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Battered Women's Support Services (BWSS)
Crisis line and ongoing support for women experiencing intimate partner violence, childhood sexual abuse, or sexual assault, including trans, immigrant, Indigenous, and 2SLGBTQI+ survivors. Workers offer safety planning and counselling, help navigating police, courts, housing, and financial systems, and can report an assault to police on a survivor’s behalf so they stay anonymous. A separate Justice Centre program offers free legal representation and clinics. Free and confidential, in many languages. Call the crisis and intake line Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm; leave a voicemail or email intake@bwss.org after hours or if it is not safe to talk.
BC Women's Hospital
Specialized hospital providing comprehensive women’s health care, including emergency and urgent treatment for gynecological issues, severe pain, infections, bleeding, and other complex conditions. Senior women can receive assessment, diagnostic testing, and treatment, as well as referrals to specialists for ongoing care such as menopause management, pelvic health, and chronic conditions. Services are inclusive of transgender and gender-diverse patients who require women’s health care.
Trans Care BC
Province-wide program operated by the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) that helps trans, Two-Spirit, and non-binary people in British Columbia access gender-affirming health care. The program provides information, education, and health-system navigation for individuals seeking services such as hormone therapy, surgical care, mental health support, and legal document changes. Health navigators help people understand care pathways, locate gender-affirming doctors and counsellors, and connect with peer support and community resources.
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre
Drop-in centre and support for women and gender-diverse people in the Downtown Eastside.
Services & Programs (2)
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Low-barrier drop-in centre exclusively for women and gender-diverse people in the Downtown Eastside. Provides meals three times daily, clothing, showers, health referrals, peer advocacy, and community programs. Welcoming to older women and Elders. Extension 228 when calling.
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Support for women in the Downtown Eastside who have been victims of crime, including sexual assault, family violence, historical abuse and stalking. Run by DEWC, the program provides immediate emotional support, crisis intervention, counselling, accompaniment to court, and information and referral. Free and confidential - call to connect with a victim services worker.
Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre
Free, confidential crisis support, counselling, and hospital or police accompaniment for survivors of sexualized violence, for women, Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people age 14 and up. Through its Victim Services Program, workers help survivors apply for Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits and Victim Impact Statements, can report an assault to police on a survivor’s behalf so they stay anonymous, and offer culturally appropriate support for Indigenous survivors. Call the 24-hour crisis line any time, or reach the office Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.
Trans Lifeline
Free, confidential peer support crisis line for trans, nonbinary, and questioning people, staffed entirely by trans and nonbinary operators. Call for emotional support or someone to talk to during a crisis or moments of isolation. Operators will not contact emergency services without the caller’s request.
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre - Cordova Shelter
Low-barrier, 24-hour emergency shelter for women (cisgender and transgender), non-binary, and Two-Spirit people in the Downtown Eastside. Provides overnight beds, meals, showers, laundry, and toiletries, plus access to housing workers, peer navigators, and sexual assault response coordinators. Call 604-742-4980 or 778-926-4580, or come in person to ask about bed availability.
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre - Hastings Shelter
Women-focused emergency shelter in the DTES providing overnight beds, meals, and a safe, low-barrier environment with access to support services.
QMUNITY
Community centre providing peer support, counselling, and navigation for 2SLGBTQIA+ people of all ages, including a dedicated seniors and older adult program. Services include support groups, a legal clinic, and referrals for health, housing, and legal issues. The office is on the second floor up a flight of stairs; an accessible meeting space is available on request. Open Monday to Friday, 10am-6pm; call 604-684-5307 or visit the website to get started.
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre Hastings Drop-In
Low-barrier drop-in for women in the Downtown Eastside, with a safe indoor space, washrooms and showers, and help with advocacy and system navigation. Dinner is served free every day from 6pm to 7pm, with takeout containers while supplies last. Open daily 1:30pm to 10:30pm, except on income assistance payment days when the centre is closed.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver
Nonprofit social service agency with offices across Metro Vancouver, including a main office on East Broadway in Vancouver. Offers free trauma counselling and victim support services for people of all ages, including seniors, who have experienced abuse, family violence, or other trauma. Also provides family counselling, parenting groups, and financial empowerment coaching. Call 604-731-4951 to find the right program and location.
