Squamish Nation Emergency Housing Project

In partnership with the Squamish Nation, Renewal Development helped give a structurally sound North Vancouver home a second life. Finalized in early 2025, this repurposed home serves as a fully functional emergency and transitional housing for Indigenous families.

Originally located in Edgemont Village, the 1,200 sq. ft. home was slated for demolition as part of a redevelopment. Through Renewal’s Removal service, the team assessed the structure, deconstructed and disposed of the non-moveable lower level, and relocated the salvageable upper floor to the Capilano 5 Reserve, on Squamish Nation land near the Lions Gate Bridge.

Following relocation, the home was renovated and expanded into two self-contained units, prioritizing accessibility, energy performance, and long-term durability. All design and renovation work was completed with the guidance and priorities of the Squamish Nation, ensuring the home reflects both functional needs and long-term community goals. Architectural services were provided by HCMA, experts in the accessibility space.

The lower unit is fully accessible to include:

Barrier-free entry with ramp access and smooth thresholds.
Wider doorways and accessible switch heights.
Adapted kitchen and bathroom layouts, including accessible counters, cabinets, plumbing, roll-in shower, and grab bars.

The upper unit was renovated and repurposed to provide comfortable transitional housing, including repaired and upgraded appliances (e.g., a new wall oven).

Throughout both units, new environmental upgrades were made:

Fully electric systems
High-performance double-pane windows
Heat pump for efficient heating and cooling
LED lighting throughout

Exterior upgrades included replacing the original stucco with durable vinyl siding, improved exterior lighting for safety, and infrastructure allowances for future electric vehicle charging.

Community Context & Policy Momentum

This initiative builds on Renewal’s long-standing relationship with the Squamish Nation and follows in the footsteps of our 2023 collaboration to relocate and retrofit the historic Little Yellow Schoolhouse into a Squamish early childhood Learning Nest.

This project provides safe, dignified emergency and transitional shelter for Squamish Nation members in crisis. The two-unit configuration allows the Nation greater flexibility to respond to varying household needs while maximizing the value of a single relocated structure.

The repurposed home is part of the Nation’s broader housing strategy, which includes the recently completed 55-unit Estítkw building, designed to bring Squamish members back to their ancestral lands and reconnect with culture.

“This house will provide much-needed shelter to Squamish People in times of great need… It will be an inviting and safe place to stay in an emergency.”

— Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams), Squamish Nation council member

The project has also helped spark conversations about local policy change. Inspired by this and other projects, District of North Vancouver councillors have proposed demolition permit rebates to encourage more developers to consider reuse before resorting to teardown.

“A lot of these homes, they were built very, very well in the 1950s… If there’s land available, and certainly partnering with the nations, there is an opportunity to move these homes nearby.”

— Coun. Lisa Muri, District of North Vancouver

Environmental Benefits
In addition to the environmental upgrades, the following environmental benefits were also realized:

Approximately 40 tonnes of GHG emissions avoided
Over 32,000 kg of construction material diverted from landfill
Roughly 50 tonnes of embodied carbon preserved

By reusing the structure instead of demolishing it, the project:

Reduced landfill waste and construction emissions
Delivered a usable housing unit more quickly and at a greater cost savings over new construction
Preserved embodied carbon and extended the useful life of a well-built home

A Repeatable Model

Since 2020, Renewal has relocated multiple homes to Indigenous and non-urban communities across British Columbia. This completed project demonstrates how responsible removal and reuse can deliver affordable housing outcomes, sustainable development practices, and support culturally meaningful community partnerships.

At Renewal Development, we believe that with the right partners, timelines, and tools, affordability and sustainability can work together. And when they do, they create real impact.