Shelters and winter response strategy

Shelter types

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  Permanent and temporary year-round shelters

  Permanent shelters

  Permanent emergency shelters are immediate places, for anyone who is experiencing homelessness to stay and connect with necessary health, social, and housing services, and to find more appropriate permanent accommodation.

  Permanent shelters are funded by the Province of BC and run by experienced non-profit operators.

  These sites operate 365 days a year.

  Temporary shelters 

  Temporary shelters are opened through a partnership with the City of Vancouver and BC Housing to provide additional shelter capacity to keep those experiencing homelessness safe.

  These sites operate 365 days a year, and the temporary shelter beds are in addition to permanent shelter beds. 

  Each temporary shelter has an operations management plan outlining how the shelter will be operated and whom to contact with concerns. Contact us if you would like a copy of a shelter operations plan.

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  Temporary winter response shelters

  Temporary winter response shelters are in addition to the permanent and temporary shelter beds that operate 365 days a year.

  They are open annually to provide additional shelter capacity to keep those experiencing homelessness safe and warm during the winter months.

  Important note Temporary winter shelters are opened nightly during the months of November to the end of March. 

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  Extreme weather response shelters

  Extreme Weather Response Program (EWR) spaces funded by BC Housing are in addition to the temporary winter shelter spaces.

  Criteria for activating an extreme weather alert in Vancouver

  • Temperatures near zero with rainfall that makes it difficult or impossible for those experiencing homelessness to remain dry
  • Sleet or freezing rain
  • Snow accumulation
  • Sustained high winds
  • Temperatures at or below 0°C, or "feels like" 0°C with wind chill
  • Rainfall of at least 50mm in a 24-hour period

  Alerts are shared with service providers, outreach organizations, TransLink, and other partners who can alert people who are experiencing homelessness.

  Learn more about the Extreme Weather Response Program External website, opens in new tab

  Find out if an EWR is open and get up-to-date information

  If there are other contacts in your networks who would benefit from receiving Vancouver Extreme Weather Alert notifications, contact ewrcoordinator@hsa-bc.ca

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  Warming centres

  Warming centres are in addition to extreme weather response shelters, and activation details are included in extreme weather response alerts sent out by Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC).

  While they are not set up with beds or mats, they provide a safe, warm space for people who might be living outside.

  We activate warming centres in extreme cold weather as a life-saving measure when the temperature reaches -4°C or below (or it feels like -4°C or below).

  Add your location to warming centres

  Contact us if you're a service provider who would like to be added to the warming centre activation list.