Services & Programs (1)
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Free, confidential support from Family Services of Greater Vancouver for people affected by sexual abuse, family violence or other crime, including adult survivors of childhood abuse and elder abuse. A support worker can explain the court process, go to court and other interviews with a person, give case updates, help complete Crime Victim Assistance Program forms and victim impact statements, and offer emotional support and referrals. Serves Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and Richmond. Not every location accepts open referrals, so call first. Call 604-731-4951, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, or call VictimLinkBC anytime at 1-800-563-0808 for 24/7 crisis support.
Outreach for Women Who are Older
Emotional and practical support, advocacy, and referrals for women age 55 and over who have experienced abuse from a family member, intimate partner, or someone in a position of power such as a landlord or caregiver. For women who are not ready or able to go to a transition house. Run by Atira. Free. Call 604-681-4437 or email swo@atira.bc.ca. Staff are available Monday to Wednesday 8:30am-5pm and Thursday 11:30am-8pm.
Vancouver & Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society
Multilingual nonprofit supporting immigrants, refugees, and women experiencing family violence across Metro Vancouver, including seniors and families. Offers crisis intervention, supportive counselling, safety planning, and help settling in Canada, in more than a dozen languages. Services are free. Call the office or the victim services helpline Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. The office is in Burnaby.
Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre - Powell Street Shelter
Low-barrier women’s emergency shelter offering overnight accommodation, meals, and access to support services for women experiencing homelessness or crisis.
Helping Spirit Lodge Society
Indigenous-led organization in Vancouver supporting women and children fleeing domestic violence, and other individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Runs the Spirit Lodge Transition House (emergency shelter, up to 30 days) and Spirit Way Transition House (transitional housing up to 18 months), plus street outreach and help finding permanent housing through Journey Home. Call 604-874-6629, Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, to ask about space or a program.
Powell Place Emergency Shelter for Women
Provides year-round low-barrier, 24-hour emergency shelter for 52 self-identified women experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Women are supported in retaining their autonomy, regaining their independence, and building skills to move forward in life. Services include three meals per day, one-on-one support and advocacy, crisis intervention, referrals, housing search assistance, accompaniment to appointments, and access to harm reduction supplies. Referral accepted from self or other. Beds are available on a first come, first served basis. Does not accept pets. Not wheelchair accessible.
Springhouse Emergency Shelter
24-hour emergency shelter for women, including women-led families, run by The Bloom Group. Beds are first-come, first-served. Residents get meals, laundry, and one-on-one support finding permanent housing, plus help for children and youth and a family support specialist. Pets may be allowed case by case. Wheelchair accessible. Call the 24-hour intake line to check for space.
The Osborn
24-hour, low-barrier shelter with 8 secure spaces for women and 52 co-ed spaces; couples are welcome. Three meals a day plus case planning to help guests move from homelessness into housing. On-site medical clinic space, a safe consumption area, and individual lockers for belongings, carts, and bikes. New intake starts at 5pm and the waitlist opens at noon. Wheelchair accessible; pets are accepted. An extra warming space opens November to March when the temperature drops below -4C.
Vancouver Rape Relief and Women's Shelter
24-hour crisis line offering free, confidential emotional support, safety planning, and referrals to anyone affected by male violence, including sexual assault, domestic violence, and trafficking. Provides temporary shelter for about 30 days to women, with or without children, who are fleeing violence or at risk, including women without immigration status. No ID is required and there is no waitlist. Also helps women find longer-term housing through referrals, subsidy information, and search assistance. Call the crisis line first to access any of these services.
YWCA Crabtree Corner
Community and resource centre for women and families in the Downtown Eastside.
Services & Programs (2)
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Free nutritious breakfast and lunch, five days a week, for women and their families in the Downtown Eastside. Breakfast runs 9 to 10am and lunch 1 to 2pm, Monday to Friday, no lunch served on income assistance days. Walk in during meal hours, no referral needed. Run by YWCA Metro Vancouver.
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One-to-one support from YWCA Crabtree Corner for women and femmes in Vancouver who have experienced or are currently experiencing abuse in an intimate relationship, including with a partner, parent, or caregiver. Support includes emotional support, safety planning, help finding affordable housing, income assistance navigation, help with the legal system, and accompaniment to court and other appointments. Free. Call or email to connect with a support worker, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 3:30pm.
BWSS Justice Centre
Battered Women’s Support Services program giving free legal help to women and femmes in BC who have experienced intimate partner, domestic, or sexualized violence, especially those denied legal aid or facing barriers such as language, disability, trauma, or cost. Offers full legal representation for qualifying cases, family law advice clinics, court accompaniment, help with court forms and affidavits, and legal education workshops. Free. Call the crisis and intake line to ask about services.
