Below are some resources to support Nanaimo residents in search of a rental home, or facing housing challenges.
Helpful Links
Together Against Poverty Society: TAPS is now offering legal advocacy services in Nanaimo, Parksville, Ladysmith, and adjacent Gulf Islands. TAPS provides legal Advocacy services for the following areas: Income Assistance, Residential Tenancy, PWD Application Help.
BC Residential Tenancy Branch: Tenants and landlords can find information to guide them from the start of a tenancy to the end. Learn what tools and resources are available and what to do if you need help.
BC Housing Rental Assistance Program: Provides eligible low-income working families with monthly assistance to help with their monthly rent payments.
BC Housing Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters: Lower income seniors renting in the private market may be eligible for a rent supplement through SAFER.
BC Rent Bank: Access the rent bank and its support services to help stabilize your rental housing during unanticipated short-term financial challenges.
BC Income Assistance Information & Links: The ministry can provide crisis supplements for clients on Income Assistance or Disability.
BC Hydro Customer Crisis Fund: Residential customers experiencing a temporary financial crisis who have fallen behind on their BC Hydro bill may be eligible for a grant payment to avoid disconnection of service.
BC Hydro Free Portable Air Conditioners: Available for income qualified households and individuals referred by regional health authority programs.
BC Hydro Free energy saving kit: If you live in an income-qualified household, you can get a free energy saving kit to help you save energy and make your home more comfortable all year.
TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre: Free legal education & advocacy for BC tenants.
BC Housing Education Awards Program: Offers post-secondary scholarships to people living in BC Housing properties or who receive BC Housing rental supplements.
Nanoose Community Services: Available for Nanoose Bay residents who are unable to cope with monthly expenses for their family. Applicants are interviewed to determine how to proceed. Sometimes it is a referral to another agency – sometimes it is short term assistance. Call 250-468-9888 or email cs@nanoosecommunityservices.org
Subsidized & rent geared to income housing
BC Housing Subsidized Housing Program: If you live in BC, have a low income and meet eligibility criteria, you may qualify for subsidized housing. Information and application here.
Residences at Brechin Hill: a mix of studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom pet-friendly apartments with three levels of affordability; deep-subsidy for those with social assistance (BC Housing # required), rent-geared to income for those with lower income and low-end of market for those with moderate income.
Ballenas Housing Society: offers rental properties designed for low to moderate income independent seniors, persons with disabilities and small families living in the regional district. Rentals include deep subsidy (BC Housing # required) to low-end-of-market and rent-geared-to-income.
Pacifica Housing Advisory Association: Provides quality, affordable independent subsidized and supportive housing in Nanaimo. BC Housing registration required.
LRCA Heart on the Hill: 36-unit apartment building for affordable living in Ladysmith. Rent geared to income units, registration with BC Housing required.
Makola Housing Society: Affordable Housing for Indigenous Families in Nanaimo.
Woodgrove Senior Citizens Housing Society: Providing people 55 years of age and over and those with designated disabilities with affordable rental housing.
Housing Advocacy Programs
Mid-Island CMHA Street Reach Program: Offers outreach help for unhoused people, connections to local resources, rental supplements, assistance with finding housing, and support with applications.
Tillicum Lelum Indigenous Housing Navigator: Provides advocacy, case management, benefit establishment, linkages to services, linkages to stable housing and all other supportive services for urban Aboriginal families and street entrenched homeless; those at-risk of homelessness; and those with a history of living in substandard housing.
Connective Nanaimo Housing First Program: Connects people at risk of homelessness to rental supports. Provides clients with resources in the private housing market, and assists with case management and landlord/tenant mediation.
NFLA Seniors Housing Information & Navigation Ease Program (SHINE): Provides information on housing options for seniors (60+). Advises on tenant rights, supports with applications, attends meetings, and helps with problem solving.
LRCA Housing Support: Supports individuals and families in Ladysmith to secure and sustain healthy and appropriate housing. Can offer crisis supplements, access to basic living needs, and help with transportation.
Together Against Poverty Society (TAPS): Nanaimo Residential Tenancy Advocate provides support for tenants who are experiencing issues that fall under the jurisdiction of the Residential Tenancy Branch. Commonly provided services include help with eviction notices, help resolving conflicts with landlords, and providing legal information and advice about tenancy rights and responsibilities.
The Legion Foundation BC/Yukon Veteran Homelessness Program: provides comprehensive housing support to eligible Veterans, covering rent, utilities, deposits, moving costs, and even temporary hotel stays. Beyond financial assistance, it aids in housing searches and offers referrals to vital support services like mental health counseling and VAC claim assistance. By collaborating with other Veterans’ programs, it ensures streamlined access to all necessary resources with minimal paperwork.
Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo 