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"The City is making big moves to get the right supply of housing that meets peoples’ needs and incomes.” - Mayor Robertson
Providing the right supply of housing, with the right supports for the city's lower income and homeless residents continues to be a top priority.
By using temporary modular housing, lower-income and homeless residents are placed directly into housing with supportive services until they can transition to longer-term housing solutions.
The Government of British Columbia announced a funding commitment of $66 million towards 600 units of temporary modular housing.
The new housing will be built on underused or vacant sites across Vancouver to address the immediate needs of housing for homeless residents.
General documents
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(56 KB)Proposed and confirmed sites
Completed
| 7430 and 7460 Heather St | Units: 78 |
| 1131 Franklin St | Units: 39 |
Under construction
| 525 Powell St | Units: 39 |
| 4480 Kaslo St | Units: 52 |
Development permit stage
| 595 and 599 W 2nd Ave (approved) | Units: 52 |
Proposal stage
| Little Mountain site | Units: approx. 50 |
Total units: 306 (as of March 20, 2018)
What's happening
Open house for 155 East 37th Avenue
The Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency has applied to the City of Vancouver for permission to develop on this site.
Join us at our upcoming open house on Tuesday, May 1.
Apply to be a tenant
BC Housing, the owner securing non-profit housing operators to manage the buildings, oversees the tenanting process for the sites.
Visit BC Housing 
or call 1-800-257-7756 Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm for more information.
Development sites
Learn more about our current and future Temporary Modular Housing development sites by clicking on the developments below.
Little Mountain - East 37th near Main Street
Little Mountain is being considered as a location for temporary modular housing. It is expected that the proposed site would accommodate about 50 homes.
595 and 599 West 2nd Ave
The site at 595 and 599 West 2nd Ave is being considered as a location for temporary modular housing. It is expected that the proposed site would accomodate about 50 homes.
4480 Kaslo St (formerly 4410 Kaslo St)
The temporary modular housing site at 4480 Kaslo St has been approved and construction is underway. The site will create 52 new homes.
The City in partnership with the Park Board is working on identifying an alternate location for the community garden that exists on the site.
(80 KB)525 Powell St (formerly 501 Powell St)
The temporary modular housing site at 525 Powell St has been approved and construction is underway. The site will create 39 new homes for women in the Downtown Eastside.
(313 KB)1131 Franklin St
The temporary modular housing site at 1131 Franklin St has been approved and construction is underway. The site will create 39 new homes.
W 59th Ave and Heather St (650 W 57th Ave)
Reiderman Residence
24/7 phone number:
778-939-6224
The development permit to build 78 new temporary modular homes at the Pearson-Dogwood site has been conditionally approved.
Feedback about the development was gathered online and in person with approximately 300 comment cards and 400 emails received.
We are committed to working with the community towards good stewardship of this site and the community in general.
Conditions to the development permit
220 Terminal Ave
In 2016, Vancouver’s Affordable Housing Agency (VAHA) announced it was working to provide Vancouver’s first temporary modular housing development.
Horizon North was selected from a shortlist to construct the project.
Benefits of temporary modular housing
Temporary modular housing is a home built inside a factory. The finished units are covered and transported to new locations, where they are assembled into a building by professional builders. It is not a mobile home. The housing:
- Provides a home for lower-income and homeless residents in approximately six months
- Helps street homelessness by providing a home with the right supports until permanent, affordable housing is available
- Designs are built to the City's building codes
- Creates a sense of community
- Reduced waste during manufacturing and installation
- Delays are less likely to happen during construction in a controlled environment
- Provides an opportunity for temporary housing for up to three to five years
- Can relocate and reconfigure to fit different sites or future sites
Watch video footage of 220 Terminal Ave
Drone video of 220 Terminal Ave
Watch a video of 220 Terminal Ave, our first temporary modular housing development that features 40 self-contained suites with a bathroom, kitchen, and shared laundry space.
Development of 220 Terminal Ave
Watch a time-lapse video of our first temporary modular housing development at 220 Terminal Ave being built.
Tour 220 Terminal Ave
Take a video tour Vancouver’s first temporary modular housing development at 220 Terminal Ave with.
Learn more about housing in Vancouver
Housing
We're creating a city of communities that cares about its people, environment, and opportunities to live, work, and prosper.
Housing Vancouver update
Read the Housing Vancouver update presentation to City Council on July 25, 2017 (3.8 MB).
