Dozens of people experiencing homelessness in Nelson are set to gain stable housing as a 43-unit supportive complex moves ahead in Railtown.
BC Housing has awarded Nelson CARES the operating contract for a new supportive housing complex at 45 Government Rd., providing a pathway to supports and housing stability.
Nelson CARES announced the project Sept. 29.
Sarah Magee, executive director of the Nelson CARES Society, said future tenants will benefit from non-clinical supports for adults, seniors and people with diverse abilities.
Residents will also be offered life-skills training, along with connections to health care, mental-health and substance-use services.
Easing shelter pressure
Magee said she expects the new units will ease pressure on housing services, including the Stepping Stones emergency shelter on Vernon St., and hopes the Railtown location will also address neighbourhood concerns tied to that site.
“Nelson currently has a 0.4 per cent vacancy rate. It urgently needs more supportive housing,” Magee said.
“We know the shelter is consistently at capacity and by being able to provide deeply affordable housing to people experiencing homelessness, we hope to reduce the number of people regularly accessing shelter services.”
She added that increasing supportive housing units in the city should also reduce pressure on municipal services.
On average, Magee said, a person struggling with mental-health or addiction issues accesses 33 per cent fewer health-care services than someone without stable housing.
Supportive-housing residents are also 64 per cent less likely to require ambulance services compared with shelter guests.
“More supportive housing will reduce the pressure on city services overall. The whole strategy is based around a housing-first approach, meaning that when we’re able to provide long-term stable housing to individuals, they’re better able to work towards other life goals.”
North Shore Inn model
The completed complex will complement the North Shore Inn supportive-housing facility, which has been operational since 2020.
In 2022, BC Housing purchased the North Shore Inn and partnered with Nelson CARES to oversee its operations.
Magee said the site has significantly reduced the number of people experiencing homelessness in the city.
“We’ve seen improvements since North Shore Inn opened, and so this should provide similar improvements.”
The North Shore Inn has 28 low-barrier units with 24/7 support staff, which Nelson CARES said has been successful in creating a stable pathway for residents to move along the housing continuum.
“This new building will follow the same model of 24/7 staff supports, very similar to the supports in place now, and hopefully continue to see the same benefits we’ve seen since its opening,” Magee said.Top Story
Building design and security
The 45 Government Rd. property was initially built in 2019. The 30,000-square-foot facility was rezoned in 2023 for mixed residential and commercial use.
Its location in an industrial zone made it an appealing site, with Magee noting it remains close to city services but outside a residential neighbourhood.
“Some challenges we’ve experienced with Stepping Stones are related to its residential location. In the case of 45 Government Rd., the neighbourhood is more industrial, yet it’s still close to downtown, so people can access the services they need.”
The concrete building will reduce sound transference and allow for structural stability with minimal maintenance.
It is essentially purpose-built for supportive housing, though Magee said it was not initially conceived as such, but the developer was able to make adjustments.
The project is being constructed under BC Housing’s design standards for crime prevention through environmental design.
This includes fenced grounds, a single point of entry, fob access, 24/7 staffed reception, security cameras and lighting.
The building is owned by Gerrard Station Development. Once construction is finished, BC Housing will take ownership, expected in summer 2026.
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