New Supportive and Affordable Rental Homes Planned for Squamish

Squamish, BC – The District of Squamish and BC Housing, in partnership with Squamish Community Housing Society (Housing Squamish), and Squamish Helping Hands Society, are planning to deliver new housing on a District-owned site at Government Road and Centennial Way. This project would offer approximately 60 supportive housing and 100 affordable rental housing units to the Squamish community.

Squamish is experiencing a severe shortage of secure, affordable rental homes for a wide range of residents including seniors, families, people with disabilities and even essential workers. As rents have increased over 50% in the past five years and vacancy rates continue to be well under 1%, many residents have limited options for housing and are faced with difficult choices.

As well, the number of homeless residents or residents at risk of homelessness in Squamish continues to rise. Point in Time homeless counts take place every two years, and the number has increased since 2021. The most recent data available counted 119 people experiencing homelessness. Of these, 41% reported insufficient income as their reason for housing loss.

Building homes for people at every point on the housing spectrum will help address some of the complex issues Squamish faces, and support people to stay in Squamish.

The supportive housing building would offer approximately 60 studio homes for local community members including seniors, adults, and people with disabilities, who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness and need support to maintain their housing. Squamish Helping Hands Society would operate the supportive housing building, providing crucial wellness services, supports and secure housing. This building would differentiate itself from the Under One Roof facility on Second Avenue downtown as there would be no drop-in services at this site.

The affordable rental building would offer approximately 100 homes, prioritizing Squamish residents who are seniors, people with disabilities, and moderate-income families, ranging from studios to two- and three- bedroom apartments. Housing Squamish would own and operate the affordable rental housing building, addressing the urgent need for secure affordable rental homes for residents across a range of incomes.

The affordable housing portion of this project is being proposed for funding through BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund (CHF). Funding for this component is not yet confirmed.

This project is a major part of an effort to build more urgently needed affordable homes in Squamish for a wide and diverse range of people in need.

The community is invited to learn more about the proposed housing project, meet the project team, and ask questions at a drop-in Community Information Session on Wednesday, June 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Mamquam Elementary School (40266 Government Road).

To learn more about the project, and to RSVP for the Community Information Session please go to: letstalkhousingbc.ca/squamish-government-road.

Construction will begin in 2026.

Quotes

“Ensuring access to supportive and affordable housing is critical to build community resiliency and this can only be achieved through collaboration with non-profit and provincial partners. The District of Squamish and local partners have been working on solutions to meet community needs and tackle the complex issues the community faces. We are very pleased to share details of one of these solutions that is close to receiving funding approval.”
– Armand Hurford, District of Squamish Mayor

BC Housing

“These proposed affordable rental and supportive housing buildings are a vital step forward in addressing the urgent need for attainable housing in Squamish. We are incredibly grateful to BC Housing and the District of Squamish for their leadership and commitment to creating more inclusive and affordable communities. We’re also proud to be working alongside Squamish Helping Hands Society, whose deep connection to the community and expertise will be key to the success of this project.”
– Sarah Ellis, Housing Squamish Executive Director

“This project represents a crucial building block in our Squamish housing continuum, creating meaningful pathways for equity-deserving individuals to transition out of homelessness. Its success will be deeply rooted in the strength of collaboration – between our four dedicated partners and the broader community, working together toward lasting impact.”
– Lori Pyne, Squamish Helping Hands Society Executive Director

Learn More:

To learn more about the Squamish Housing Action Plan for better housing delivery in Squamish visit squamish.ca/housing-action

To view the District of Squamish Housing Needs report visit squamish.ca/Squamish-Interim-Housing-Needs-Report-Appendix-2024-Update.pdf

To view the Squamish Helping Hands Point in Time Homelessness count visit squamishhelpinghands.ca/stories-and-news/point-in-time

BACKGROUNDER

Facts about the housing projects:

Affordable Rental Housing

• Squamish Community Housing Society is applying to the Building BC: Community Housing Fund (CHF) to deliver 100 new affordable homes that growing families, individuals, seniors, people living with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples can afford.
• The affordable rental building would be owned and operated by the Squamish Community Housing Society on a leasehold basis.
• Residents of 70% of the units would pay rent geared to income. The remaining 30% of units would be available at below market rents for households with moderate incomes.
• Eligibility criteria for rent-geared-to-income residents are determined by BC Housing for the Community Housing Fund. More information on the housing application process would be made available once construction is nearing completion.
• Housing Squamish currently operates the affordable rental homes for families at Highline at Garibaldi Springs and co-owns and operates 40 existing affordable rental homes at Tantalus Manor alongside the Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society.

Supportive Housing

• The supportive housing building would be owned by BC Housing on a leasehold basis and operated by Squamish Helping Hands Society.
• Squamish Helping Hands Society would provide supports and services to supportive housing residents.
• The supportive housing building is intended to be a home for residents who live there full time. Supports and services are focused on helping tenants maintain stable housing and improve their well-being. While staff may help residents connect with external community services, the site itself is not open to the public for drop-in use.
• Squamish Helping Hands Society is a community-based non-profit society that has been operating since 2006, offering food and shelter programs to Sea-to-Sky communities. They operate the only existing supportive housing and emergency shelter in the Sea to Sky corridor.