May 23, 2026 – Brent Richter/North Shore News

The province and the District of North Vancouver have partnered to build 40 affordable housing units on district-owned land in Norgate’s industrial area.

The property at 1182 Welch St. is currently an overflow parking lot leased to an auto mechanic shop, but by the fall of 2027 it could be housing residents who today are living in vehicles or encampments.

Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Christine Boyle made the announcement on Thursday, saying the project would provide “a safe, supportive place for people experiencing homelessness, while new permanent supportive housing continues to be developed in the community.”

Mayor Mike Little said the property has been “underutilized” and that council chose it for transitional housing, which there is an urgent need for. The 2025 homeless count found the number of people sleeping unsheltered on the North Shore climbed by 67 per cent in two years.

“It’s … situated in an area that has a very high ratio of people who are living in insecure housing – lots of RVs and cars that people are living out of or living rough in the bush in that neighbourhood,” he said. “We all have to be a part of the solution to the problem. We can’t just rely on the big cities to handle it.”

The land was last assessed at $4.2 million. The district will be forgoing its lease revenue and making the property available to BC Housing at a nominal rate.

North Vancouver’s two NDP MLAs welcomed the project in a news release.

“Opening new housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness will make our whole community safer and stronger. I’m proud of the work our government is doing to partner with North Vancouver to help people access housing where they can connect with others and the services and supports they need,” said Susie Chant, North Vancouver-Seymour MLA.

“Investing in our North Vancouver community with this new housing option will provide meaningful help to people who are struggling and need supports like food and health-care access. Everyone deserves a safe place to live and call home, and make connections,” North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma added.

A public information meeting about the project is scheduled for June 16 at Norgate Xwemélch’stn Community Elementary Gym from 6 to 8 p.m.

Read the full article at nsnews.com.