Temporary Winter Shelter Program

BC Housing’s Emergency Shelter Program helps providers deliver temporary, community-based shelter services. Temporary Winter Shelters operate as a seasonal shelter during colder months. Shelter providers offer extra emergency spaces when individuals face health and safety risks.

Temporary winter shelters provide essential services to meet the individuals’ immediate needs for:

  • overnight accommodation
  • basic nutrition and hygiene
  • additional support services, where available

Key Planning Dates for Temporary Winter Shelters

Start planning discussions early. The timeline below shows the key milestones.

May 31

  • Partners should connect with their BC Housing regional representative to explore options
  • Confirm the site’s availability
    • Meet any municipal permit requirement
    • Discuss budget proposal

Summer – Early Fall

  • BC Housing makes funding decisions on viable sites

October – April

  • Openings depend on site availability and operational factors
  • Funding allows Temporary Winter Shelters to be open from October 1 to April 30

Participants in Temporary Winter Shelters

Community partners, local governments, and BC Housing each have a role in supporting and running Temporary Winter Shelters in communities.

Key StakeholderResponsibility
Community partners (such as non-profit providers and/or municipalities)Bring proposals to BC Housing, including confirmed sites and estimated budgets
Providers / MunicipalitiesWork together to secure operational permits for a Temporary Winter Shelter site
BC Housing

Reviews proposal viability, negotiates budgets with providers, and confirms funding availability 

Selects providers to follow established Request For Pre-Qualification (RFPQ) process

Enters into an operating agreement with each provider

Types of Shelters

BC Housing funds three shelter programs:

 Year-Round ShelterTemporary Winter Shelter (TWS)Extreme Weather Response Shelter (EWR)
Availability
  • Year-round
  • Open every night, 24/7
  • Open every night (October 1 - April 30)
  • Many operate 24/7
  • Can increase capacity during colder months
  • Operational October 15 – April 15
  • Only open during evenings of extreme weather alerts issued
  • Community-led
On-site Services
  • Sleeping beds, including mattresses and/or pods
  • Hygiene services, meals, laundry access
  • Sleeping mats, cots or beds
  • Hygiene services, meals, and may have laundry access
  • Sleeping mats and/or cots when beds are unavailable
  • Food, snacks, warm drinks, washroom access
  • Other services dependent on staffing capacity and the space
Other Options
  • Referrals to other services
  • Access to a case worker, health, social and housing services
  • Referrals to other services
  • May not have access to social services available at year-round shelters
  • Referrals to other services

 

For questions about Temporary Winter Shelters reach out to: