Community & Social Services

  • Newcomer's Guide to New Westminster, 2018

    This guide will help you and your family make New Westminster home. This guide focuses on the things you need to know for the first three months of your arrival in the city.
  • Resource Summary for Newcomers

    This document presents a summary of program information for Newcomer Supports in one single place.
  • FOOD RESOURCES AND SURVIVAL GUIDE

    The Survival Guide provides information related to meeting basic needs, including emergency shelter, drop-in, food and health services.
  • Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT)

    PACT is a mobile, community-led team that offers support to individuals experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis.

    PACT is an alternative or auxiliary response to police intervention, providing crisis support that focuses on prevention, health and well-being.

    Operated by the Lower Mainland Purpose Society, this team is comprised of a Mental Health Worker and a Peer Support Worker (someone with lived or living experience), who attend to crisis calls during scheduled service hours. This type of community initiative looks to respond to the needs of individuals most impacted by mental health and substance use, and provide trauma-informed, culturally safe support to youth and adults in the City of New Westminster.

    You can reach out to PACT when you or someone you know is in distress due to:

    • Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
    • Family members experiencing challenges
    • Substance use
    • Social isolation and loneliness
    • Fear, anxiety and depression
    • Other mental health-related emergencies

    How we can help:

    • Offer support to an individual or their loved one over the phone or in-person
    • Provide crisis counselling and de-escalation
    • Facilitate connections to the appropriate resources, services and supports in the community to meet an individual’s underlying needs
    • Provide advocacy and accompaniment to emergency departments, police stations, or community organizations
    PACT services are available to callers aged 13+ and adults living in the City of New Westminster

    Hours Hours of operation: 7:00 am - 11:30 pm, 7 days/week
    Contact number: 778-727-3909
  • These organizations that serve New Westminster residents and have drop-off locations within the city are currently accepting donations. Items accepted may change depending on the time of year and other factors. Please contact these organizations directly if you would like to donate clothing or other items. 

    Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver (women's clothing and items)

    • Drop off: Tuesday – Thursday,10:00am - 4:00pm (drop-off at reception)
    • Address: EFry Maida Duncan Drop-In Centre 402 E. Columbia Street (Basement), New Westminster
    • Phone: 604 523 6749
    • Email: 
     
    Fraserside Community Services (variety of household items)
    • Drop off: Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm
    • Address: 2nd Floor 519 Seventh Street, New Westminster
    • Phone: 604 522 3722
    • Email:

     

    Lookout Housing and Health Society (new clothing, personal care items, and small household items)

    • Drop off: 24/7
    • Address: Russell Housing Centre at 740 Carnarvon Street, New Westminster
    • Phone: 604 255 0340 
    • Email: 

     

    Lower Mainland Purpose Society (clean and gently-used seasonal clothes)

    • Drop off: Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 5pm
    • Address: 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster
    • Phone: 604 526 2522
    • Email: 

     

    Monarch Place (WINGS) (good condition clothing, small household items)

    • Pickup can be arranged via phone between Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm
    • Phone: 604 521 1888
    • Email:

     

    Spirit of the Children (seasonal clothing)

    • Drop off: Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
    • Address: 768 Columbia Street, New Westminster
    • Phone:  604 524 9113
    • Email: 

     

    Westminster House (good condition seasonal clothing)

    • Drop off: call first to make an appointment
    • Phone: 604 524 5633
    • Email:
  • Financial Supports

    We have compiled a list of financial and other supports that may benefit residents and businesses in New Westminster. We have also created a Taxfiling and Financial Frequently Asked Questions sheet to help residents.
  • Updated: September 2022

    UPDATES

    There are a number of support options available to tenants facing financial difficulties. For more information, refer to the Key Information and Resources Document for Tenants during COVID-19.

    In addition, important information for tenants specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the Province’s website.

    Federal Government Supports: refer to the second page of this document for information on federal supports during the pandemic.