One of six detached Habitat 4 Humanity homes on Extension Rd in Chase River. The regional executive director says "projects with shared walls" needs to be their focus moving forward. (Habitat 4 Humanity)

By Ian Holmes

more density

Non profit adapts to chip away at Nanaimo’s affordable housing crisis

Feb 14, 2022 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO —Through the roof land and construction prices ushered a renewed, leaner approach for Habitat 4 Humanity and its new regional executive director.

Under the guidance of Jeff Krafta, the organization intends to increase its building density in order to maximize results throughout the mid Island region.

“We need to look at economy of scale,” Krafta told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I think building one house at a time, a single family dwelling, those days are probably over. We have to look at building duplexes, three-plexes, multi-residential.”

Habitat 4 Humanity provides low cost mortgages based on the occupant’s ability to pay, enabling critical cost control.

Increasing borrowing rates can cripple homeowners hanging on by a thread.

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In addition to more dense builds, Krafta said maximizing relationships and forging new ones with the private sector, local governments and other non-profits will be equally key moving forward.

“Now what has to happen is we need to look at adapting our models and evolving how we will build houses along with how we raise funds to build those houses,” Krafta said.

Habitat 4 Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island has a strong history of establishing affordable housing in Nanaimo.

A majority of the organization’s 31 homes built regionally since 2003 are located in Nanaimo.

Habitat 4 Humanity’s most recent development in Nanaimo was completed in 2017, involving a detached six unit strata development on Extension Rd., which included an accessible home.

Following last summer’s completion of the organization’s first eight units in Duncan, Krafta said their attention is now firmly on more doors in Nanaimo.

“We’re in the very early stages of a project in the south end of the city which may get us as many as 10 units for families in the community.”

Krafta is hopeful construction on the ambitious project can start by this time next year, which he said will serve as their flagship development in Nanaimo.

More information on Habitat 4 Humanity Mid-Vancouver Island is available at habitatmvi.org, including details on the popular, landfill diverting ReStore and ReFresh stores on Mostar Rd.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes