Construction starts on affordable housing development in West End, QMUNITY’s new home

Construction started Friday on a 154-unit building set to house 2SLGBTQIA+ residents and people living with HIV/AIDS right in the heart of Davie Village in Vancouver’s West End.

QMUNITY — a non-profit that has served the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in B.C. for 44 years — will offer services like free counselling and programs for kids and seniors on site as well. These resources will be located on the first two floors, with housing situated above.

“There are not many spaces in this city that are truly safe. And by safe I mean allow you to be your true self, allow you to celebrate and connect with people and your peers — where you get to be who you are without feeling scared,” said QMUNITY executive director Anoop Gill.

“We are ready to show Vancouver that this corner can be a beacon of hope.” 

This $91 million project is a triple-funding partnership between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments.

The 17-storey development will include a mix of rental units for people with low to moderate incomes. Community Land Trust will operate the majority of the building, while McLaren Housing Society will manage 31 units designated for individuals people living with HIV/AIDS — and their families living with HIV/AIDS.

“We understand the gravity of the HIV epidemic and its disproportionate impact on the lives of many. We recognize that this initiative is just one step in a larger journey towards equity and justice,” said McLaren Housing Society executive director Ilm Kassam.

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“70 per cent of these homes will be for individuals and families that will make between 20 thousand and 60 thousand dollars per year,” Community Land Trust executive director Tiffany Duzita added.

This announcement comes after Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon promised Friday morning to put housing at the forefront in the fall sitting of the legislature — pledging to bring in several pieces of unique legislation — including new housing legislation to address permitting and zoning challenges, and an increase in the supply of middle-income housing.

“By building and securing 154 new affordable homes for families, seniors, and people living with low and modest incomes, we help build a healthier community in the West End, and downtown,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver – West End. “This project also helps fulfill a longtime dream for a home for Qmunity, BC’s LGBTQ2s+ resource centre, while also providing dedicated housing for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. This is a good day for our community,” Kahlon stated.

Construction on the Davie Street building is expected to be finished by the fall of 2026.