Construction is nearly finished, and a nonprofit has been selected to operate a supportive-and-subsidized housing project on Salt Spring, where islanders have eagerly awaited new homes since early 2022.
BC Housing announced Wednesday, July 30 that the Lookout Housing and Health Society is being tapped to provide 24/7 staffing and support services to future residents at the Drake Road development, which will provide a total of 36 new housing units — 32 “deeply affordable” supportive homes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, according to the agency, and an additional four affordable rental homes for low- to middle-income earners.
Residents are expected to begin moving in this fall, BC Housing said in an update, with homes being offered “first to former residents of Seabreeze Inne and current residents of Kings Lane who meet the requirements for subsidized housing, and then to other Salt Spring Island residents.” BC Housing leased the land at 154 Kings Lane from the Gulf Islands Seniors Residence Association (GISRA) in 2022 and placed temporary modular housing units there for some housing-insecure islanders after the provincial agency ceased operations at the Seabreeze Inne.
Salt Spring’s Capital Regional District (CRD) directory Gary Holman called Lookout’s selection “good news” at a recent meeting of the island’s Local Community Commission; news of the pick had unsurprisingly spread on-island well in advance of BC Housing’s announcement.
“They’re talking about September for occupancy,” said Holman. “So this is going to be really important for our community to have a facility like this.”
Founded in 1971, Lookout previously added Salt Spring Island to its list of served communities in the broader Vancouver Island region, which includes Victoria, Duncan, Courtenay and Campbell River, when they acquired the Dean Road multi-suite house in 2022 formerly owned by the Salt Spring Island Land Bank Society. They provide a range of housing and health services to help build “resilience, independence and hope,” according to BC Housing, with the stated goal of “transforming lives and strengthening community.”
BC Housing had originally announced it would build 28 units of supportive housing at the 5.5-acre parcel back in January of 2022, as the agency — and then-Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing David Eby — touted the fast-tracking of the project on land leased from the CRD.
Construction delays plagued the project, which finally saw the first modular units arrive at the site in February.
“The non-profit operator will work with residents, staff and the surrounding community on an ongoing basis to address any safety concerns quickly and collaboratively,” read a statement from BC Housing. “We will share site contact information with neighbours closer to the fall opening date.”