NACL executive director Graham Morry at the site of a new affordable housing complex for those living with various challenges. (Spencer Sterritt/NanaimoNewsNOW Staff)

By Spencer Sterritt

Affordable housing

$5M affordable housing project coming to fruition after 10+ of hoping and waiting

Jul 18, 2019 | 4:35 AM

NANAIMO — Those living with developmental disabilities will soon have an affordable place to call home.

Ground was officially broken on an affordable housing project at 3425 Uplands Dr. on Thursday, July 18.

The $4.9 million project is the brainchild of the Nanaimo Association for Community Living (NACL). It will provide 12 accessible rental homes for those living with various challenges, as well as 14 one-bedroom low-income homes.

NACL executive director Graham Morry told NanaimoNewsNOW the housing will provide a platform for those with disabilities to thrive and excel in their day-to-day lives.

“A lot of the folks who are going to be living here are currently living with their parents, who are getting older. They want their children to live a normal life like we all do, with all the same hopes and dreams.”

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Gentle supports, such as helping in the kitchen, cleaning and handling bills, will be provided to those living in the accessible housing.

There will also be a group kitchen and dining room where residents will be encouraged to come together and socialize.

Morry said this development was in the works for roughly 12 years, having first been discussed in a boardroom.

“There’s many times where I’d given up hope, just for the many barriers,” he said. “To see it here come to fruition, I can’t even say how I feel about it.”

The affordable accessible rental homes already have tenants in place and a lengthy waitlist of those hoping for housing.

Leanna Fraser said she’s thrilled to have a place to call her own and the supports to help her achieve her goals.

“Now that my dream is coming true, I can do it,” she said.

Tenants for the affordable market-housing will be selected closer to the opening date in July, 2020.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit