Help in British Columbia
Most of this guide applies anywhere in Canada. This section covers the programs, phone lines and rules specific to BC. Below it is a searchable directory of places to go for help across the province.
BC phone lines to know
- bc211: shelters, food, services anywhere in BC, 24/7. You can call or text.211
- HealthLink BC: talk to a nurse, pharmacist or dietitian, 24/7811
- Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service: detox and treatment anywhere in BC, 24/71-800-663-1441
- BC Crisis Line (1-800-SUICIDE), 24/71-800-784-2433
- Mental Health Support Line: dial exactly 310-6789, no area code, 24/7310-6789
- KUU-US Crisis Line: Indigenous crisis support, 24/71-800-588-8717
- VictimLinkBC: violence, abuse, trafficking, 24/7, many languages1-800-563-0808
- Income assistance & disability (Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction)1-866-866-0800
- Residential Tenancy Branch: eviction and tenant rights1-800-665-8779
- Legal Aid BC1-866-577-2525
Money: BC income and disability assistance
BC's Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction runs income assistance and disability assistance. You can apply online through My Self Serve, by phone at 1-866-866-0800, or in person at a ministry or Service BC office. You do not need a fixed address. If you have no money and no food or shelter, tell them it's urgent. You can be assessed for immediate needs.
Persons with Disabilities (PWD)
The PWD designation gives you a higher monthly rate than regular income assistance, no work search requirements, health supplements and more earnings you can keep. You need a severe physical or mental impairment expected to last two or more years that significantly restricts daily living. Your doctor or nurse practitioner and an assessor (such as a social worker or nurse) fill out parts of the application.
Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB)
If you have a health condition that's a serious barrier to work but doesn't meet the PWD definition, PPMB gives a somewhat higher rate than regular assistance and exempts you from work search. Addiction combined with other barriers can qualify.
Help applying for PWD
PWD forms are long and a lot of people are refused on the first try. Disability Alliance BC (604-872-1278, toll-free 1-800-663-1278) helps people apply and appeal for free, and publishes step-by-step guides. Many community advocates, drop-ins and legal clinics also help.
Health & transit extras
People on BC income or disability assistance get PharmaCare coverage for prescriptions (Plan C), plus dental, optical and medical equipment help. PWD recipients can choose a heavily subsidized annual BC Bus Pass or a monthly transportation supplement. HandyDART is available in many areas for people who can't use regular transit.
Housing in BC
- BC Housing funds most of the province's emergency shelters, supportive housing and subsidized housing. Apply to the Housing Registry for subsidized housing. You can apply online or with help from a housing worker.
- Supportive housing in BC is usually accessed through coordinated access (in some cities called the Supportive Housing Registry), not by applying to buildings yourself. Ask any shelter, outreach worker or bc211 how to get assessed.
- Extreme Weather Response (EWR) shelters open across BC during cold, snow and extreme heat. bc211 has the up-to-date list of what's open tonight.
- The Homeless Prevention Program and rent supplements help people who are homeless or at risk pay market rent. They are accessed through local agencies. Ask your outreach or housing worker.
- BC Rent Bank offers interest-free loans and sometimes grants to cover rent or utilities when you're about to be evicted.
- Tenant rights. Most rentals in BC are covered by the Residential Tenancy Act. A landlord must give proper written notice to end a tenancy, and you can dispute it. Free tenant help: TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre and the Residential Tenancy Branch at 1-800-665-8779.
Drugs and alcohol in BC
- Detox and treatment: call the Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service at 1-800-663-1441, 24/7, anywhere in BC. In Vancouver, Richmond and the North Shore, Vancouver Coastal Health's Access Central detox referral line (604-675-3700 or toll-free 1-866-658-1221, 9 am to 7:45 pm daily) does a same-day assessment and gets you on the list for a detox bed.
- Free naloxone is at most BC pharmacies and all Take Home Naloxone sites. Find one on Toward the Heart, which also lists harm reduction supply sites and overdose prevention sites.
- Lifeguard app (LifeguardConnect): a free made-in-BC app you start before you use alone. An alarm sounds after about a minute. If you don't tap it, the app calls 911 with your location. Free on iPhone and Android: search "LifeguardConnect" or see lifeguarddh.com.
