The City of New Westminster, BC Housing and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society are working together to transition the now closed Emergency Weather Response shelter in the lower floor of 502 Columbia Street (former Army and Navy) into a 24/7 Emergency Response Centre shelter. This Emergency Response Centre shelter will have Purpose Society staff onsite at all times and provide shelter guests with a bed, along with support services, referrals to community services, meals and hygiene facilities.

The 24/7 Emergency Response Centre shelter will be in place for 12 months, with the anticipated start date being May 1, 2022, or when the building is ready as a 24/7 shelter following some minor renovations.

In the interim, BC Housing is working to transition the site to a nightly shelter (i.e., 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.) until the 24/7 shelter is operational.

This shelter transition is part of a larger strategy to address homelessness and housing affordability in New Westminster. Late last year, New Westminster City Council approved BC Housing’s supportive housing project at 60-68 Sixth Street, and future non-market housing on City-owned land at 350-366 Fenton Street in Queensborough. The City and BC Housing continue to work collaboratively to assess the needs of the community and work with local service providers to ensure these are being met.

If you have any additional questions regarding the operations of the shelter itself, please contact BC Housing at . If you have further questions about the regulatory requirements related to shelters or the Temporary Use Permit process, please contact Anur Mehdic, Housing and Child Care Planning Analyst, .

Click here for a list of FAQs.