Migrant Workers Centre
Free legal help for migrant workers in BC, including people with closed work permits, caregivers, people without immigration status, and workers facing serious exploitation or sexual harassment. Services include legal representation, advocacy, and help understanding rights at work, in Spanish and Tagalog as well as English, with interpretation available in other languages. Call 604-669-4482 or 1-888-669-4482 to book an appointment. Limited walk-in help is available on Saturdays.
Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre
Nonprofit wellness centre providing low-barrier legal and health services to Two-Spirit, transgender, and non-binary people across BC. Services include help updating ID and legal name or gender marker, one-time legal advice appointments, and hormone or surgery readiness assessments. Appointments are held mostly by phone or Zoom. Request one through the website. Services are free for those who need them.
Philippine Women Centre of BC
Advocates for Filipino migrant women and provides settlement, legal information, and community programs.
Shelter Movers Vancouver
Free moving and storage help for survivors of gender-based violence and their families who need to safely leave an abusive home. Can also help survivors go back to gather belongings they could not take during an urgent exit, and can arrange security escorts, police escorts, interpretation, and pet relocation. Referral required from a partner agency such as a shelter, transition house, community agency, counsellor, or police victim services unit. Does not take requests directly from clients. Needs one to two weeks notice before the move date. Serves Vancouver and other Lower Mainland municipalities including Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, and the North Shore.
WISH Drop-In Centre Society
Overnight drop-in for active street-based sex workers, including cis and trans women, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. Offers a safe space, harm reduction supplies, clothing, and meals, with dinner from 6pm to 8pm, a snack from 1am to 4am, and breakfast at 6am. Open to participants, staff, and invited guests only, and WISH keeps who attends confidential, including from police and family. Free, Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 6am.
Aboriginal Mother Centre Society
Indigenous-led organization in Grandview-Woodland supporting Aboriginal mothers and children, with some programs open to the wider community including Elders. The Community Kitchen serves hot meals Monday to Friday for $4.50, with a free meal for Elders every Thursday. Also runs transitional housing for mothers and children at risk of homelessness, a licensed daycare, and family wellness workshops (daycare and housing have waitlists). Call 604-558-2627 or visit in person - no referral is needed for the community kitchen.
Services & Programs (1)
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Community kitchen at the Aboriginal Mother Centre serving hot meals Monday to Friday for $4.50. Every Thursday, the kitchen also prepares a home-cooked meal especially for Elders in the community. Call 604-558-2627 ext. 108 or email kitchen@aboriginalmothercentre.ca for details.
Christian Advocacy Society of Greater Vancouver
Network of crisis support programs for women in Metro Vancouver, run from a faith-based agency in Burnaby. Covers domestic abuse, sexual assault, and unplanned pregnancy, including a safe house and a maternity home. Peer counselling and in-person support are free of charge. Call the main office to be connected to the right program.
Sakeenah Canada
National organization offering free, culturally and religiously sensitive support to Muslim women and families facing violence, homelessness, or poverty, though no one is turned away regardless of background. A caseworker and a counsellor work with each client on housing, including emergency hotel placement and long-term options, safety planning, legal referrals, mental health, and other essentials. Service is remote, by phone, in English, French, Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi, Farsi, Dari, and Gujarati. Call the 24/7 hotline to get started.
Help in these languages:- English
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi
- فارسی Farsi
- हिन्दी Hindi
- Français French
- العربية Arabic
- اردو Urdu
- دری Dari
- ગુજરાતી Gujarati
Salvation Army Belkin House
Emergency shelter in downtown Vancouver with separate floors for men (54 beds) and women (29 beds, with limited rooms for women with children under 13). Provides three meals a day, including bagged lunches and special diets when needed. Intake is in person, 24 hours a day. Residents must return by 11pm to keep their bed. Maximum stay is 30 days. Alcohol- and drug-free environment. Wheelchair accessible.
Services & Programs (2)
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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.
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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.
SisterShelter
Low-barrier overnight shelter for women, including transgender women, run by Atira Women's Resource Society. Open nightly from 6pm to 9am with 16 bunk beds, hot meals, and snacks. Pets are allowed with some restrictions, but there is no storage for belongings. Partially wheelchair accessible for people who use walkers or canes.
