Find a shelter space
If you need a warm place to stay, call 211 or dial 311 inside city limits. You can also visit the 211 Shelter List online. Our staff and partners can help you find a bed based on your needs and health requirements.
Shelter types
The City works with non-profit partners and provincial programmes to offer different levels of care throughout the year.
Permanent and temporary shelters
Permanent shelters are open 365 days a year. They are run by experienced non-profit operators and funded by the Province of Ontario. These sites provide immediate safety, health supports, and help connecting to housing services.
Temporary shelters add extra beds during the colder months. They operate year-round alongside permanent shelters. Each site follows a strict operations plan to keep residents safe and comfortable.
Safe Nights Wrenford
Safe Nights Wrenford is our City-operated winter shelter programme. It opens nightly from November to the end of March to provide extra capacity when temperatures drop. This programme runs in addition to permanent and temporary beds.
Extreme weather response shelters
Extreme weather shelters open when severe conditions make it dangerous to stay outside. We activate these spaces when:
- Temperatures are at or below 0°C, or the wind chill feels like 0°C
- It is raining heavily (at least 50 mm in 24 hours)
- There is snow accumulation, sleet, or freezing rain
- Environment Canada issues storm warnings or alerts
We share alerts with our shelter partners and outreach teams so they can reach people on the street quickly. If you know someone who is unsheltered, please help them find warmth.
Warming centres
Warming centres are a life-saving measure for anyone caught in the cold. We open these spaces when the temperature reaches -4°C or below (or feels like -4°C or below). Unlike full shelters, warming centres do not have beds or mats. They offer a safe, heated room where people can rest, dry off, and wait out the worst of the weather until a shelter bed opens.
Supportive housing and the Coordinated Access Programme
Once you are safe, the next step is long-term housing. The Coordinated Access Programme is our intake process for supportive housing and rental assistance. A case worker will review your situation and match you with the best available options. If you are placed in supportive housing, your rent will be set at 30 per cent of your net monthly income.
How you can help
If you want to donate warm clothing, blankets, or food to a shelter, contact us at 519-555-0100 or email [email protected]. We will connect you with the right organisation to accept your gifts.
For more details on homelessness services, visit Access homelessness services.