Emergency Shelters & Drop-ins
Emergency Shelters & Drop-ins
Emergency Shelters for Families
Good Shepherd Family Centre
Housing focused shelter and support for families experiencing homelessness. Interpretation services are available upon request.
143 Wentworth Street South, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2Z1
Call 905-528-9442
Emergency Shelters for Men
Good Shepherd Men's Centre
135 Mary Street, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 1K4
Call 905-528-9109
Mission Services Men's Residence
400 King Street East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1C3
Call 905-528-7635
Salvation Army Booth Centre
94 York Boulevard, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 1R6
Call 905-527-1444
Emergency Shelters for Women
Mission Services Emma’s Place
Offering 15 low-barrier overnight beds. Emma’s Place offers snacks and beverages, harm reduction supplies, emotional support, and assistance with finding housing.
196 Wentworth Street North, Hamilton, Ontario
Hours of operation: Daily from 9pm to 9am
Call 905-528-5100 press 8; then 3
Good Shepherd Mary's Place
20-bed emergency shelter for women experiencing homelessness, poverty, mental illness and/or violence. Staff offer referrals and advocacy for medical, legal, and other services; help obtaining permanent housing; recreational and educational activities.
20 Pearl Street North, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2Y8
Call 905-523-6277 Crisis line
Call 905-540-8000 Business line
Womankind Emergency Shelter
Emergency shelter for single women and addiction support.
Call 905-545-9100
Violence Against Women Shelters
Good Shepherd Martha House
Emergency shelter specializing in the care of victims of domestic violence. A 28 bed security-equipped transition house for women and children in crisis.
25 Ray Street North, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2X5
Call 905-523-6277 or 905-523-8895
Interval House Hamilton
A transition house for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Provides meals, emergency clothing and personal needs, 7 days a week.
630 Sanatorium Road, Hamilton, Ontario L9C 7S7
Call 905-387-8881 Crisis Line
Call 905-387-9959 Business Line
Mission Services Inasmuch House
Emergency shelter for abused and homeless women and their children, as well as female teenagers over the age of 16.
Call 905-529-8600 Crisis line
Call 905-529-8149 Business line
Native Women's Centre
Provides safe emergency shelter for all women regardless of age, ancestry, culture, place of origin or sexual orientation, with or without children, who are experiencing a crisis in their lives due to family violence, homelessness, or conflict with the law.
Call 905-664-1114
Emergency Shelters for Youth
Good Shepherd Notre Dame House
There are 11 beds available for males and 9 beds available for females. Laundry facilities and meals are provided. Additional services are provided through their resource centre from 9 to 5 pm daily. These include school, employment counselling, addictions counselling, public health nurse.
14 Cannon Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8R 2B2
Call 905-308-8090
YWCA Carol Anne's Place (Women only)
75 MacNab Street S, Hamiton, Ontario L8P 3C1
Overnight access for women, open 7 days a week. Limited capacity. First come, first served.
Call 905-517-9326 (answered between 10 pm & 12 noon)
Hours of operation: Nightly, year-round 10 pm to 8 am
Mission Services Willow’s Place (Women only)
196 Wentworth Street N, Hamilton, Ontario
Provides women and non-binary individuals with access to laundry, shower facilities, a safe place to rest, meals, and harm reduction supplies, as well as emotional and housing support.
Hours of operation: Daily from 9 am to 8:30 pm
Call 905-528-5100 press 8; then 3
Indigenous Drop-in Hamilton Regional Indian Centre
407 King Street W, Hamilton, Ontario
A culturally safe & appropriate space for Indigenous people to access housing supports and connect with peers in a community-based setting.
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6:30pm
Services: Light breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Access to traditional medicines, connect with elders/knowledge keepers; identification supports; housing help & resources.
Living Rock
30 Wilson Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 1C5
Living Rock has provided programs that engage, encourage and equip youth towards their personal development goals for 37 years in Hamilton
Call 905-528-7625
As a result of the City of Hamilton’s ongoing commitment to addressing capacity pressures in the homelessness serving system, service delivery for specific services initiated through the Winter Response Strategy have been temporarily extended.
The City, along with community partners, have committed to extending services which specifically added capacity for an additional temporary period of April 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024.
Daytime and Overnight Drop-in Spaces
To determine if there is available space at a specific location, please contact the number listed for that service.
