Housing, Food and Shelter

Updated on October 24, 2025

Housing, Food and Shelter

There are a variety of services available in our region that address diverse housing needs:

Emergency Shelter and Resources Housing Reports and Studies

Housing Framework

The Regional District of Nanaimo’s housing framework includes a series of policies and initiatives with the goal of providing more affordable and supportive housing across the region. A key consideration of the framework is to promote a more diverse range of housing options to meet the current and future housing needs of our communities.

The Housing Framework is based on three key components:

A. The high-level housing policy guidance provided in the Regional Growth Strategy (Goal 6) that helps to inform the region's Official Community Plans.

B. The more detailed housing policy direction contained in the Official Community Plans for each municipality and electoral area in the region.

C. The RDN Board's Strategic Focus Area for Planning and Managing Growth includes exploring strategies to address the housing affordability crisis in the region.

Affordable Housing

The Regional District of Nanaimo has an increasing shortage of affordable rental and owned housing for those with low to moderate incomes. The greatest impacts are felt by seniors, single parent families and youth. See the Housing Needs Reports for more information.

Understanding affordable housing may involve learning new terms and phrases. Visit the BC Housing Glossary for further information.

Meeting regional housing needs requires an integrated and collaborative approach with member municipalities, other levels of government (Federal, Provincial & First Nations) and numerous non-profit organizations. Follow the links below to find out what others are doing in the region: