The Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society has just experienced a growth spurt by taking on 200-plus seniors units in seven complexes developed by another non-profit organization.
As well, another 200 new seniors units are coming on stream in two upcoming buildings as the Affordable Housing Society expands its holdings and consolidates operations for social housing for seniors and other citizens in Nanaimo.
“We are expanding staff and doing various things that we didn’t have the resources to do before,” said Jim Spinelli, organization executive director. The new facilities were owned by the Mount Benson Senior Citizens Housing Society, established about 40 years ago.
The Affordable Housing Society already owns seven social housing buildings, mainly serving seniors. It operates facilities for citizens with mental health issues, families, and singles.
It had been operating the Mount Benson facilities for three months because the organization needed assistance and then suggested taking over the complexes, Spinelli said.
“It just made sense,” he said.
The Mount Benson Society is coming to an end, now that it has sold its holdings to the Affordable Housing Society for $10, he said.
Mount Benson’s properties had 206 seniors units, with construction coming up on a new 57-unit complex at 20 Prideaux St.
The Affordable Housing Society earlier took on complexes run by two other non-profit groups, which had been looking for another group to take over their operations.
Also in the works is an expansion at Buttertubs Place affordable seniors housing complex that will add 159 units under a program backed by the province, the City of Nanaimo and the society.
Building permit applications have been submitted to city hall for the Prideaux property and the Buttertubs expansion, Spinelli said. As soon as they are approved, construction will begin.
Buttertubs will likely be ready for new tenants in early 2021 while the smaller Prideaux project should be finished in early 2020, he said. Once those projects are added to existing stock, the society will oversee about 650 social-housing units.
“We have other projects we are working on,” Spinelli said.
“I expect in the next couple of years, we will be closer to 800.”
The society typically has low turnover in its supportive housing for single Nanaimo residents.
“We are very tenant focused,” he said. “We try to create a sense of community.”
Calls come in daily to the Affordable Housing Society from people seeking places to live.
Nanaimo, like Greater Victoria, has a tight rental market.
It also has a growing tent city on municipal land. RCMP estimate between 250 and 350 people are living there.
