Building the Centre for Belonging
This is our Moment
At the heart of the Nigel Valley redevelopment, the Garth Homer Centre for Belonging will be a vibrant, inclusive hub — combining accessible program spaces, adaptable housing, and shared community areas. This once-in-a-generation project is a collaboration between BC Housing, the Garth Homer Foundation, and community partners, ensuring that everyone has a place to belong.
Build Community
The Centre for Belonging will:
- Expand day program spaces
- Provide adaptable, mixed-income housing
- Offer barrier-free community gathering areas
- Strengthen the social fabric of our community for generations
Neighbourhood Re-Development
The Nigel Valley
The Nigel Valley Re-Development is a nine‑acre site in Saanich, Victoria BC. It sits beside District Hall and is bordered by Vernon Avenue, Lochside Trail, and Darwin Avenue. The plan for the area includes a mix of affordable and market-rate rental housing, long-term care beds, and homes with supports. This redevelopment will provide hundreds of new homes and care facilities to support families, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities or mental health needs.
Why Now
Over the past decade, demand for Garth Homer services has grown at an unprecedented rate. At the same time, the needs of the people we serve have become more complex as demographics shift and pressures in health, housing, and community supports intensify. At this pivotal moment, building a new purpose-built Centre for Belonging is both urgent and necessary.
Growing Need For Programs and Services
- Seniors with developmental disabilities are one of the fastest-growing populations we serve.
- People with developmental disabilities are living longer, often with more complex medical and behavioural needs.
- People with developmental disabilities are significantly more likely to experience crime and victimization, highlighting the importance of safe, inclusive community spaces.
- Autism is one of the fastest-growing diagnoses, requiring specialized and innovative programming.
- Government funding prioritizes those with the most acute needs, leaving a gap for those with moderate disabilities, particularly young people transitioning out of the school system.
Urgent Housing Needs
- Housing pressures have intensified, with an estimated 20% of people experiencing homelessness showing signs of developmental disabilities, often alongside other complex challenges.
- Many adults with developmental disabilities are now outliving their caregivers, creating urgent demand for supportive and independent housing options.
Inside the Centre for Belonging
Ground Level | Garth Homer Community Commons
The ground floor will be an active, welcoming space serving the Nigel Valley neighbourhood and the broader community.
- Childcare centre serving Nigel Valley residents and beyond
- Specialized dental clinic designed for people with sensory processing challenge
- Low-vision clinic, the first specialized low-vision clinic on Vancouver Island
- The Great Hall, a flexible gathering space for performances, markets, workshops, and community events
Second Floor | Garth Homer Community Inclusion Hub
Purpose-built program space supporting Community Inclusion programs for individuals with more complex needs.
- Specialized personal care areas
- Sensory rooms
- Communication tools and innovative technologies that support independence
- Dedicated staff spaces for collaboration and program development
A New Mixed Residential Community | Adding Much-Needed Affordable Housing
Affordable, stable housing is critical for people with developmental disabilities and for the broader Victoria community.
- 90 units of mixed housing in total
- 30 units allocated to the GHS community
- 60 units to serve the wider Victoria community
- A mix of subsidized and rent-geared-to-income housing
Imagine the joy when you feel you truly belong in a vibrant, diverse community of neighbors from all walks of life, all income levels and all backgrounds, in a way that most of us take for granted. Imagine families finding peace of mind knowing their adult children will have a safe, supportive home after they are gone. Imagine families and caregivers having access to respite during moments of crisis or just having a break from what can be a stressful life.
Imagine a place where Garth Homer clients and neighbours share walking paths as part of their regular wellness routines. Where people stop their coffee after shopping, walk their pets or simply sit together in the sun. Where community is not a “concept” but a daily experience for everyone.
