Services and Supports
This page provides a short list of the emergency shelter, nutrition, and hygiene services available to residents of Nanaimo. For a full list of low and no-cost support services available in the City of Nanaimo, please refer to the Surviving in Nanaimo guide.
Day-Use Spaces
-
Canadian Mental Health Association Social Centre
290 Bastion Street (access at the back of the building)250-244-4042 x 208Provides a social and recreational program for people living with mental health and substance use challenges and those who may be experiencing homelessness.Open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from 10am to 4pm, Wednesdays 1pm to 7pm -
Lobbies at the Recreation Centre Locations (250-756-5200)
Bowen Park Complex: 500 Bowen RoadMonday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm - Saturday, Sunday - ClosedBeban Pool Lobby: 2300 Bowen RoadMonday to Friday 6:30am to 7:00pm and Saturday to Sunday 8:30am to 4:30pmBeban Social Centre and Frank Crane Arena: 2300 Bowen RoadSunday to Saturday 8:30am to 4:30pmNanaimo Aquatic Centre: 741 Third StreetSunday to Saturday 6:00am to 9:00pmNanaimo Ice Centre: 750 Third StreetSunday to Saturday 5:00am to 12:30pmOliver Woods Community Centre: 6000 Oliver RoadSunday to Saturday 8:30am to 9:00pmAll drop-in are welcome under the terms of the City of Nanaimo Facility Use Code of Conduct.
-
Salvation Army New Hope Centre
19 Nicol StreetProvides daytime programming and space for current shelter guests only7 days per week -
Vancouver Island Regional Library
All drop in are welcome under terms of VIRL's code of conductNanaimo Harbourfront - 90 Commercial StreetMonday to Thursday from 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 12:30pm to 4:00pmNanaimo North - 6250 Hammond Bay RoadMonday to Thursday from 10am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Sunday from 12:30pm to 4:00pmNanaimo Wellington - Country Club Mall (3200 North Island Highway)Monday to Thursday from 10am to 6pm, Friday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm
Emergency Shelters
-
Emergency Shelter First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo
(595 Townsite Road) 250-754-3720Has 27 emergency shelter beds for men and women.
Open 5pm to 7am, 7 days a week. To check bed availability, please call 250-754-3720 or arrive after 5pm. You can email shelter@ufon.ca
-
Friendship Lelum Youth Safe House
(250-753-8266)Co-ed, year-round shelter for 'at-risk youth' between 12-18 years. -
Island Crisis Care Society Samaritan Place
702 Nicol Street (250-753-1474)
There are 14 beds for women open 24 hours/ 7 days per week.
-
Salvation Army New Hope Centre
(19 Nicol Street) 250-714-1142Has 35 emergency shelter beds available for men.
Emergency Food Providers
-
Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank
(1009 Farquhar Street) 250-754-8347
List of satellite food banks available at http://nanaimoloavesandfishes.org/index.php?pageID=schedule. -
Selby Street Mission
250-753-3446Provides free lunch Mondays and Thursdays from 12 pm to 2 pm.
Address is 382 Selby Street -
Stone Soup / Wisteria Community Association
(Mobile Service) 250-591-6443
Provides a hot meal and brown bag lunch to go that is served by community volunteers to those in need during the hours of 5:30pm to 8:30pm, 7 days per week. All meals are offered at no charge at a variety of locations. For more information see www.wisteriacommunityassociation.com -
St. Paul's Anglican Church/Nanaimo Foodshare
100 Chapel Street (250-753-2523)
Lunch provided by Nanaimo Foodshare every Monday between 12-1pm.On the third Tuesday of each month, grocery cards are provided for both individuals and families, to-go meals courtesy of Nanaimo Foodshare, as well as winter clothing, blankets, and other items that have been donated. This program begins at 9am on the third Tuesday at the parish office, and continues until they run out of grocery cards.
-
7-10 Club Society
250-797-0531
Daily bagged lunch 7 days a week are distributed by partner agencies in Nanaimo. The locations include Caledonia Park (Shower Program) and the Social Centre.
