A man walking through the street at night

City reminds public of extreme weather shelters and warming centres as temperatures drops

January 26 2023 –

After a milder January, the forecast is calling for colder temperatures in Vancouver, with freezing temperatures arriving as early as this weekend.  

We and partners will be once again activating a variety of spaces to encourage people to come in from the cold, starting the evening of January 27.  

Extreme weather response (EWR) shelters provide mats to sleep on and are open during extreme rain, wind, snow or when the temperature feels like 0°C or below. Depending on the location, visitors to these warm spaces may bring pets, bikes, and carts with them.  

Warming centres are open when the temperature feels like -5°C or below, or the actual temperature is -4°C or below, as a life-saving measure for people sleeping outside. Hot drinks and snacks are available.  

The most up-to-date information on EWR and Warming Centre activations can be found on our social media pages and the Homelessness Services Association of BC’s Emergency Weather Response Program Twitter account . 

Extreme weather response shelters and warming centres

Extreme weather response (EWR) shelters and warming centres are in addition to temporary winter shelters, which are open every night between November and March.   

EWR shelters will open tonight to provide additional spaces at the following locations:    

  • Directions Youth Services Centre    
    • 1138 Burrard Street   
    • 10pm to 7am   
  • Cascades Church    
    • 3833 Boundary Road   
    • 9:30pm to 9am     
  • Langara YMCA   
    • 9:30pm to 7am    
    • 282 West 49th Avenue   
  • The Salvation Army Belkin House    
    • 555 Homer Street   
    • 9pm to 7am    
  • Langara YMCA   
    • 282 West 49th Avenue    
    • 9:30pm to 7am    

Warming centres will be open starting January 28, at the following locations:

  • Powell Street Getaway (DTES)   
    • Opening tonight, Jan 27, aligning with EWR parameters 
    • 450 East Hastings Street   
    • 9pm to 7:30am  
  • Odd Fellows Hall (Fairview)   
    • 1433 West 8th Avenue  
    • 9:30pm to 8:30am  
  • Marpole Neighbourhood House (Marpole) 
    • 8585 Hudson Street   
    • 10pm to 8:30am   
  • Gathering Place (Downtown) 
    • 609 Helmecken   
    • 8:30pm to 7:30am   
  • Mount Pleasant Community Centre (Mount Pleasant) 
    • 1 Kingsway (entrance off 8th) 
    • 10pm to 6:30am    
  •  Overdose Prevention Society (DTES - Overdose Prevention Site) 
    • 141 East Hastings 
    • 11pm to 8:30am    
  • Aboriginal Front Door (DTES) 
    • 390 Main Street
    • 11pm to 7am    

We extend our appreciation to the community organizations who make their spaces available to activate as warming centres and extreme weather response shelters and to the province for funding these activations.