Services and Supports
This page provides a short-list of the emergency shelter, nutrition and hygiene services available to residents of Nanaimo. For a full list of low and no-cost support services available in the city of Nanaimo, please refer to the Surviving in Nanaimo guide.
Please
note that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of local
providers are currently limited in the services provided.
Additionally, some overnight shelters are operating at reduced capacity and/or
not receiving new guests. Due to the rapidly changing context, we are not able
to provide updated information for every service provider, so please check
directly with them to confirm whether services have been affected.
For the most recent update on service provider changes, please see this page: Status of NHC Member Service Agencies during COVID-19
Emergency Shelters
RDN Regional Housing Resource List:
- Salvation Army New Hope Centre
(19 Nicol Street) 250-714-1142
Has 24 emergency shelter beds available for men. - Island Crisis Care Society Samaritan House
(355 Nicol Street) 250-753-1474
Has 14 emergency shelter beds available for women. - Winter Shelter First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo
(595 Townsite Road) 250-754-3720
Has 30 emergency shelter beds for men and women. - The Centre Shelter (Co-Ed) - Nanaimo Women's Resources Society and the Nanaimo Citizen Advocacy Association
(St. Peter's Church, 301 Machleary Street) Shelter 250-268-6150
Has 35 shelter beds for men and women, winter months only (November to March). - Friendship Lelum Youth Safe House
(250-753-8266)
Co-ed, year-round shelter for 'at-risk youth' between 12-18 years. - Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) shelter and housing support information, click the links below:
Emergency Food Providers
- Salvation Army New Hope Centre
(19 Nicol Street) 250-714-1142 / 250-753-0810
Meal program open for lunch and dinner. Bread & baked goods available during meal times while supplies last.
Lunch is served from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. Supper is served from 4:00 to 5:30 pm ($2.00 for hot meals). - 7-10 Breakfast Club
(285 Prideaux Street in the Community Service Building - entrance off Fitzwilliam St) 250- 714-0917
Provides a hot nutritious breakfast, homemade soup, plus a brown bag lunch to go that is served
by community volunteers to those in need during the hours of 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. All meals are offered at no charge. - Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank
(1009 Farquhar Street) 250-754-8347
List of satellite food banks available at http://nanaimoloavesandfishes.org/index.php?pageID=schedule.
Hygiene Services
- Shower Program - City of Nanaimo/First Unitarian Shelter
Caledonia Park (110 Wall Street)
250-668-4607/shelter@ufon.ca
Free showers available - Monday to Friday, 7 am to 10 am
Towels and toiletries are supplied. - Portable Toilets
Several portable toilets have been located downtown for the convenience of residents, visitors and homeless individuals.