• Housing NOW

The Housing NOW Project

In gratitude, The Housing NOW Project acknowledges that we live, work, and learn on the traditional unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, the W̱SÁNEĆ, and Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group including Tsawout, Tseycum, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Penelakut, Hwlitsum, Lelum Sar Augh Ta Naogh, Lyackson, and others. We express our gratitude to the past, present, and future – the ancestors, hereditary leaders and matriarchs for their care of the rich resources and cultural teachings of these unique and beautiful Islands. The Community Resource Centre and the Housing NOW Project commit to creating respectful and reciprocal working relationships with the First Peoples, Métis and Inuit to the benefit of all who reside or visit this place.

Housing NOW

In 2018, the CRD’s Southern Gulf Islands Housing Needs Assessment confirmed a growing crisis: secure, affordable housing is in short supply—especially for renters and seasonal workers. Many homes are vacant part of the year or used as vacation rentals, pushing local residents out of the market. The SGI Housing NOW Project is a community-led response to this challenge. With a large senior population and an economy that relies heavily on seasonal workers, our communities need year-round and short-term housing options that actually work. Housing NOW is helping us understand what islanders need—and how we can support more inclusive, sustainable housing in the SGIs.

Launched by the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre in partnership with the SGI Community Economic Sustainability Commission (CESC), and with funding support from the Capital Regional District and the Southern Gulf Islands Tourism Partnership Society, this program aims to identify housing needs and explore flexible, affordable solutions. Find out more below.

About Housing NOW

Welcome to the HN Homeshare Housing Registry

Housing NOW is committed to practical, community-rooted housing solutions across the Southern Gulf and Salt Spring Islands. We’ve partnered with Happipad, Canada’s trusted homeshare platform, to launch a new online housing registry and support hub—making it easier, safer, and more streamlined for homeowners and tenants to participate in local housing solutions. 

The Homeshare Housing Registry serves the Southern Gulf and Salt Spring Islands with a community-driven, housing-first approach. We support gentle density and creative solutions to the region’s housing needs—matching available spaces with responsible renters while encouraging neighbourly connections.

Looking for Housing?

Create your profile and browse local homeshare options on our digital registry.

Have a Place to Share?

List your house, cabin, or room—and connect with local renters backed by support and accountability.

Sign up to our Happipad Homeshare Housing Registry

Housing NOW

Find out more about our Homeshare Housing Registry and Happipad by clicking the button below.

All About the Homeshare Registry

Not Sure Where to Begin?

Welcome to Community Connect

The Community Connect Resource Hub is a partner network designed to help Southern Gulf Islands residents find the organizations, information and services that may support their housing journey. It brings together local organizations, service providers and community partners that can help residents navigate housing-related needs.

Find out more

Housing NOW Sector Referral Program

The Housing NOW Sector Referral Program supports workforce stability across the Southern Gulf Islands by connecting local employers and institutions with designated housing options for their staff. Through coordinated partnerships and a streamlined referral process, workers can access safe, stable housing close to their job sites.

What are the benefits for the partner organization?

  • Improved Recruitment & Retention

    Reduces housing barriers for essential workers

  • Streamlined Access

    Sectorspecific pathway to available housing

  • Geographic Alignment

    Housing availability matches workforce placement needs

  • Regional Coordination

    Building a shared SGI housing network

  • Reduced Administrative Burden

    Housing NOW and Happipad manage the system

Housing NOW is inviting local employers, institutions, and community organizations to participate in our Sector Referral Partnership Program. Find out everything you need to know about becoming a referral partner via the button below.

Sector Referral Program

For general information, partnership inquiries or help finding an appropriate pathway, contact Housing NOW through the Southern Gulf Islands Community Resource Centre.

Email: housingnow@sgicommunityresources.ca
Phone: 250-629-3665

Service Area: Pender, Mayne, Galiano, Saturna and the surrounding Southern Gulf Islands

Housing NOW and the Community Resource Centre do not replace legal, financial, health or emergency services. We provide general information and referrals to help residents find an appropriate starting point.

Contact HN Pender

Contact HN Mayne & Saturna

Contact HN Galiano

Contact HN Salt Spring

Contact Us

Follow us on Instagram

Sign up to our ṮEṮÁĆES Housing Newsletter

Visit our Community Connect Resource Hub

Our Partners

 

The Southern Gulf Island Community Resource Centre and the Housing NOW Registry Program are committed to protecting your privacy. The SGICRC and Housing NOW collect, use, and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA) as well as other applicable legislation. Our Privacy Policies can be found here.

INFORMATION PROVIDED AS PUBLIC SERVICE ONLY – DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY AND LIABILITY
The information and documents contained in this Website are provided by the SGICRC solely as a public service. Any persons or business entities using any of the information or documents provided on the Web site do so at their own risk. This Web site and all of the information and documents contained therein are provided “as is” without warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind. All implied warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement are expressly disclaimed.

Under no circumstances will the SGICRC be liable in any manner whatsoever to any person or business entity who uses in any way the documents or information from the Web site or from any other Web site to which this site is linked, for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages including without limitation, lost profits, business interruption, or loss of programs.

Research: Information contained in any documents created by The Housing NOW Project Staff, has been created solely as a resource to the reader. Although we are providing these resources to the public it is up to you as an individual to conduct your own due diligence to ensure that any framework, housing or otherwise, conforms with your particular jurisdiction(s) whether that be the CRD, municipality, the Islands Trust, or any other governing body.

Data Collection: It is important to note that regarding surveys, questionnaires, and data collection there is no established threshold for defining a high response rate. What we do know is the higher the response rate the more accurate and valid the prospective observations are. As we collect more data and more residents complete surveys, and questionnaires, and provide more qualitative responses these patterns may change.