Living Rock Ministries
50 daytime drop-in spaces for youth up to age 25*, all genders
30 Wilson St., Hamilton
Call 905-528-7625
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm | Saturday & Sunday, 1 pm to 8 pm
Christ’s Church Cathedral
50 daytime drop-in spaces, all genders
252 James St. N., Hamilton
Operated by St. Matthew’s
Call 905-523-5546 ext 232
9am to 4pm, 6 days a week
Good Shepherd Cathedral
50 overnight drop-in spaces serving cis men, Two Spirit, transgender and non-binary people
378 Main Street East, Hamilton
Call 905-528-5877 ext 4245
8 pm to 8 am / 7 days a week
Willow’s Place
45 overnight drop-in spaces, all women, trans- and non-binary people
196 Wentworth St. N., Hamilton
Call 905-528-5100 press 8; then 3
24 hours a day / 7 days a week
YWCA Carole Anne’s Place
40 overnight drop-in spaces, all women, trans- and non-binary people
75 MacNab St. S.,
Call 905-522-9922 ext 100
6 pm to 1 pm, nightly (enhanced from 10 pm to 1 pm)
Emergency Shelter Beds
Mission Services Men’s Shelter
35 emergency shelter beds, all men
400 King Street E., Hamilton
Call 905-528-7635
24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Salvation Army Booth Centre
10 emergency shelter beds, all men
94 York Blvd, Hamilton
Call 905-527-1444
24 hours a day / 7 days a week
Note: These spaces will be available December 9, 2023.
The City of Hamilton continues to face significant challenges related to housing affordability and homelessness. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated effort involving the City, community partners, and Provincial and Federal governments. These challenges are not unique to Hamilton but reflect broader systemic issues across Canada, where rising housing costs and inadequate support systems have led to increased homelessness and the visibility of encampments, exacerbated by and through the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the City’s goal remains prioritizing deeply affordable, permanent housing solutions, there are immediate needs that must be addressed. In response, the City is taking urgent action to reduce unsheltered homelessness and provide necessary emergency supports. This includes adding 192 new temporary shelter beds, and developing a temporary low-barrier outdoor shelter site in the Barton/Tiffany area. The site will offer 24/7 services such as mental health support, housing resources, and essential services for up to 80 residents, including couples and those with pets. The temporary shelter spaces increase emergency shelter capacity by 56% overall.
These initiatives are critical steps in providing immediate relief while we continue to focus on connecting people to stable, permanent housing and the resources they need for a secure future. The City will continue to provide ongoing updates on these efforts to address community and neighbourhood level concerns as we work toward long-term solutions.
Increase Temporary Emergency Shelter Bed Capacity:
Add 192 new temporary shelter beds across various facilities, increasing overall capacity by 56%. Temporary beds to be phased in immediately as operationally feasible.
Includes specific beds for women, men, mixed adults, and asylum seekers to reduce pressure on the existing shelter system.
Develop a Temporary Outdoor Emergency Shelter Site:
Establish a temporary outdoor emergency shelter site in the Barton/Tiffany area to accommodate up to 80 residents
Provide 24/7 support services such as mental health care, rapid re-housing, and essential services like food and security.
Restriction of Encampments Near the Temporary Outdoor Shelter Site:
Prohibit encampments within a 1 km radius of the Barton/Tiffany site to avoid concentrated encampment areas.
Create New Permanent Shelter Bed Capacity:
Continue efforts to develop permanent shelter beds with 25% of new beds being pet-friendly.
Staff will report back in Q4 2024 on funding requirements and feasibility for permanent beds.
Since the Council approval/ratification of Reducing Homelessness and Managing Encampments (Report HSC24027(b) / FCS24028 / PED24162) (City Wide) on September 25, 2024, several steps have been taken to operationalize the report recommendations:
An overall workplan has been developed to address the implementation of the recommendations within Report HSC24027(b)/FCS24028/PED24162, and multiple City departments have mobilized to support this process. While the goal is to operationalize these initiatives as soon as possible, City staff are committed to ensuring proper due diligence is being followed, especially as it relates to: environmental site assessment; operator selection and onboarding; on-site safety and security of residents; integration of community supports; and, alongside our partners, establishing means to assess and address potential community impacts that may be associated with the temporary outdoor shelter.
Contact has been made with the providers of the 192 temporary shelter beds, and the execution of contracts is currently underway. In parallel, discussions with the potential operator for the Barton/Tiffany site have been initiated. The first draft of an operations plan has been developed, outlining expectations and deliverables based on the foundation of existing emergency shelter contracts. This draft also includes the initial identification and coordination of support services, which will either be provided onsite or coordinated with community partners.
Feedback from both Council and the community has been incorporated into the initial site and operational plans. This includes efforts to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place to protect residents from any potential contamination at the temporary outdoor shelter site, informed by both internal and external consultations. Discussions are ongoing regarding the provision of security and safety measures, both for the shelter and the surrounding community, to ensure a safe environment for all involved.
A communications plan is being developed to keep residents informed throughout the process, including broader awareness of the City’s actions related to addressing housing and homelessness. This plan will outline how the City will consult, including opportunities for potential feedback mechanisms.
Why is the City of Hamilton moving forward with the temporary outdoor shelter project at Barton/Tiffany?