Spirit Lodge Transition House – Domestic Violence Shelter
First-stage transition house for Indigenous women, with or without children, fleeing domestic violence or at risk of abuse. Provides a safe place to stay for up to 30 days, meals, clothing, counselling referrals, and help with housing applications and safety planning. Residents must be substance-free for 96 hours before admission, though people on documented substitution therapy may be accepted. No ID required and no cost. Wheelchair accessible. Call the 24/7 intake line to ask about space.
The Sisterhood
Low-barrier shelter for all self-identified women, including transgender women, run by Atira Women's Resource Society. Up to 21 beds, three meals a day, snacks, and an on-site safe injection space. Free laundry is available next door. Limited storage for belongings and no cart storage. Pets are accepted with some restrictions. Open 24/7 and wheelchair accessible.
New Beginnings Baptist Church
New Beginnings Baptist Church runs a weekly food bank and support programs from its building in East Vancouver. The food bank is open Wednesdays, 1pm to 3pm, to anyone in need - drop in for food and a coffee or snack. Free, Bible-based counselling is available by appointment, and the church runs a weekly support group for women dealing with abuse, grief, or pain. Call 604-873-2100 to ask about counselling or the support group.
Vancouver Women’s Health Collective – Community Fridge & Food Access
Community fridge, freezer and pantry run by the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective for self-identified women and gender-diverse people in the Downtown Eastside. Free food and hot meals are available Wednesday to Friday, 1-4:30pm, with no ID or referral needed. Free clothing is offered the same days, 2-4pm. Part of the Vancouver Community Fridge network.
Rise Women's Legal Centre
Rise Women's Legal Centre offers free family law help for women and gender-diverse people in BC with a non-urgent matter who meet financial eligibility requirements. Request an appointment through the online form on the centre's website, staff respond within 3-5 business days. Drop-in 30-minute appointments are also available the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, 11am-3pm, at Suite 820 - 510 Burrard Street. Services include legal navigation, summary advice, and limited court assistance, not full representation. Only court filing fees are extra.
South Asian Legal Clinic of BC
Free legal clinic for South Asian people in BC dealing with issues such as separation and divorce, family violence, immigration status, workplace discrimination, elder abuse, or wills and estates. Staff lawyers give free initial legal advice appointments, and trained advocates help with government forms at no cost. Services are offered in English, Punjabi, and Hindi. Book an appointment online or call 236-477-5518. The office is in Surrey.
Help in these languages:- English
- ਪੰਜਾਬੀ Punjabi
- हिन्दी Hindi
Trans ID Clinic
Run by QMUNITY for lower-income transgender people applying for a legal name change or to change the gender marker on their ID. Offers information, help filling out forms, fingerprinting accompaniment, and notarial support, but not legal advice. Walk-ins welcome if space allows, or book ahead online or by phone. Held 1st and 3rd Wednesdays and the 3rd Friday of each month, 4pm-6pm.
Pacific Association of First Nations Women
Pacific Association of First Nations Women supports Indigenous women in BC through advocacy, cultural programs, and leadership and health initiatives. Programs address housing, health, and other issues affecting Indigenous women and their families, and include membership-based workshops and community events across the Lower Mainland. Call 604-872-1849 or visit the website to ask about current programs and membership.
For Indigenous People
Innercity Women's Initiatives Society
Outreach and harm reduction support for women in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver experiencing trauma, substance use, or mental health challenges, through the Downtown Auxiliary Mobile Services (DAMS) program. Offers harm reduction supplies, life-skills workshops on topics such as grief, self-esteem, and anger management, weekly support groups, and case management with accompaniment to medical appointments or court. A drop-in meal program runs Wednesdays and Fridays, 5pm to 7pm. Free - call 604-687-5454 for more information.
Multicultural Helping House Society
Nonprofit settlement agency in South Vancouver helping newcomers, permanent residents and citizens find employment, learn English, and connect with their community. Offers CELPIP and IELTS test preparation, immigration consulting, a social program for seniors 55 and older, a support program for women, and a free tax clinic. Services are free for eligible clients. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, closed 12 to 1pm for lunch. Call ahead to confirm which programs you qualify for.
Services & Programs (2)
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A free income tax clinic for eligible low-income clients at the Fraser Street office, which is wheelchair accessible. It starts in March and is by appointment only. Call 604-359-1809 or email to book.
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A social program for seniors 55 and older, with gentle fitness such as Zumba and yoga, memory games, digital skills workshops and outings. Call 604-359-1809 or email to ask about the schedule and any cost.