Ballenas Housing Society have purchased, through support from the provincial government, 50 units of seniors housing on Moilliet St. in Parksville. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

seniors housing

‘The monkey’s off my back:’ affordable housing secured for Parksville seniors

Jul 18, 2024 | 5:27 AM

PARKSVILLE — Funding through the provincial government has helped secure the long-term future of some affordable housing in Oceanside.

The Ballenas Housing Society have purchased and assumed control over a 50-unit housing complex at 211 Moilliet St., known as Moilliet Manor.

Andrea Blakeman, CEO of the Society, told NanaimoNewsNOW their involvement will keep rents at manageable and affordable rates for current and future residents.

“It’s rent people can afford. Like many other organizations that are for-profit, our focus [as a non-profit] is keeping things affordable so people can stay living in their homes as long as possible. Every building is different just like every home is different.”

All the units are geared for seniors, with no pets or smoking allowed on site.

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Money from the provincial government’s Rental Protection Fund helped finance the project, with $5 million in contributions, in addition to more than $1 million for improvements and building maintenance.

Blakeman said the building, which is nearly 50 years old, needs some work which will be done in time “to keep it safe and secure, really liveable” for residents.

She added rising costs hit seniors very hard and it’s a continued challenge for non-profits such as Ballenas to keep things affordable while ensuring the survival of the Society.

“It’s a really tight balancing act for any non-profit, some days are more challenging than others. We have an enormous amount of oversight so we have very tight budgets, we have to forecast with as much forethought and foresight as possible so that we can ensure rent stays as affordable as possible.”

The new-to-them facility will complement other Ballenas housing options in Oceanside and allow the Society to direct clients to a home best for them, according to Blakeman.

Provincial housing minister Ravi Kahlon announced the funding on Wednesday, July 17. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Sue Foreman, along with her husband, have lived in the building for nearly 20 years and was breathing a big sigh of relief when the purchase was announced Wednesday, July 17.

“The monkey’s off my back. I can plan to go travel a little bit. The stress of knowing all the stuff that’s going on out there with lousy landlords is immense and it has a huge effect on people in this building.”

She said a visit nearly two years ago from a local Real Estate agent wanting to view every apartment sent a wave of concern through residents.

Many residents, according to Foreman, were fearful of where they would live.

“You read the news, you go online, you know what’s going on and you know where this is leading…there’s nothing you can do about it literally, until something like this happens.”

Foreman said many of the building’s residents volunteer locally, including working at the nearby Society of Organized Services, or Salvation Army thrift stores.

Ballenas Housing Society also operates rental buildings at 364 Moilliet St., as well as multiple sites in Nanaimo.

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