 301 people were counted as homeless in the city.
