Properties across Vancouver are being rapidly repurposed to help address our homelessness crisis and break the cycle of homelessness by creating both supportive housing and shelters.
Supportive housing
Supportive housing saves lives by providing professional health and wellness supports such as meals, connection to health care, and life skills training, offered both on site and in the local community.
Bringing people inside means there are fewer people outside struggling to survive. When a person chooses to live in supportive housing, they:
- Have a warm, safe place to call home
- Can access the necessities of life such as food, washrooms, and laundry
- Can begin to heal from the damage caused by living outside
- Can reconnect to community
These buildings are not being used as shelters – they will be homes and all residents will be pay rent.
What's happeningNew support for people experiencing homelessness: 205 Kingsway
With funding support from the Federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative Program, we’ve purchased the hotel at 205 Kingsway to provide approximately 68 rooms with supports for people experiencing homelessness.
Coast Mental Health, an experienced non-profit operator, oversees the day-to-day running of 205 Kingsway. Find out more External link icon.
Other repurposed buildings
Skeena House, the former Ramada Hotel at 3475 E Hastings St, provides 57 temporary housing units. 
The former Biltmore Hotel at 395 Kingsway, provides 95 supportive housing units.Temporary shelters
In partnership with the Province, we'll be opening two new temporary shelters totaling 120 beds. Shelters save lives by connecting residents experiencing homelessness with necessary health, social, and housing services.
Find out more about the temporary shelters proposed in Vancouver