In Abbotsford, the complexity of homelessness requires a multifaceted approach to housing solutions.
Emergency shelters and nonmarket housing, provided by the Province through the Ministry of Housing and BC Housing, specifically targeted towards individuals experiencing homelessness (unsheltered and sheltered) encompasses a variety of types, each designed to meet the specific needs and circumstances of individuals and families within our community. This holistic strategy ensures that everyone, from those seeking immediate refuge to those needing long-term support, finds a suitable and supportive environment. Below are the key categories of emergency shelters and nonmarket housing that play a crucial role in this ecosystem.
Emergency and Nonmarket Housing
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Emergency shelters provide immediate, short-term accommodation for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. These facilities offer a safe haven during crises, ensuring that no one has to sleep on the streets. In addition to a place to stay, emergency shelters often provide basic necessities such as meals, clothing, and access to support services aimed at addressing urgent needs and stabilizing lives. Listed below are the emergency shelters operating in Abbotsford.
Total Year-Round Shelter Spaces = 202
Name Operator Address Phone number Capacity Details Temporary Shelter Program Cyrus Centre Ministries 2616 Ware Street 604-859-577 10 Youth aged 19 - 24 Youth Emergency Housing Program Cyrus Centre Ministries 2616 Ware Street 604-859-577 6 Youth aged 12 - 18 Lighthouse Shelter Lookout Housing & Health Society 2509 Pauline Street 604-744-1221 20 Adults, referral only Lonzo Shelter Lookout Housing & Health Society 34520 Lonzo Road 604-776-2424 50 Adults Sumas Shelter Lookout Housing & Health Society 1821 Sumas Way 604-334-4911 59 Adults, referral only Centre of Hope Salvation Army 34081 Gladys Avenue 604-852-9305 36 Adults Penny’s Place SARA for Women Undisclosed Location
201 – 2825 Clearbrook Road (Abbotsford Office Location)
Location phone number: 236-668-2590
Intakes: 604-746-3301 or 236-668-2590
6 Women 19+ Older Adults Shelter Sparrow Community Care Society Undisclosed Location
1661 McCallum Road (Office Location)
604-991-6937 15 55+, referral only *Not including transitional housing for women fleeing domestic violence, or temporary winter and extreme weather shelters
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Supportive housing combines affordable housing with on-site services to assist individuals who face significant barriers to maintaining housing stability. This includes those with chronic health issues, mental health challenges, or disabilities. The integrated support services focus on health care, substance use treatment, and life skills, fostering a stable and supportive living environment that promotes long-term success.
Total Supportive Housing Spaces = 213
Hearthstone Place
Opening its doors on March 1, 2017, Hearthstone Place is a low-barrier housing initiative that supports 20 men and 10 women who have been homeless or are at risk of homelessness. Application to Hearthstone is through BC Housing’s Supportive Housing Registration service and allocation of units is through BC Housing’s Coordinated Access and Assessment table. View the Province of BC News Release.
Operator Address Phone Capacity Details Archway Community Services 2719 Gladys Avenue 604-776-5060 30 19+, CAA table Prevention and Diversion
Funded through the City of Abbotsford’s Reaching Home funding, CEDAR's Prevention and Diversion Program supports residents of Abbotsford at risk of becoming homeless or who have recently become homeless. This is done through CEDAR’s comprehensive support and resources, including support in bridging the gap between landlords and tenants, and rent and damage deposit subsidies.
Operator Phone Capacity Details CEDAR Outreach Society 604-309-1293 N/A Legacy Manor
Located in Abbotsford, Legacy Manor is a 37-unit supported housing program for women seeking an abstinence focused environment. Support workers provide awake management of the site and ensure the wellbeing of residents. A planned meal service offers two meals (breakfast and dinner) daily. Women live independently and have access to staff for support and case planning. Application to Legacy Manor is through BC Housing’s Supportive Housing Registration service and allocation of units is through BC Housing’s Coordinated Access and Assessment table.
Operator Address Phone Capacity Details Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver 31399 Livingstone Ave 604-520-1166 or 1-888-879-9593 37 19+, CAA table Bob Sutton Centre
Opened in June 2024, the Bob Sutton Centre is a 60-unit transitional housing building for men recovering from substance use and at risk of homelessness. The centre also complements other buildings on the property including the George Schmidt Centre and a Men’s Intensive Residential Treatment Program. View the BC Housing News Release and the Province of BC News Release for more details.
Operator Address Phone Capacity Details Kinghaven Treatment Centre 31246 King Road 604-864-0039 60 Cole Starns
Cole Starnes is a supportive housing building operated by Lookout Housing + Health Society. This supportive housing program offers subsidized housing with on-site staff, providing a range of on-site services and non-clinical supports for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Some of the services and supports include meals, individualized support to support client needs, and an on-site overdose prevention site (OPS). Eight of the 44 units at Cole Starnes are wheelchair accessible. Application to Cole Starnes is through BC Housing’s Supportive Housing Registration service and allocation of units is through BC Housing’s Coordinated Access and Assessment table.
