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When will the Government Road supportive housing be built?

BC Housing plans a six-storey building with 65 studio homes and 24/7 support staff at 39900 Government Road near Centennial Way, run by Squamish Helping Hands, on land the District is leasing for 60 years. A second building with 85 to 100 affordable rentals by Housing Squamish is planned on the same site but has no funding yet. Unlike , it will have no drop-in services; only residents who pay rent live there.

📍 North Yards

Where it stands step 4 of 6

  1. Project announced June 5, 2025
    BC Housing wrote to neighbours and held information sessions in June 2025. [source]
  2. Council backs project and waives fees July 8, 2025
    Council endorsed the project in principle and waived frontage works and fees. [source]
  3. Council approves 60-year land lease July 21, 2026
    Council endorsed the lease to the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation. [source]
  4. Development and building permits
    These are approved by staff, not council; is not needed. [source]
  5. Construction starts
    BC Housing expects to start in summer 2027. [source]
  6. Affordable rental building funded
    Funding for the second building is not confirmed and it has no timeline. [source]

What happens next: Council has given its main approvals; the next public milestone is construction starting, which BC Housing expects in summer 2027, while council may be asked again about funding for the affordable rental building.

How this council has voted on it

The new council hasn’t voted on this yet. Every vote on it will appear here.

What each of them said during the campaign

“Squamish needs more shelter and supportive-housing spaces, even if they are located near residential areas.”

“The District should put more public money and land into non-market and housing.”

“Supportive and low-income housing should be spread across all neighbourhoods rather than concentrated downtown.”

Earlier history (before this council)
  • July 21, 2026: Council endorsed a 60-year lease of the south part of the site to the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation and received BC Housing's letter of commitment to neighbours. [source]
  • June 16, 2026: Council gave $190,000 of federal Housing Accelerator Fund money toward site servicing for the . [source]
  • June 2, 2026: Council endorsed in principle a 60-year lease to Housing Squamish for the affordable rental building, if it can get full construction funding. [source]
  • July 8, 2025: Council waived frontage works and permit fees for the project. (Councillor Pettingill opposed) [source]
  • June 3, 2025: Council announced it had endorsed BC Housing's project and a 60-year lease in principle, decided in a closed meeting on May 20. [source]
  • November 7, 2023: Council endorsed in principle a 60-year lease to Housing Squamish for affordable housing on the site and its funding application. [source]

Have your say

The swearing in meeting is ceremonial. There is no question period and no letters on the agenda. To raise something with the new council, write to council@squamish.ca after November 3. Letters sent before then go to the outgoing council.

Watch. Live and afterward on the District’s YouTube channel.