- Drug checking: free, confidential testing in many BC communities, including at many overdose prevention sites. In Victoria, Substance at the University of Victoria. Toward the Heart lists locations.
- Opioid agonist treatment (OAT): available from many family doctors, nurse practitioners, community health centres, addiction clinics and virtual clinics. In BC, OAT medications are covered by PharmaCare for people on assistance. The BC Centre on Substance Use has guides for patients and families.
ID in BC
- BC birth certificate: from the BC Vital Statistics Agency (online, by mail, or at Service BC).
- BC Services Card (your health card) and BCID (photo ID if you don't drive) are both issued at ICBC driver licensing offices. You may be able to get a combined BCID and Services Card.
- Ask your ministry worker about covering ID fees if you're on or applying for income assistance, and ask drop-ins and legal clinics about local ID programs.
First Nations in BC
BC is different from the rest of Canada. The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) runs health benefits for First Nations people in BC instead of the federal NIHB program. That includes prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health counselling and medical travel. FNHA also funds treatment centres and cultural and land-based healing. Friendship centres across BC (Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Prince George and many more) offer programs and help with housing and services. For crisis support, call KUU-US at 1-800-588-8717.
BC help directory
Places to go for help across British Columbia. Filter by your area and what you need, or search by name. Hours and services change, so call ahead or check with bc211 when you can.
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bc211
Province-wide · 24/7
Free, confidential help finding shelters, meals, detox, health, legal and income services anywhere in BC. Call, text or search online.
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HealthLink BC
Province-wide · 24/7
Talk to a registered nurse any time about symptoms, wounds, infections, withdrawal or medications. Pharmacists and dietitians also available.
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Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service
Province-wide · 24/7
Finds detox (withdrawal management), treatment, counselling and support groups near you, for alcohol and all drugs.
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BC Crisis Line (1-800-SUICIDE)
Province-wide · 24/7
For anyone thinking about suicide or worried about someone. You can also call or text 988.
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Mental Health Support Line
Province-wide · 24/7
Emotional support and information about mental health services. Dial 310-6789 with no area code.
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KUU-US Crisis Line Society
Province-wide · 24/7
BC-wide Indigenous crisis and support line, 24/7, answered by people trained in Indigenous culture and history.
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National Overdose Response Service (NORS)
Canada-wide · 24/7
A peer stays on the phone while you use alone and sends help to your location if you stop responding. Not the police.
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Toward the Heart
Province-wide · online
BC's harm reduction site finder: free naloxone, needles and safer smoking supplies, overdose prevention sites and drug checking near you.
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BC Centre on Substance Use
Province-wide · online
Plain-language guides on opioid agonist treatment, alcohol treatment and finding care, for patients and families.
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Income & Disability Assistance (SDPR)
Province-wide
Apply for income assistance, the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation, crisis supplements and health supplements. No fixed address needed.
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Disability Alliance BC
Province-wide · based in Vancouver
Free help applying for PWD and CPP Disability, appealing denials, and the Disability Tax Credit. Great self-help guides online.
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BC Housing
Province-wide
Emergency shelters, supportive housing, the Housing Registry for subsidized housing, and the Extreme Weather Response program.
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BC Rent Bank
Province-wide
Interest-free loans and some grants to prevent eviction when you can't make rent or utilities.
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TRAC Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre
Province-wide
Free legal information for tenants facing eviction, repairs or disputes with a landlord.
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Residential Tenancy Branch
Province-wide
The government office for tenancy rules and disputes, including challenging an eviction notice.
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Legal Aid BC
Province-wide
Free lawyers for people with low income facing criminal charges, family issues and some other matters, plus free legal information.
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BC Human Rights Tribunal
Province-wide
File a complaint about discrimination in housing, services or work, including because of disability or addiction. Usually within one year.
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First Nations Health Authority
Province-wide
Health benefits for First Nations people in BC (prescriptions, dental, vision, counselling, medical travel), plus funded treatment and healing programs.
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VictimLinkBC
Province-wide · 24/7
Help for anyone affected by violence, abuse or human trafficking, including safe shelter referrals. Many languages.
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Foundry
Centres across BC + virtual
Free drop-in health, mental health, substance use and social services for young people aged 12–24, in person and online.
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HeretoHelp / CMHA BC
Province-wide · online
Mental health and substance use information, self-help tools and help finding local services.