Operator Address Phone Capacity Details Lookout Housing + Health Society 1670 Riverside Road 604-744-8820 44 19+, CAA table, 8 WC Red Lion
The Red Lion is a supportive housing building operated by Lookout Housing + Health Society. This supportive housing program offers subsidized housing with on-site staff, providing a range of on-site services and non-clinical supports for individuals experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. Some of the services and supports include meals, individualized support to support client needs, and an on-site overdose prevention site (OPS). Eight of the twenty-eight units at Red Lion are dedicated to complex care housing. Complex care housing provides enhanced health, cultural, and social supports, addressing the needs of individuals with significant mental health, addictions, or concurrent challenges, as well as functional needs such as acquired brain injuries. Application to Red Lion is through BC Housing’s Supportive Housing Registration service and allocation of units is through BC Housing’s Coordinated Access and Assessment table.
Operator Address Phone Capacity Details Lookout Housing + Health Society 2509 Pauline Street 604-744-1344 28 19+, CAA table, 8 complex care Sober Living, Low Barrier, and Home-To-Stay
Partially funded through the City of Abbotsford’s Reaching Home funding, Raven’s Moon’s scattered-site housing model are divided into three programs: Sober Living, Low Barrier, and Home-To-Stay. Raven’s Moon staff attends each home on a daily basis to meet one-on-one with residents and support clients’ needs.
Operator Capacity Raven's Moon Resource Society N/A Next Step Program
The Salvation Army’s Next Step Program is located at the Centre of Hope in Abbotsford. This transitional housing program for men allows residents to stay for up to 9 to 12 months. This program has been designed to provide safe, affordable, secure recovery housing for men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and who want to move forward and make significant changes in their life.
Operator Address Phone Capacity Details Salvation Army 34081 Gladys Avenue 604-852-8029 14 19+ *Not including some types of housing categorized under recovery houses or in the substance use services continuum
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Affordable housing is designed to be financially accessible to low- and moderate-income households. This type of housing ensures that rent costs are kept at a manageable percentage of a household's income, reducing financial stress and enabling residents to allocate resources towards other essential needs. Affordable housing can be available in various forms, including rental units and homeownership opportunities.
The Yalestone
The Yalestone offers 50 rental units ranging from 1 to 3 bedrooms for singles, families and seniors with moderate incomes. The Yalestone is centrally located in Abbotsford close to amenities and public transportation. Please visit their website for how to apply.
Operator Address Phone Number of Units Mamele’awt Qweesome Housing Society (MQHS) 2740 Fuller Street 604-820-3324 50 BC Housing - Subsidized Housing
Subsidized housing is long-term housing for people who permanently reside in British Columbia. Rental fees are calculated on a rent geared to income basis (30% of household total gross income, subject to minimum rent based on # of people). People “may be eligible for subsidized housing if [they] can live independently and meet the household, residency, income and assets criteria.” Applications for subsidized housing are made through either the BC Housing Registry or through the non-profit society or co-op directly (for buildings that manage their own application processes). A list of these can be found on the BC Housing website through the Housing Listings.
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The City of Abbotsford continues to work with the Province, through the Ministry of Housing, BC Housing, and local partners to support the development and building of additional emergency shelter and non-market housing options for residents in our community experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. Below are the current projects underway.
Total Beds/Units: 151
Montvue
Work is currently underway for a new shelter at 2539 Montvue Avenue. This site was previously home to a winter shelter (Mom & Wayne’s), and is being rebuilt to provide permanent year-round shelter beds to 30 individuals. This new shelter site will be operated by Archway Community Services.
Operator Address Capacity Archway Community Services 2539 Montvue Avenue 30 Cole Starnes (twinning)
Work is underway for a new supportive housing building at 1640 Riverside Road, which involves the City providing the land through a 63-year lease with the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation (BC Housing). A “twinning” of the existing Cole Starnes Supportive Housing building. This project will provide an additional 61 units of supportive housing for individuals experiencing homelessness and will be operated by Lookout Housing + Health Society.
Operator Address Capacity Lookout Society 1640 Riverside Road 61 Supportive Housing
A new supportive housing project is underway at 2991 Trethewey Street, offering 63 units for individuals experiencing homelessness, including 23 units dedicated to complex care housing. Complex care housing provides enhanced health, cultural, and social supports, addressing the needs of individuals with significant mental health, addictions, or concurrent challenges, as well as functional needs such as acquired brain injuries. This project represents an important step in meeting the diverse needs of our community.
Operator Address Capacity TBD 2991 Trethewey Street 60 Outside of the normal building requirements such as permits and zoning, the City has provided land to support many of the projects referenced above.
The types of housing described above are important pieces in the continuum of housing and play a critical role in creating a comprehensive support system to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness. There are other types of non-market housing in Abbotsford, not included above, that are also vital pieces of the housing spectrum. This is generally housing for distinct population groups and/or with specified services. Some examples include transitional housing or second-stage housing for women fleeing domestic violence, staffed living facilities for adults with developmental disabilities, and supportive recovery homes for adults receiving services for substance use. Information about these other types of non-market housing can be found through connecting with BC211, a free and confidential service that connects people to a wide range of helpful and vital resources in their community.