The Province of British Columbia is increasing shelter capacity this winter to ensure more people experiencing homelessness have access to warm, safe spaces as cold weather arrives.
Through BC Housing, the government is funding 6,486 shelter spaces in 58 communities across the province — the highest number to date. These include permanent, temporary and extreme-weather response (EWR) shelters, along with new Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) units.
There are 4,158 permanent shelter spaces open year-round and 1,154 temporary shelters operating through winter. Another 771 EWR spaces are activated when communities issue weather alerts. The HEARTH program has added 403 new shelter spaces, more than double last year’s total.
Additional shelters and warming centres are expected to open through the season as BC Housing works with municipalities and First Nations. When extreme cold hits, the Province also helps local governments cover the costs of emergency warming centres.
Since 2017, overall shelter capacity in B.C. has more than doubled, with more than 93,600 homes delivered or underway — including supportive housing and homelessness response projects.
Northern B.C. Shelter Locations
Williams Lake
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Cariboo Friendship Society – 99 Third Ave. | Year-Round | 30 beds | cariboofriendshipsociety.com
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Canadian Mental Health Association – Cariboo Chilcotin Branch – 98 First Ave. S | Temporary | 38 beds | cariboo.cmha.bc.ca
Terrace
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‘Ksan House Society – 2812 Hall St. | Year-Round | 16 beds | ksansociety.ca
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‘Ksan House Society – 4444 Lakelse Ave. | Temporary | 10 beds
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‘Ksan House Society – 2812 Hall St. | Temporary | 5 beds
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Ksan House Society – 2822 Tetrault St. | Year-Round | 40 beds
Quesnel
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Quesnel Shelter & Support Society – 146 Carson Ave. | Year-Round | 25 beds | seasonshouse.org
Prince Rupert
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North Coast Transition Society – 1080 3rd Ave. W | Year-Round | 35 beds
Kitimat
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Tamitik Status of Women Association – 480 City Centre | Temporary | 4 beds
Fort St. John
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Salvation Army – 9824 99 Ave. | Year-Round | 30 beds | safsj.org
Fort St. James
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Stuart Lake Shelter & Support Society – 167 Douglas St. | Temporary | 10 beds
Fort Nelson
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Fort Nelson Aboriginal Friendship Society – 4903 48th Ave. | Year-Round | 6 beds | fnafs.org
Dawson Creek
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Nawican Friendship Centre – 1401 102 Ave. | Year-Round | 17 beds
Chetwynd
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Tansi Friendship Centre Society – 5301 South Access Rd. | Temporary | 12 beds
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