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Insite
Vancouver · 139 East Hastings St
North America's first supervised injection site. Use with nurses present, get clean supplies and wound care, and connect with detox, treatment and other services.
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PHS Community Services Society
Vancouver · Downtown Eastside
Supportive housing, harm reduction, overdose prevention and health programs for people with addiction and mental illness.
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Carnegie Community Centre
Vancouver · 401 Main St (at Hastings)
Low-cost meals, a library, washrooms, computers, programs and a welcoming place to spend the day in the Downtown Eastside.
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Union Gospel Mission
Vancouver · 601 East Hastings St
Free meals, emergency shelter, outreach, and long-term alcohol and drug recovery programs for men and women.
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Vancouver Coastal Health: Access Central
Vancouver, Richmond, North Shore, Coast
Detox referral line for the Vancouver Coastal region: same-day phone assessment and a place on the list for a withdrawal management (detox) bed. Open 9 am to 7:45 pm, 7 days a week.
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Rapid Access Addiction Clinic, St. Paul's Hospital
Vancouver
Walk-in addiction medicine clinic: start opioid agonist treatment or alcohol medications without a family doctor or referral.
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VANDU (Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users)
Vancouver · Downtown Eastside
Peer-run group of people who use drugs: harm reduction, advocacy, and a place where you won't be judged.
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Atira Women's Resource Society
Metro Vancouver
Housing, shelters and support for women and children, including women who use substances and women fleeing violence.
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Downtown Eastside Women's Centre
Vancouver · Downtown Eastside
Drop-in for women and gender-diverse people: meals, showers, laundry, advocacy and support.
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RainCity Housing
Metro Vancouver
Shelters and supportive housing for people with mental illness and addiction, using a Housing First, harm reduction approach.
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Covenant House Vancouver
Vancouver
Shelter, drop-in, outreach and longer-term housing for youth aged 16–24 who are homeless.
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Pivot Legal Society
Vancouver
Legal advocacy for people who are homeless, use drugs, or are affected by police and encampment issues.
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Greater Vancouver Food Bank
Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Shore
Free groceries at community sites across the region.
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Lookout Housing and Health Society
Surrey, Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley
Low-barrier shelters, supportive housing, overdose prevention and health services for people with addiction and mental illness.
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Options Community Services
Surrey, Delta, White Rock
Shelters, transition houses for women, youth services, counselling and outreach.
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Fraser Health
Surrey to Hope
Mental health and substance use services, OAT clinics, withdrawal management and overdose prevention sites in the Fraser region.
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Our Place Society
Victoria · 919 Pandora Ave
Free meals, showers, clothing, health clinic, shelter and recovery programs for people who are homeless or in poverty.
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Victoria Cool Aid Society
Victoria & area
Emergency shelters, supportive housing, and the Access Health Centre (doctors, nurses, dental, mental health, OAT) for people who are homeless.
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AVI Health & Community Services
Vancouver Island
Harm reduction supplies, naloxone, HIV and hep C testing and support, across Vancouver Island.
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Substance: drug checking
Victoria
Free, confidential drug checking run by the University of Victoria. Find out what's really in your drugs.
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The Mustard Seed
Victoria
Food bank and community meals for people in Greater Victoria.
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Island Health
Vancouver Island
Mental health and substance use services, withdrawal management, OAT and overdose prevention sites across the Island.
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Kelowna's Gospel Mission
Kelowna
Emergency shelter, meals, outreach and supportive housing in Kelowna.
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ASK Wellness Society
Kamloops, Merritt & area
Housing, harm reduction, outreach and health support for people who are homeless or living with addiction.
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Interior Health
Southern Interior
Mental health and substance use services, OAT, withdrawal management and overdose prevention across the Interior.
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Prince George Native Friendship Centre
Prince George
Programs, housing and support services for Indigenous people and the wider community.
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Northern Health
Northern BC
Mental health and substance use services, OAT and harm reduction across the north, including virtual care.
Nothing matches. Try another area or category, or call 211. They know every service in BC.
Know a BC service we should list, or spotted something out of date? Email info@homelesscanada.ca.
Printable wallet card
Phones die and get stolen. Print this card, fold it, and keep it in your wallet or shoe. Library staff will usually print it for free.