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.

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, winter months only (November to March).
• The Centre Shelter (Co-Ed) - Nanaimo Women's Resources Society and the Nanaimo Citizen Advocacy Association
  (St. Peter's Church, 301 Machleary Street)  Coordinator   250-268-6151 or Shelter 250-268-6150
  Has 35 shelter beds for men and women, winter months only (December 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:
  • RDN Emergency Shelter Brochure:
    https://www.rdn.bc.ca/dms/documents/planning/affordable-housing/shelter_and_food_brochure.pdf
    
  • RDN Regional Housing Resource List:
    https://www.rdn.bc.ca/dms/documents/planning/affordable-housing/regional_housing_resource_list.pdf

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.