A new temporary housing complex is expected in mid-to-late 2024 at 1300 Island Hwy. South near Tenth St. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Temporary housing

Chase River temporary housing project several months away from launching

Feb 1, 2024 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO — Recently announced temporary housing for the local unhoused population is expected to be operational by mid-to-late 2024, according to BC Housing.

To be situated at 1300 Island Hwy. South at Maki Rd. across from the RONA home improvement store, the pre-fabricated housing will be open for “the full three years,” BC Housing outlined in a statement to NanaimoNewsNOW.

Fifty units will be offered at the development to be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, BC Housing stated.

“The operator will also work to develop positive relationships with their neighbours by providing designated contact information, supporting programs such as clean teams, and engaging neighbourhoods in building collaborative relationships.”

The province and City of Nanaimo recently struck a three year agreement to support 100 temporary housing units in the city, which also includes continuing the operation of Newcastle Place at 250 Terminal Ave.

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BC Housing stated it’s in the process of confirming a supplier for the units, while the agency expects to name the operator of the Chase River temporary housing facility in the coming weeks.

“To meet the urgent needs of the community, the 50 units at Newcastle Place, 250 Terminal Ave. will continue operation under HEARTH (Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing) until another appropriate housing option is available or construction can begin on permanent purpose-built supportive homes, whichever comes first,” the statement noted.

In addition, BC Housing revealed it’s “meeting regularly” with the City of Nanaimo to identify potentially new temporary and permanent housing sites “and we expect to have more information to share on this in the coming months.”

Mike Parker, chairperson of the Chase River Community Association, said their organization is supportive of temporary housing coming to Chase River.

“We are looking forward to working with BC Housing and the City and trying to make this work for the people coming into that unit,” Parker told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Parker said Chase River has ample land and supportive housing is something Nanaimo, British Columbia and the country needs.

“We want to do our part in helping out these people and the people in the future with any new housing that the City and BC Housing wants to bring to us.”

Nessa Funk, a stepmother of two children, lives in one of two homes on the street poised to accomodate the temporary housing facility.

While she supports social housing, Funk is worried about being in such close proximity to it.

“But at the same time with everything that’s happened around the city our neighbourhood’s just going to plummet, we’re not going to feel safe with our kids walking home from school or being out in our yard,” Funk said.

Early in 2018 a temporary housing facility was earmarked for 1425 Cranberry Ave., however Nanaimo City Council reversed its decision and declined the province’s proposal at the south end site.

Forty-six affordable housing units are planned for the Cranberry Ave. property, as part of a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between BC Housing and City of Nanaimo.

The City anticipates a public hearing to rezone the property will happen this spring.

While only one of six supportive housing projects from the 2020 MOU has opened, the City’s manager of community planning Lisa Brinkman emphasized this week tangible progress on all of the outstanding initiatives is being made.

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes