Triage Emergency Shelter

Provides year-round, low-barrier, 24-hour emergency housing for homeless adults (19 men and nine women) who have mental health and/or substance use issues. Operates from a harm-reduction philosophy. Services include meals, drop-in services, and coordinated assistance in developing long-range treatment and housing plans. Other services include Indigenous cultural programming, peer support, harm reduction education, and referrals to health services, addictions services, and other social supports. Health-related services include 24 hour access to bed rest (must be able to care for self), medication management, home nursing onsite (nursing clinic twice weekly), home nursing through referral, and home care supports through referral. Accepts pets. A referral is required from a physician, social worker, law enforcement officer, or other community agency. Wheelchair accessible. Shelter hours are 24 hours. Drop-in hours are 8:30 am to 7:30 pm; no intake after 7:30 pm. Also provides harm reduction supplies such as safer drug use (cookers and injection supplies), and safer sex supplies (condoms). Needle exchange services include distribution of clean needles, sterile water, and alcohol wipes; disposal of used needles; and health information to encourage safer injection practices. Funded by Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and BC Housing.