Mayne Island Housing Society

Affordable Rental Housing
for Residents of Mayne Island

Did you know that in the past ten years, Mayne Island has suffered a 30% reduction in the number of rental accommodations? The rising cost and declining availability is forcing many residents to leave our island -- including those we need as tradespeople, home helpers, servers, and the like. In other words, the lifeblood of any community: young families.

The Need - Southern Gulf Islands Survey

The Need - Mayne Island Survey

More About The Society

Who’s tackling the issue?

We are! The goal of the Mayne Island Housing Society is to increase both the quantity and quality of affordable rental units in our community. We’re forging ahead with this.

All we need to continue speeding forward is donations. We’re aiming for $80,000 by spring. Can you help? You’ll receive a tax-deductible receipt.

Donate

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What Mayne Island Housing Society has been doing:

Becoming a charitable society so that all donations over $20 receive tax-deductible receipts. (Done!)
Meeting with individuals, banks, government agencies, and others who award grants and loans, to line up funding. (Done and ongoing!)
Purchasing and/or accepting donated land. (In process – hang onto your hats for news!)
Situating purpose-built rental housing on it. (Planning in process)
Providing ongoing management of the housing.

Our proposal involves building up to ten homes for singles, couples, families and seniors by 2022.

So far we’ve secured CRD start-up grants, CMHC Seed Funding, a Victoria Foundation Peaceful World Vision Fund Grant and donations from the community. We’ve also received close to 100 letters of support from community organizations and residents, and off-island interests. The project’s robust financial model has been reviewed by a VanCity manager, BC Housing and a private housing consultant. We’ll offer units at mixed rental rates and will handle ongoing operational management of the housing development.

Current and past board members include an architect who has produced drawings, financial experts and those with construction and management skills. We have a donated three-acre parcel of land and are working through the rezoning and subdivision process with the Islands Trust. We are in regular contact with government funding agencies and those that will help stick-handle us through zoning and other procedures.

Thank you for your support!

Conceptual sketch of affordable rental housing for MIHS by Mayne Island Architect Richard Iredale.

We are grateful for the generosity of Dr. Sean McHugh, who is working closely with us to move the project forward