Emergency Shelter Program

The Emergency Shelter Program provides funding to homeless shelters and drop-in centres providing temporary shelter, food and other services for individuals who are homeless. Management of the program was transferred to BC Housing from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance (MEIA) in October 2005.  

The Emergency Shelter Program offers temporary shelter, food and other services to meet the basic nutritional and hygiene needs of people who are homeless. The program serves individuals who often have health, addiction and other barriers that may have contributed to their homeless state and make it difficult to secure stable housing. There are approximately 56 homeless shelters and drop-in agencies funded by the government throughout British Columbia.

Homeless shelters and drop-in centres are managed by community-based agencies on behalf of BC Housing. Who is eligible for shelter varies from facility to facility. For example, some shelters provide aid to only men, some shelters provide aid to only women and other shelters provide aid to men, women and families. For detailed eligibility information for specific shelters please see ‘Where can I find an emergency shelter’ below.

Community groups run homeless shelters that provide short-term beds and meals for people who are homeless. If you need homeless shelter, click the appropriate link for a  list of shelters in Greater Vancouver  and  outside of Greater Vancouver.

For homeless shelter information after 4:30 p.m., call the After Hours information line at 604-660-3194 or toll free at 1-866-660-3194.

Cold Wet Weather Support operates as a seasonal extension of the Emergency Shelter Program and provides additional resources to increase bed capacity in shelters for the months of November to April, when the weather is most inclement.

Extreme Weather Response program
The Extreme Weather Response program provides additional emergency shelter beds in times when the existing numbers of beds are not sufficient to meet the health and safety needs of homeless individuals or families during periods of extreme weather conditions. The program only funds community-based services who provide time-limited, temporary shelter beds during extreme weather conditions. More information on the Extreme Weather Response program is available for Emergency Shelter Program funded agencies by clicking here .