Sounder News
The Gabriola Housing Society (GHS) Board of Directors announced this past week that the twenty-four affordable rental homes on Paisley Place will be ready to welcome tenants in the summer of 2026.
Provision of these homes would not have been possible without funding support from BC Housing, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC), and community donations to GHS.
Nancy Hetherington Peirce, President of the GHS, said, “I’m really pleased at the progress of the construction, especially now that completion is definitely in sight!
“The Board is very grateful for the support of GHS members and the wider community over the past ten years or so, and we’re looking forward to welcoming people to their new homes in 2026!”
The homes are intended for households with limited to modest income and assets, and strong connections to Gabriola Island, including members of Snuneymuxw First Nation.
Eligibility and rent criteria are set in GHS agreements with BC Housing (BCH), Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and Islands Trust Housing Agreement (HA).
Each of the eight buildings contains three homes, all with ground-level entry and insuite laundry.
There are 4 studio; 8 one-bedroom; 4 two-bedroom; and 8 three-bedroom homes.
Four of the 1-bedroom homes and two of the 3-bedroom homes include accessible features for people with mobility challenges.
All rents are at or below the Average Market Rents for Nanaimo and area (BCH requirement) based on the January 2026 CMHC Annual Rental Market Survey.
None of the rents are at “open market” rates.
Eight homes have ‘low’ rents, including some at or near BC Government Shelter Rates, for low income households. This is a CMHC requirement.
Nine of the homes have rents below the Average Market Rents, for moderate income households.
Seven of the homes have average market rents, for higher income households.
Using 2025 numbers (BC Shelter Rates to CMHC Average Market Rents), the rent ranges are:
• Studio: $500 to $1,246
• One-bedroom: $695 to $1,406
• Two-bedroom: $790 to $1,775
• Three-bedroom: $840 to $1,846
In January 2026, rents will be adjusted to the CMHC 2026 numbers.
People who may apply for this housing must be within certain household income and asset limits and have an existing strong connection to Gabriola.
The 24 new affordable homes are intended for households with limited to modest income and assets.
The maximum before-tax household income cannot exceed:
• For studios and one-bedroom homes —$85,870
• For two- and three-bedroom homes —$138,770
The maximum combined asset value of the household cannot exceed $200,000
A full list of application and assets criteria is on the Gabriola Housing Society web site, as well as in hard copy at People for a Healthy Community (PHC).
Although anyone who meets the financial eligibility requirement is welcome to apply for this affordable housing, priority consideration for choice of tenants is set out in a legal agreement between GHS and the Local Trust Committee of the Islands Trust.
This Agreement is meant to ensure that the housing is first available to people with strong connections to Gabriola Island. To this end, applications will be prioritized as follows:
Highest priority: Residents of Gabriola for at least one year, or commuters to Gabriola for work (minimum half-time) for at least one year, or registered members of Snuneymuxw First Nation (SFN).
Expanded priority will be given for other applicants, full information on the GHS web site as well as at PHC.
The current construction schedule is for the homes to be ready for tenants to move in on or around July 1, 2026.
The GHS Board is not involved in choosing tenants and no priority is given to GHS members.
GHS has contracted with a professional property manager, Victoria-based Firstline Commercial, to provide management services for the 24 new affordable homes on Gabriola. Their responsibilities include all aspects of managing the property and tenants: for example, choosing the tenants, managing and enforcing the rental contracts, hiring contractors as required, and overseeing the general maintenance of the buildings and grounds.
Hetherington-Peirce said, “Given our small island population the Board knew it would be important to have a clearly arm’s-length process for managing the housing project, right from the first step of choosing the initial 24 households. So that’s why we’ve contracted an off-island professional property manager.”
Between January 15 and March 15, 2026 the application form will be available on the GHS website.
Applications will only be accepted electronically; no phone calls or emails will be accepted.
Anyone who requires assistance with filling in this application online can ask for help via staff at PHC.
Applications will not be considered on a first come, first served basis.
Decisions will be made after the application period closes.
After April 15, 2026, successful applicants will be contacted directly with an offer of tenancy. (Only those applicants who are being vetted for tenancy will be contacted between March 15 and April 15, 2026.)
Due to BC privacy legislation no information about the selection process will be provided. There will be no waitlist. Future tenancies will be advertised as they become available.
The Gabriola Housing Society web site can be found at www.gabriolahousing.ca
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