Browse Categories: Housing & Shelter

Provides monthly rent subsidies to low-income seniors age 60+ who rent in the private market. Apply through BC Housing online or by submitting a SAFER application form; call BC Housing at 604-433-2218 (Lower Mainland) or 1-800-257-7756 for information or help with the application. The subsidy amount is based on household income, rent, and household size, and payments are made monthly to help seniors afford housing and remain in their homes.

Centralized waitlist for subsidized seniors housing across BC. Seniors can apply for affordable housing managed by BC Housing through the registry.

Provides free legal assistance and representation to low and modest income tenants who are contending with tenancy law issues before the Residential Tenancy Branch. To see if you qualify for our free legal assistance and representation services through the Residential Tenancy Program, email us at tenancylaw@accessprobono.ca. If you email us, please provide your name, contact information, and hearing date if one has been set. Please allow up to two business days for us to call you back.

Year-round, 54-bed high barrier emergency shelter for men (inclusive of cisgender and transgender men). Includes five beds for men referred by Community Court. Provides shared rooms and three meals per day. 24-hour shelter with intake at any time; clients must return by 11 pm to keep their bed. Shelter residents can access their bed for bed rest; a doctor's note may be required. Clients must be off the shelter floors between 7:45 am and 12:30 pm on weekdays; and between 8:45 am and 1 pm on weekends. Health-related services include home nursing and home care through referral, and accommodation of oxygen tanks (but no storage). Alcohol- and drug-free environment. Stay is 30 days, with potential for extensions on a case-by-case basis; there is a 60 day cool down period between stays. Cannot accommodate pets. No bikes or scooters in the building. Client may not bring more than two bags of belongings and must keep their belongings in the lockers at all times; belongings left behind after discharge will be held for two weeks before disposal. Wheelchair accessible (only manual wheelchairs; does not accept battery-operated wheelchairs/scooters). Also operates an extreme weather response shelter between October 1 and March 31 when weather is extreme.

Year-round, 29-bed high barrier shelter providing emergency housing and three meals per day for women (inclusive of cisgender and transgender women) ages 19 and over with or without children. This includes a bed for women referred by Community Court. Accommodation is in shared rooms for up to four women, or for a family. The shelter can accommodate two families; a family is considered as a mother and two children, including boys ages 10 and under; spouse may not stay with the family but may be accommodated in the Male shelter if there is availability. Intake is 24-hours a day; clients must return by 11 pm to keep their bed. Shelter residents can access their bed for bed rest; a doctor's note may be required. Clients must be off the shelter floors between 7:45 am and 12:30 pm on weekdays; and between 8:45 am and 1 pm on weekends. Alcohol- and drug-free environment. Stay is 30 days, with potential for extensions on a case-by-case basis. There is a 60 day cool down period between stays. Cannot accommodate pets. No bikes or scooters in the building. Wheelchair accessible (only manual wheelchairs; does not accept battery-operated wheelchairs/scooters). Also operates an extreme weather response shelter between October 1 and March 31 when weather is extreme.

First United Church legal advocacy for low-income and vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside, covering tenancy, income assistance, disability, Employment Insurance, and pension issues. Can represent clients at the Residential Tenancy Branch, the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal, and the Social Security Tribunal. Free. Contact by phone or email, or drop in during intake hours - capacity is limited, so arrive early and bring paperwork related to the issue. Limited in-person intake for urgent matters like eviction or loss of income if phone or email cannot be reached.

Free advocacy for people living with mental illness or experiencing homelessness or insecure housing, in Vancouver, Burnaby, or New Westminster. Advocates help with CPP, OAS, GIS, income assistance, and disability benefit applications, and with tenancy problems such as evictions, rent disputes, and repairs. Drop in during office hours - no appointment needed, though clients may be asked to share mental health information and sign a release form. The Kettle cannot represent tenants whose landlord is The Kettle Society itself.

Outreach workers meet people experiencing homelessness where they are, on the street, in a shelter, or in a temporary place, to figure out what is needed and connect them to emergency shelter, food, clothing, and blankets. Helps with getting ID and applying for income assistance, and supports people moving into housing with applications, move-in appointments, and liaising with landlords. Rent subsidies may be available. Drop in or call Monday to Thursday; closed for lunch from noon to 1pm.

Low-barrier overnight shelter with 34 mats for adults 18 and older of all genders. Sign-up starts at 8:30pm and any mats left are given out at the 11pm curfew. Breakfast and snacks are provided, plus a $2.75 meal ticket for a hot lunch or dinner at The Gathering Place during the day. Showers, laundry, personal care items, clothing, advocacy and referrals are available 9am-5:30pm daily, with a small daytime locker (no cart storage). No pets, wheelchair accessible.

Emergency shelter for 66 men, including transgender men, open 24 hours, year-round. Intake runs 8am to 10:30pm with no reservations, and registered guests must be back for the 10:30pm bed check to keep their place. Behaviour-based and low-barrier, with no alcohol or drug use on site. Offers housing support, case management, social programs, a computer lab, health care and small lockers (no bikes or carts). No pets, and not wheelchair accessible.

Emergency shelter for 34 men, including transgender men, open 24 hours, year-round. Intake runs 8am to 10:30pm with no reservations, and registered guests must be back by 10:30pm to keep their place. Behaviour-based and low-barrier, with no alcohol or drug use on site. Offers housing support, case management, social programs, a computer lab, health care and small lockers (no bikes or carts). No pets. Wheelchair accessible.

Emergency shelter with bunk beds for 36 men, including transgender men, open 24 hours. Intake runs 8am to 10:30pm with no reservations, and curfew is 10:30pm. Behaviour-based and low-barrier, with no alcohol or drug use on site. Sandwiches and a snack are given at intake and coffee and a bagged lunch in the morning, plus information, referrals and first aid. No pets, no cart or bike storage, and not wheelchair accessible.

Overnight shelter for up to 100 men, including transgender men, open 9pm to 6:50am daily in a clean, sober setting with bunk-bed rooms. Waitlist tickets are handed out at 5pm at reception and intake starts at 9pm at the Cornerstone Drop-In Centre (Princess Street entrance), with beds held first for people who stayed the night before. Offers showers, limited laundry, hygiene items, overnight lockers, case management and referrals to housing, recovery, legal and immigration help. There is no one-on-one or medical support, so guests must manage on their own. Faith-based and wheelchair accessible, no pets except guide dogs.