Housing minister Ravi Kahlon has added Nanaimo to the list of priority communities to receive five-year housing targets. Kahlon was in Nanaimo in January, with Mayor Leonard Krog and MLA Sheila Malcolmson, announcing 100 new temporary housing beds at 250 Terminal Ave. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Nathan Maley

HOUSING TARGETS

Nanaimo named in new group of communities for provincial housing targets

Apr 23, 2024 | 4:51 PM

NANAIMO — More houses are on the way for Nanaimo within the next five years.

As part of the Housing Supply Act, the B.C. government has identified the next 20 priority municipalities they will work with to meet housing targets, now including Nanaimo, North Cowichan, and North Saanich.

Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon said in a release the 20 communities chosen were areas of high-growth and high-need regions of B.C.

“We are addressing the housing crisis with our municipal partners so thousands more affordable homes can be built for people who need them.”

The province first introduced the Housing Supply Act last year, originally establishing 10 priority municipalities.

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The act is meant to lay the foundation for tens of thousands of homes to be built quickly while working in tandem with local governments.

Kahlon said the new group of communities is a mix of some that are doing well on housing, and some that need to do more.

“Our goal for the next 20 communities is to build on the work they are already doing, while they continue to implement the recent provincial legislative changes.”

The provincial government will now monitor progress with the new municipalities chosen, and work with them to help achieve their targets which will be announced later this summer.

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