Emergency Shelter and Food Resources

Day-Use Spaces

Risebridge Warming Centre

520 Prideaux Street

Provides an indoor warming centre for unhoused or precariously housed individuals. Additional services include basic needs and navigation support services.  

Open seven days per week between November 14, 2023, and March 31, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

risebridgeproject [at] gmail.com (risebridgeproject[at]gmail[dot]com )

Lobbies at the Recreation Centre Locations (250-756-5200)

Bowen Park Complex: 500 Bowen Road

Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Saturday, Sunday - Closed
 

Beban Pool Lobby: 2300 Bowen Road

Monday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 

Beban Social Centre and Frank Crane Arena: 2300 Bowen Road

Sunday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
 

Nanaimo Aquatic Centre: 741 Third Street

Sunday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
 

Nanaimo Ice Centre: 750 Third Street

Sunday to Saturday 5 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Oliver Woods Community Centre: 6000 Oliver Road

Sunday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

All drop-ins are welcome under the terms of the City of Nanaimo Facility Use Code of Conduct.

Canadian Mental Health Association Social Centre

290 Bastion Street (Basement)

250-244-4042 x 208

Provides a social and recreational program for people living with mental health and substance use challenges and those who may be experiencing homelessness.

Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Outshop - distribution of survival supplies on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Vancouver Island Regional Library

All drop-ins are welcome under the terms of VIRL's code of conduct

Nanaimo Harbourfront - 90 Commercial Street

Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Nanaimo North - 6250 Hammond Bay Road

Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Nanaimo Wellington - Country Club Mall (3200 North Island Highway)

Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Salvation Army New Hope Centre

19 Nicol Street

Provides daytime programming and space for current shelter guests only

Seven days per week

Island Crisis Care Society Warming Centre

2025 Bowen Road

Provides an indoor warming centre for unhoused or precariously housed individuals.  

Additional services include basic needs, health and navigation support services.  

Open seven days per week between January 2, 2024, and March 31, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

warmingcenter [at] iccare.ca (warmingcenter[at]iccare[dot]ca) 

250-758-4626

7-10 Club Society

5 Victoria Road

Provides an indoor warming centre for unhoused or precariously housed individuals.

Additional services include basic needs, health, and navigation support services.

Open seven days per week between January 7, 2024, and March 31, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m..

info.710club [at] gmail.com (info[dot]710club[at]gmail[dot]com) 

250-797-0531

Emergency Shelters

Salvation Army New Hope Centre

(19 Nicol Street) 250-714-1142

Has 35 emergency shelter beds available for men.

Emergency Shelter First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo

(595 Townsite Road)  250-754-3720

Has 27 emergency shelter beds for men and women.

Open 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week. To check bed availability, please call 250-754-3720 or arrive after 5 p.m.. You can email shelter [at] ufon.ca

St. Peters Winter Shelter - Operated by Nanaimo Family Life Association

Open November 1, 2023
(301 Machleary Street) 250-591-5600

Has 35 shelter beds for men and women. Shelter services are provided during winter months only (November 1 to March 29, from 8 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., seven days a week). Guests are asked to enter from the back laneway.

St. Peter’s winter shelter (direct line): 250-591-5600

Nanaimo Family Life Association (office hours only): 250-754-3331

Friendship Lelum Youth Safe House

(250-753-8266)

Co-ed, year-round shelter for 'at-risk youth' between 12-18 years.

Island Crisis Care Society Samaritan Place

702 Nicol Street (250-753-1474)

There are 14 beds for women open 24 hours/ seven days per week.

Emergency Food Providers

7-10 Club Society - Nanaimo

250- 714-0917
Daily bagged lunch 7 days a week are distributed by partner agencies in Nanaimo.

Stone Soup/Wisteria Community Association - Nanaimo

(Mobile Service) 250-591-6443
Provides a hot meal and brown bag lunch to go that is served by community volunteers to those in need during the hours of 5:30pm to 8:30pm, 7 days per week. All meals are offered at no charge at a variety of locations. For more information see www.wisteriacommunityassociation.com

Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank - Nanaimo

(1009 Farquhar Street) 250-754-8347
List of satellite food banks available at http://nanaimoloavesandfishes.org/index.php?pageID=schedule.

St. Paul's Anglican Church/Nanaimo Foodshare - Nanaimo

100 Chapel Street (250-753-2523)
Lunch provided by Nanaimo Foodshare every Monday between 12-1pm.

On the third Tuesday of each month, grocery cards are provided for both individuals and families, to-go meals courtesy of Nanaimo Foodshare, as well as winter clothing, blankets, and other items that have been donated. This program begins at 9am on the third Tuesday at the parish office, and continues until they run out of grocery cards. 

Downtown Hope - Nanaimo

315 Fitzwilliam Street (250-734-1862)
Dinner is served every Saturday out of the St. Andrew's United Church from 4:30 - 7:30pm.

Selby Street Mission - Nanaimo

250-753-3446

Provides sandwiches and snacks Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 7:30am to 9:30am. Sandwiches and BBQ lunch provided Mondays and Thursdays from 12 pm to 3 pm.

Salvation Army Soup Kitchen - Parksville 

Lunches are provided Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

People in need of shelter in the Oceanside Area can:

• Connect with the Mid Island Peer Support Help line at 250-248-6478
• Visit the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen
• Contact the Society of Organized Services (SOS) at 245 Hirst Ave in Parksville

For those experiencing ongoing homelessness, the Homelessness Outreach Response Team, 250-741-7645, is there to help.

If you are in crisis and need help, contact Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888.