Hygiene Services
-
Public Washrooms and Water
Public Washrooms and water are available 7 days a week with varied opening/closing hours.- Bowen Park East 9 am - 9 pm
- Brechin Boat Ramp 7 am - 9 pm
- Colliery Dam Park 9 am - 11 pm
- Diana Krall Plaza 24 hours
- Kinsmen Park 8 am - 9 pm
- Maffeo Sutton Park 6 am - 8 pm
- Pipers Lagoon Park 7 am - 9 pm
- Westwood Lake Park 7 am - 9 pm
- Northfield Rotary Lookout Park (Visitor Centre) 6 am - 7 pm.
A map of water fountains and washrooms is now accessible using the following link: www.nanaimo.ca/goto/waterfountains.
-
Shower Program - City of Nanaimo/First Unitarian Shelter
Caledonia Park (110 Wall Street)
250-668-4607/shelter@ufon.ca
Free showers available Monday to Friday from 7 am to 12:30 pm
Towels and toiletries are supplied.
Last updated: June 20, 2024
Help us improve our website
Collection and use of your personal information
Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at 250-755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca. Please also see our Privacy Policy.
-
Parks, Rec & Culture
- Recreation Facilities & Schedules
- Parks & Trails
- Activity Guide
- Events
- Register for a Program
- Drop-In Schedules
- Public Art
- Culture
- Poetry
-
City Services
- Garbage & Recycling
- Home & Property
- Water & Sewage
- Emergency Services
- Online Services
- Cemetery Services
- City Services Directory
-
Property & Development
-
Building Permits
- Online Building Permit Application
- Building Permit Revision
-
Application for a Residential Building Permit
- Access (driveway) Permit
- Accessory Building Permit
- Alteration Permit
- Building Envelope Repair
- Carriage House
- Demolition Permit
- Fence or Retaining Wall Permit
- Geotechnical Reports
- Locate Permit
- New Construction Permit
- Plumbing or Services Permit
- Secondary Suite Permit
- Special Inspection Permit
- Swimming Pool Permit
- Woodstove Installation Info
- Green Home Initiatives
-
Apply for a Commercial Building Permit
- Access (driveway) Permit
- Commercial Alteration Permit
- Building Envelope Repair Permit
- Demolition Permit
- Fence or Retaining Wall Permit
- Geotechnical Reports
- Leasehold Improvement
- Locate Permit
- New Commercial Construction Permit
- Occupant Load Permit
- Signs Permit
- Special Inspection Permit
- Sprinkler Requirements
- Fees and Bonding
- Commercial Plumbing Permit
- Bylaws for Building
- Forms and Guidelines
- Book a Building Inspection
- Report Illegal Construction
- Request Building Plans
- Building Permit Statistics
- Permit Fee Calculator
- Building News and Alerts
- Fast Track Building Permits
- Development Applications
- What's Building in my Neighbourhood
- Development Activity Map
- Community Planning
- NanaimoMap
- Rebates
- Engineering Survey
- Land Use Bylaws
- Soil Removal and Depositing
- Heritage Buildings
-
Building Permits
- Transportation & Mobility
-
Your Government
- News & Events
-
City Council
- Contact Mayor & Council
- Council Meetings
-
Boards & Committees
- Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusiveness
- Board of Variance
- Design Advisory Panel
- Finance and Audit Committee
- Governance and Priorities Committee
- Mayor's Leaders' Table
- Parcel Tax Roll Review Panel
- Special District 68 Sports Field and Recreation Committee
- Understanding Council Committee Structures
- Public Safety Committee
- Council Policies
- Mayor's Office
- Council Initiatives
- Proclamations
- Bastion Lighting Requests
- City Bylaws
- Budget & Finance
- Records, Information & Privacy
- Elections
- Departments & Contacts
- Careers
- Maps & Data
- Projects
- Tourism Nanaimo
- Community Safety and Wellbeing
- Grants
- Awards
- Accessibility & Inclusion
-
Doing Business
- Economic Development
- Doing Business with the City
- Business Licences
- Filming in Nanaimo
- City Owned Property
- Encroachments onto City Property
- Liquor Licences
- Cannabis Retail
- Business Improvement Areas
- Procurement Services
- Get Involved
- About Nanaimo
- Green Initiatives