The temporary outdoor shelter is part of the City’s broader, ongoing strategy to address homelessness in Hamilton. This initiative is not a standalone project but a crucial component of a larger system that includes housing support programs, rapid re-housing, drop-in services, outreach, and emergency supports. These efforts are guided by extensive discussions at City Council in recent years, which have highlighted the need for additional low-barrier supports for unhoused and unsheltered residents. This is part of the Mayoral directive to move forward with a sanctioned location and approval of Council for this to be implemented at this specific location.
Was this project rushed, and how is the City planning for its success?
While it may seem rushed due to the urgent need for shelter as we approach winter, this project has been thoroughly planned and informed by previous Council discussions on the city's housing challenges, as well as staff reports over several years outlining research, best-practices, systemic challenges and local responses. Our operations and policy teams are diligently ensuring that this temporary response is both targeted and strategic, while also considering its long-term implications on the broader housing system. Staff have been investigating this option over many months and were prepared for the request.
What services will be provided at the temporary outdoor shelter and what is the operational plan?
As outlined in the Council report, the contracted shelter operator will ensure a range of comprehensive supports are offered to residents, including mental health services, urgent care, 24/7 on-site assistance, and access to City funded Intensive Case Management and Rapid Re-housing programs. We continue to take a “whole of Hamilton” approach, working closely with various City departments and community partners to ensure safe activation of the temporary shelter site and the well-being and safety of residents, while helping to support transitions to safe and permanent housing. Agency staff will be on-site to provide support, along with dedicated security to ensure a safe and supportive environment. As we work to finalize the specific elements of the evidence-based and best practice informed operational plan, the City remains committed to prioritizing the safety of both shelter residents and the surrounding neighborhoods, collaborating with partners to address any concerns and support positive community impact.
What does a ‘low-barrier’ emergency shelter mean?
A low-barrier emergency shelter model is designed to reduce obstacles that often prevent people from accessing shelter and support services. Rather than being unplanned or uncoordinated, low-barrier shelters are intentionally structured to address and reduce systemic barriers, which can deter individuals from seeking support. This approach maintains a focus on connecting residents with necessary supports, including mental health care and housing services, and is aligned with Hamilton’s broader system of care to help individuals and families transition into safe, permanent housing.
What steps is the City taking to ensure proper environmental remediation on the temporary outdoor shelter site?
The City of Hamilton is committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place to ensure the protection of residents using the Temporary Outdoor Shelter site from any contamination present. As such, we are currently working with contracted external environmental assessment experts to review available information to establish risk management measures to identify and limit any potential risks to the future population utilizing this site. All site planning and organization will be based on these expert recommendations, and the City will diligently work to implement mitigation efforts prior to site occupancy and will publicly report back to Council of these practical steps to protect residents.
How will the City measure the success of this temporary project?
We are committed to clear, measurable outcomes for this initiative. The pilot will be regularly evaluated, with key performance indicators such as housing stability for residents, the effectiveness of on-site services, and overall community impact. There is the commitment that case management will be an important support available to help individuals move along the housing continuum to attain safe and permanent housing, and the City will work with all funded partners to support this system-level goal. We will share these results and outcomes through reports to City Council, which will be posted on the City website.
How does this project fit into Hamilton’s long-term plan to address homelessness?
The temporary shelter is one part of a larger strategy to address homelessness and housing in Hamilton. The insights gained from this pilot will guide future policy and practice recommendations, as we continue working on the potential expansion of permanent shelter capacity and advocating for increased Provincial and Federal support to address homelessness on a broader scale. Insights gained from this initiative will inform and strengthen ongoing system-wide support, incorporating research and best practices.
What is the plan for encampments within the 1km radius of the temporary Barton / Tiffany site?
The City’s Encampment Response Team is proactively working with residents encamped in this radius of the Barton/Tiffany site to ensure compliance with existing protocols, and in anticipation of the opening of the temporary shelter site are also working to support encampment residents transition to safer, more humane, and legal accommodations. Through this, the Response Team will support the move with their belongings, while ensuring any abandoned belongings are cleared and the sites are cleaned.
How will the City communicate with the community moving forward?
As we move through the different phases of this project, we will proactively communicate updates to the community, working alongside Council and other partners, to keep residents informed. Our goal is to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process. All implementation updates will be posted on this page, including links to Council Reports and Communication Updates. In the lead-up to the temporary shelter site opening, residents can fill out the form below to ask questions and provide feedback.
Comment & Feedback Form
The City of Hamilton understands that residents may have questions or concerns about the operational details of the initiatives outlined in the Reducing Homelessness and Managing Encampments report. We are committed to actively listening to your feedback and ensuring it informs our ongoing and collective efforts to address housing and homelessness in our community. If you have reviewed the Frequently Asked Questions and still have questions or comments, please submit them below.
Staff will review all submissions and provide general responses through updates to the Frequently Asked Questions section on this page. A Summary of responses will also be included in updates to Council on how community input is being considered and integrated as approved initiatives move forward.